Former Bill Belichick player names 'perfect' job for coach

ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick played under head coach Bill Belichick when both were employed by the Cleveland Browns in the 1990s and believes Belichick could be an ideal replacement for Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy if Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones goes in a different direction this winter. 

"Bill wants to go somewhere where he has a veteran quarterback, who understands how to play the game on a high level, [and] who maybe needs his kind of tutelage in the postseason to go, 'Hey, look, this is what we’re going to do. This is how I’m going to help you and protect you,'" Riddick said about linking Belichick with the Cowboys during Tuesday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up!" program, as shared by Hayden Bird of Boston.com.

Interestingly, ESPN NFL insider Dan Graziano mentioned for a piece published Monday that the improvement of quarterback Dak Prescott this past regular season is one reason Graziano had heard from individuals within the Cowboys that "the team is very happy with the job McCarthy is doing." 

Of course, the situation may have changed after Prescott tossed a pair of costly interceptions and after the Dallas defense surrendered 143 rushing yards and three scores on the ground in this past Sunday's embarrassing 48-32 wild-card playoff loss to the Green Bay Packers.

McCarthy now holds a 1-3 postseason record for his Dallas tenure that began in 2020. 

"That ain’t happening with a Bill Belichick-coached defense," Riddick added about what he saw from the Cowboys on Sunday. "If he can deal with the rest of the stuff, he’s perfect for Dallas. He’s perfect." 

Not everyone agrees. Columnist Mac Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram suggested ahead of the weekend that Jones and Belichick would clash due to their personalities. Per Matt Ehalt of the New York Post, Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe said during Monday's episode of the ESPN "First Take" show that a Jones-Belichick partnership is a "match made in hell." 

For what it's worth, McCarthy remained employed by the Cowboys as of Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons seemingly could make an offer to Belichick at any time.