EMQB NFL Blogcast

Leave it to Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys to divert the attention of the football world from Super Bowl XLI to their own head coaching pursuits. Jones has interviewed eight — yes eight — candidates for the job, including two San Francisco 49ers staffers — offensive coordinator Norv Turner and assistant head coach Mike Singletary. The latest name to enter the fray is Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. And when the Cowboys announced they would not make this decision until after the Super Bowl, rumors began swirling that Rivera was a candidate. His response, however, was one of surprise:

“My wife called me and said ‘hey I heard this.’ I said ‘okay, I haven’t heard anything.’ This morning I got up, I went on the internet, I did see it. She called me last night about 4:30 and I saw it this morning around 7 a.m. It’s a little frustrating because you can’t talk to anybody. In the same respect, I’m here, my focus is Indianapolis …”

I think it’s more likely the Cowboys are after Rivera for their D-coordinator, not the head coaching position. Singletary is a very interesting candidate. I’m a big fan of Mike Singletary. But Norv Turner is still the front-runner in my mind. He comes to the Cowboys with certain demands, including control of who his assistant coaches are. And he’s already said he would like Rivera as his defensive coordinator. You do the math.