Cowboys have interest in Urban Meyer, Chris Petersen as possible candidates to replace Jason Garrett in 20

p1_

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Jason Garrett will finish out the 2019 season, but the Cowboys are already planning for 2020


There's an old adage that says "things will get worse before they get better", and right now that's the theme of the Dallas Cowboys season in 2019. It's a team that began the year with a 3-0 record and Super Bowl aspirations, but are now krazy glued to a losing streak that gets longer by the week -- their second three-game slide of the season.

There's plenty of blame to pass around after a 31-24 loss to the Chicago Bears on "Thursday Night Football" that wasn't nearly as close as the padded final score would indicate, but the brunt of it will fall squarely on the shoulders of head coach Jason Garrett, who has been on the hot seat for some time now and has still failed to pull away in statistically the worst division in football. Garrett won't be fired while the team is still in playoff contention though, as I've continuously reported and as owner Jerry Jones made clear on Thursday evening, but the chances he'll return in 2020 are fading fast; and there are already candidates the Cowboys are eyeing as possible replacements.

Whenever/If ever the Cowboys do launch a full scale search for a new head coach, you can count Urban Meyer in as one with a viable chance at landing the gig. The former University of Florida and Ohio State University head coach threw his hat into the ring recently when he declared how attractive the Cowboys job would be, and they heard him. Team exec Stephen Jones -- who will likely be Garrett's executioner -- spoke with Meyer recently and the interest in a possible union is now mutual and "very real", per Jane Slater of NFL Network and as confirmed to me by a source with knowledge of the situation.

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Meyer is currently enjoying a second retirement from collegiate football as an analyst for the sport, and could be wooed into the NFL ranks if the Joneses make him an offer. He'll have stiff competition, however, because he's not the [only] frontrunner -- even if he is who received the "first" call.

That designation goes to University of Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, whom owner Jerry Jones continues to covet in a major way. Riley's name has been tied to the Cowboys for multiple seasons now as the team looks to reinvent their culture with a youthful coaching staff, and Riley's resume of success isn't lost on the Cowboys front office. The fact he also resides only an afternoon drive away gives the club easy access to him when the time comes, which will be fairly soon. Expect not only Riley to contend for the position, should he want it, but also another collegiate name dominating headlines recently.

A separate source tells me the Cowboys also have preliminary interest in speaking with Chris Petersen, the University of Washington head coach having recently decided to relinquish his post in unexpected fashion. Petersen cites a need to step away from the game so that he can recharge, and that's a clear indication he isn't done coaching -- prepared to return the moment he feels ready. The interest in him is expected to be as profound as any other candidate, and for reasons that extend beyond his success in turning around the program in Washington.

Petersen was a longtime head coach at Boise State -- a school the Cowboys routinely pluck talent from -- and was largely responsible for making current Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore into a collegiate legend. Also having played under Petersen at Boise State was All-Pro defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford, setting the stage for a Blue Blood thread that extends from Petersen's front porch right into the heart of the Cowboys organization.

Expect Moore to nudge the club toward making an expected call to Petersen, with Lawrence and Crawford standing in full support.

Other names will begin to crop up over the next several weeks and months -- some being unfounded speculation while others are truly viable -- but what is known is Meyer, Riley and Petersen have the Cowboys attention in what will be a wide net being cast; and that anything less than deep playoff run will see Garrett ousted to free up the seat at the head of the table. From there, only time will tell who sits down to eat.
 

Rev

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It will be Peterson. Have to keep our Boise State fascination going.
 

UncleMilti

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Right...we know that as long as Jerry is running things, it has the distinct possiblity of being a shit show. We also know thats not changing anytime soon.

So...how does Peterson stack up with Riley and Meyer?
 

L.T. Fan

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Right...we know that as long as Jerry is running things, it has the distinct possiblity of being a shit show. We also know thats not changing anytime soon.

So...how does Peterson stack up with Riley and Meyer?
I think Peterson would be my choice currently. Riley is still in a learning process because he has only been a HC in a major program for three years but that may not be enough yet to take on a pro job. Meyers has a lot of experience in major colleges with winning seasons but he has a history of shutting down due to health issues. Peterson has a pretty solid record with Boise State and a favorable job record with Washington. He is an innovative style coach and has some skins on the wall for upsetting other major schools.
 

data

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I think Peterson would be my choice currently. Riley is still in a learning process because he has only been a HC in a major program for three years but that may not be enough yet to take on a pro job. Meyers has a lot of experience in major colleges with winning seasons but he has a history of shutting down due to health issues. Peterson has a pretty solid record with Boise State and a favorable job record with Washington. He is an innovative style coach and has some skins on the wall for upsetting other major schools.
If the Cowboys NEED a Sean Payton-type, how close is Peterson?
 

L.T. Fan

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If the Cowboys NEED a Sean Payton-type, how close is Peterson?
The Cowboys still need a Sean Payton type but they may not be able to get one. None of the three listed are up to the pro standards of Payton or some other pro coaches but the question posed was for the three college coaches.
 

P_T

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Think Riley will get the "VIP tour" of the Cowboys' facilities on Saturday"
 

P_T

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what does this mean?
The Big 12 Championship is at Jerry World tomorrow... Jerry might take Riley on a recruiting tour of the facilities while he was there.
 
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boozeman

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If the Cowboys NEED a Sean Payton-type, how close is Peterson?
He would be far and away the worst choice of them all. It would merely be to placate and develop Kellen Moore just as much as anything.

When has that head coach in waiting thing ever worked out in the NFL? Holmgren tried that with Mora, Jr. and it was a failure. Jones tried it before with Garrett and look what that got?
 

boozeman

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Riley is a lot like Kingsbury except on steroids. No doubt the offense would work and thrive.

But the choice of DC is crucial. Kingsbury chose Vance Joseph and it has been a flop.
 

Simpleton

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Riley is a lot like Kingsbury except on steroids. No doubt the offense would work and thrive.

But the choice of DC is crucial. Kingsbury chose Vance Joseph and it has been a flop.
So Rivera or Quinn then?
 

UncleMilti

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Safe to say Riley turned Hurts into a top passer? Watching the game today Hurts threw some damn nice passes, way better than anything he did at Alabama.
 

boozeman

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Safe to say Riley turned Hurts into a top passer? Watching the game today Hurts threw some damn nice passes, way better than anything he did at Alabama.
More like gave him more easy throws that were the result of guys open.
 

p1_

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URBAN COWBOYS? The 4 Reason Coach Meyer Fits With Jerry in Dallas

 
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