Jon Gruden may not have announced any future coaching plans beyond pure speculation and rumors, but don't tell that to the Dallas Cowboys. Coming off its second 8-8 season in two years, the struggling team has built a theoretically ideal roster of new coaching talent to lure Gruden in for a head coaching spot. Dallas has hired three of Gruden's former coaches from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason after adding another earlier in 2012.
Following another mediocre season, Cowboys owner/General Manager/living bobble head doll Jerry Jones is desperate to prove he's making conscious, real changes to improve the team. After firing Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan, Dallas picked up Ex-Buccaneer Monte Kiffin for the job, and also added former Tampa Bay coaches like Rod Marinelli for defensive line coach, and Rich Bisaccia as special teams coordinator. Even Dallas' offensive coordinator, Bill Callahan - who was hired in 2012 - has coaching history with Gruden, albeit during his stint in Oakland.
But even with four Gruden-approved new coaches, questions still remain about the former Tampa Bay coach's place with the Cowboys. Will the team fire current head coach Jason Garrett? And, perhaps even more relevant, besides friendly faces on the coaching staff, why would Gruden want to come coach in Dallas?
When asked about just why Gruden would want to come coach America's Team when he'd have to deal with a boss like Jones, SportsDay columnist Kevin Sherrington insisted the job was beneath his credentials. "Who says Gruden would want to come here? He's an obvious target for any team looking for a coach, which is one of the reasons he wouldn't come here. He's got plenty of options. When Bill Parcells took the job, he didn't have many, which is why he was willing to put up with Jerry. Bill Cowher wouldn't, and neither would Gruden. Sean Payton might have, though."
"I think it's pretty far-fetched, for the reasons I cited," Sherrington said of speculation of Gruden coming to Dallas.
"Gruden could go just about anywhere. Why take a job at a place where the owner and GM has a poor track record in the draft, and the owner/GM constantly interferes with the process? In Parcells' case, it worked for a little while, because Jerry tried to stay out of the way. Ultimately, it drove him crazy."
A source at the Cowboys was just as skeptical, saying that the idea the team was trying to hire Gruden for head coach was "ridiculous."
"Response from reliable team source when I asked if TB glory-days asst. coaches being hired in Dallas meant Gruden on way: 'Ridiculous,'" tweeted ESPN's Ed Werder
Of course, it's not entirely impossible current Cowboys head coach Garrett could still be fired. He was stripped of his play-calling duties, and numerous other coaches around him have been fired in the offseason.
But not everyone is so convinced Jones is ready to give up on Garrett just yet. As Bleacher Report notes, Garrett's record with the Cowboys might not be spectacular, but there are plenty of Hall of Fame coaches that started their careers the same way. To name a few: Bill Belichick, Bill Parcells, Dick Vermeil and Tom Landry.
NBC Sports also pokes holes in rumors of Gruden's move to Dallas. According to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, Gruden told him in "no uncertain terms" that he would not be seeking a head coaching position for 2013, as he would remain a color commentator for ESPN's Monday Night Football.
"Jon made it clear that he was not coming back to the NFL this year," Lurie said.
Dallas is 21-19 under Garrett during his 2 1/2 seasons coaching the team.