Insider addresses Cowboys' Jerry Jones possibly pursuing Bill Belichick

NFL insider Mike Florio believes head coach Mike McCarthy may have to guide the Dallas Cowboys to at least the upcoming NFC Championship Game to prevent team owner Jerry Jones from pursuing current New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick this winter. 

"It all could come down to whether McCarthy can at least get the Cowboys back to the NFC Championship for the first time since 1995," Florio wrote about the subject for a piece published Wednesday. "Who knows? It might even take a Super Bowl appearance to get Jerry to resist the temptation to cast his lot with the G.O.A.T. of coaches." 

Former Patriots quarterback and current 98.5 The Sports Hub host Scott Zolak has a reputation for occasionally breaking news and said in December that "everybody I talk to assumes" Jones will make a move for Belichick if Patriots owner Robert Kraft and team president Jonathan Kraft take the club in a different direction after New England missed the playoffs for the third time in four years. Super Bowl LIII Most Valuable Player Julian Edelman recently echoed Zolak's take, but that was before Jones seemed to give McCarthy a public vote of confidence. 

McCarthy thus far has won one of three playoff games with Dallas. The 12-5 Cowboys host the 9-8 Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round of the postseason tournament this coming Sunday afternoon. 

For a column published Wednesday morning, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that he "talked to a few people with the (Patriots) who wonder whether the longer this drags out actually increases the chances Belichick returns for one more year." Belichick is under contract through next season, and Fowler noted that he's "not sensing much momentum for a Belichick trade to a new team." 

Belichick hinted on Monday he's willing to surrender some power and work with an executive regarding personnel decisions to remain with the Patriots. Florio suggested the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach "was also sending a message to potential future employers" with those comments that may have gotten Jones' attention. 

Stories and rumors have linked Belichick with the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders. 

"Really, what makes more sense for Belichick, going to a non-playoff team in need of a rebuild? Or going to an organization with a playoff-caliber roster that simply needs a great coach?" Florio said. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Cowboys as 7.5-point favorites against the Packers. One can only guess how Jones may react if Dallas suffers an upset defeat at AT&T Stadium this weekend.