December 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claps while standing on the field prior to the Cowboys game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Monte Kiffin has replaced Rob Ryan, and as of Friday January 18, 2013, Rod Marinelli, former Head Coach of the Detroit Lions, and most recently the Chicago bears Defensive Coordinator, has replaced Baker and will be the Defensive Line Coach. Jerome Henderson and Wade Wilson are staying. So is Jason Garrett, as Head Coach, much to the chagrin of many in the Dallas Ft. Worth media, and a lot of Cowboys fans.

Here is what has been speculated, but not verified as of right now. Houston Nutt was going to replace Skip Peete, except he really wasn’t and the Cowboys still need a Running Back Coach. John Garrett has applied to be the Head Coach of the Delaware Fighting Blue Hens in the college football ranks. Delaware is actually a powerhouse team at their level of college football. It could be a springboard job for John Garrett if he lands that gig. Some are speculating that he is not well liked, but no one should doubt the success of Jason Garrett and how much respect he has for John.

The big speculation is that Jerry Jones wants Jason Garrett to give up play calling duties. The rumors circulating the Internet were that there were three possible candidates. The first is an in house candidate, Offensive Line Coach Bill Callahan. The other two reported candidates are shrouded in mystery. No one seems to know who they are. Two names who have surfaced are Mike Mularky, the recently fired Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach who worked with Garrett on the Dolphins, and Cam Cameron, recently fired by the Baltimore Ravens for failing to utilize Ray Rice enough in his game plans. Cameron also worked with Garrett on the Dolphins, and when Garrett was rumored to be the Head Coach choice of the Ravens and Atlanta Falcons before opting to remain in Dallas as the heir apparent to Wade Phillips, Cameron was his choice as Offensive Coordinator.

Apparently, some of their roundtable guys believe the Dallas Cowboys had one of the better offseasons. Well, it depends on how they measured it. We ridded the team of Terrell Owens and Pacman Jones, and we picked up a safety and added a decent, but old, linebacker from the Atlanta Falcons and a younger guy from the Chargers.

I am not really sure that supports the title as “offseason winners” because some would think dropping a top-10 receiver in the game is idiotic, even if some say he is a cancer.

I was also recently interviewed by ESPN magazine’s senior writer Eddie Matz, but I am unsure how they plan to use the information I provided. Matz centered on the Terrell Owens saga, and asked how I think the Cowboys will do this coming season. He also challenged me on who Cowboys fans “hate” right now and if the coaching staff should have been canned.

I told him that I think a lot of fans were angry with Jason Witten because he was accused of being the locker room leaker. I personally am not upset with Witten, but I know there were fans who were. I also said that I think making Wade Phillips the defensive coordinator was a smart move, if Jerry Jones plans to keep him on staff. I said if anyone should have been let go, it was Jason Garrett. I said that the Cowboys offense was predictable: run, pass, pass; and that Garrett did not change the play calling enough. I also said that if the Cowboys do well this coming season, it will be because of a strong defense, not an incredible offense. The offense will be serviceable, but the defense should be a powerhouse.

Garrett is now being called the leading candidate for the Detroit Lions head coaching job. Garrett originally refused the Lions interview request, but then changed his mind. The interview was conducted Monday.

The Lions have been interviewing defensive minds, except for Garrett, whose offensive gameplan intrigues the Lions front office. 

Former NFL executive Michael Lombardi said Garrett is “the guy they think can turn their franchise around.”

(Detroit Free Press)