Speculation arises after Jerry, Stephen Jones, cancel interviews

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Speculation arises after Cowboys' Jerry, Stephen Jones, cancel radio interviews

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 1/24/23

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and executive vice president Stephen Jones have generated headlines by saying nothing.

As noted by Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk, Stephen Jones canceled his regular Monday appearance on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan.

Jerry Jones typically appears on Tuesdays but also scrapped his planned interview.

"Jerry Jones canceled that interview because Jerry Jones has decisions to make," ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith said during Tuesday's edition of the "First Take" program, per the Barrett Sports Media website.

Jerry Jones spoke with media members following Sunday's 19-12 playoff loss at the San Francisco 49ers and indicated Mike McCarthy will remain his head coach even though McCarthy failed to guide the Cowboys past the divisional round in back-to-back seasons.

However, former NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum publicly campaigned on Tuesday for Jones to dismiss McCarthy, and ESPN NFL reporter Dianna Russini raised eyebrows when she tweeted that an unnamed team is "waiting in the wings" and "could make a move" if it believes it has a chance to land former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton:

Also to add to @JeffDuncan_ reporting—I was told there is also a team waiting in the wings watching all of this and could make a move if they gets “their ducks in a row”. https://t.co/A5Uqgssh2h
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) January 24, 2023

Payton spent three years working for the Cowboys in the 2000s and was linked with the organization last offseason before Jones ultimately stuck with McCarthy. Smith wasn't sold on Tuesday that Jones will be as loyal this time around.

"There may be no changes, but he’s thinking about it," Smith said of Jones. "That’s why he canceled that interview, number one. Plus, he’s scared of what he’s gonna say because he knows how he feels."

Meanwhile, Bobby Belt of 105.3 The Fan explained that Jones has called off radio appearances in the past ahead of "big news."

Williams added, though, that Jones canceled a radio appearance last winter while attempting to hold onto defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as Quinn was receiving interest from teams looking for a new head coach.

Both Quinn and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore are serious candidates for head-coaching jobs following this past Sunday's action.

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