On Friday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones created a stir by claiming that multiple Super Bowl-winning coaches had contacted him about the coaching position in Dallas before Wade Phillips was fired.
Speculation primarily has centered on Brian Billick. And Brian Billick.
Some have speculated that, if Jones is sweeping more broadly than the 2010 regular season, former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan could also have been one of the guys who inquired about the job.
One source with knowledge of the situation says that Shanahan was “very interested” in the job because he “loves [quarterback] Tony Romo.” In the end, the timing wasn’t right; Phillips had taken the Cowboys to the divisional round of the playoffs and Shanahan, who had been fired in January 2009, didn’t want to wait two years before getting back in.
Of course, if John Feinstein has his way, Shanahan will be available fairly soon. Don’t count on that happening. Especially if there’s any chance that the Redskins would be handing a head coach to the Cowboys.