The Dallas Cowboys' coaching search just got underway and it already promises to be a rollercoaster. We learned smack in the middle of Monday Night Football that Jerry Jones reached out to Deion Sanders about the vacancy. While an interview was not set, there is mutual interest on both sides.
It seems that Sanders is a serious candidate for the job, but there are multiple roadblocks that could prevent Prime Time from returning to Dallas.
The biggest is Sanders is currently employed at Colorado, where he has an $8 million buyout. While that is pretty affordable all things considered, Jerry Jones might not see it that way. There is also Sanders stating publicly that he would only leave for the NFL if he could coach his sons, Shedeur and Shilo.
A Super Bowl champion with the Cowboys in 1995, Sanders might have to make some concessions if he actually wants the job. It did not take long for Sanders to deliver a statement about the bombshell report.
Deion Sanders leaves door open for Cowboys reunion amid head coaching rumors
"To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it's intriguing," Sanders told ESPN Monday night, per Adam Schefter. "I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it's intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community."
Either Sanders knows how to play the game or he has an excellent PR team. Maybe it's both. Regardless, that is the perfect statement.
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Sanders reiterated his appreciation for Colorado and the city of Boulder and made sure to speak glowingly of Jones and the Cowboys. He likely flattered the Buffalo faithful, but didn't state whether he would take the job or interview. He left it very open-ended, which will only stoke the speculation embers.
The big takeaway, though, is that Sanders didn't outright shut down the door. He left it cracked ever so slightly, which tells us that he is open to the idea.
While Sanders is a terrific recruiter and leader of men, many prominent NFL analysts struggle to project how his coaching style would translate to the pros. He's an "earn my respect" type of coach. That philosophy works in college, but would it resonate with grown men at the NFL level?
On the flip side, this Cowboys team might need a hard-nosed coach. Mike McCarthy was notoriously lenient during his tenure. The team did not practice on Friday and practices in general reportedly lacked a desired intensity. It's no wonder why McCarthy's players love him.
Sanders is very hands off in terms of play-calling and player acquisition. He is more of a culture builder than an X's and O's whizz. He also is familiar with the Cowboys culture as far as how Jerry Jones likes to run the show.
This is only the beginning of the Sanders-to-Dallas buzz. Depending on how long the coaching search lasts, expect to hear a lot more about Prime Time in the coming weeks. It is no coincidence that he was the first name mentioned with some sort of legitimacy.