Cowboys Ex McCarthy Gets One Final Chance For Job - Or Else

FRISCO - Mike McCarthy was considered an "outstanding'' coach (Jerry Jones' words) who "absolutely'' wanted to stay in Dallas (McCarthy's words).

And even after their "parting of ways'' at the Star, two weeks ago, the former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys was supposed to be a sure bet to get hired by a rival immediately.

And now? Nothing.

There was some initial belief was that McCarthy would just re-sign with the Cowboys. Once that got wobbly, there was the much-ballyhooed idea that he was a shoo-in for the job with the Chicago Bears.

Hey, they even sent a private plane for him!

Soon after, it was revealed that Lions coordinator Ben Johnson was always Chicago's pinpointed guy.

Then came the notion of McCarthy to the New York Jets, tied with the idea that he might "fix'' Aaron Rodgers, his old QB in Green Bay.

The Jets never interviewed McCarthy. And they've hired the other Lions coordinator Aaron Glenn.

The Raiders are being run by Tom Brady, who spent this year on the air at FOX raving about McCarthy. But he never called on him. And Las Vegas just hired Pete Carroll.

McCarthy (at least according to what his agent Don Yee keeps whispering to media pals) is supposed to be a legitimate candidate for the New Orleans Saints opening - the only one left.

"I think Mike McCarthy makes a lot of sense there," ESPN's Adam Schefter said.

Maybe. McCarthy's stint in New Orleans was from 2000-2004 when he first became an NFL offensive coordinator at that time, and he has a relationship with Saints boss Mickey Loomis.

But the competition for that job is thick - and features even more guys, like Johnson and Glenn, who've never been head coaches before.

"They’re all in play, and Mike McCarthy is in play,'' Schefter insisted of the man who has a 174-112-2 record with three straight playoff years in Dallas ... 

But no job.