Dallas Cowboys Rumors: Jason Garrett Unlikely To Be Fired, Jerry Jones Suggests No Major Changes

Rumors regarding the Dallas Cowboys are running rampant as “America’s Team” is about to complete another disappointing season, and fans everywhere want accountability. Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett always seems to be at the top of everyone’s list for the team’s failures, and many fans and analysts have called for him to be fired over the last few years. In five complete seasons as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Garrett has only made the playoffs one time. Since his playoff appearance came in 2014, there was a lot of hope for the 2015 season. While injuries to quarterback Tony Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant are a big reason for the poor record this season, Garrett still seems to be the main problem according to many people.

After Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly was fired yesterday, the speculation really started to heat up. After all, Chip Kelly reached the playoffs once in his three seasons and was fired. Garrett has only reached the playoffs once in five seasons, and the team has only regressed this year. Charles Casserly of NFLN took to his Twitter account to explain that the two situations are not the same.

Comparing the #Cowboys Jason Garrett to #Eagles Chip Kelly & saying Garrett should be fired is wrong. Garrett should not be fired

— Charley Casserly (@CharleyCasserly) December 30, 2015

And he’s probably right. Chip Kelly literally gutted the Eagles with questionable trades, free agency signings, and other front office moves. Many of the players did not like him or his methods, and team morale was extremely poor. Garrett appears to have more respect among players, coaches, and other employees of the Dallas Cowboys. Instead of releasing his best players, Garrett had to deal with his top two offensive weapons missing time with serious injuries. There are not many coaches in the NFL who would have been able to do much more with the 2015 injury-riddled Dallas Cowboys than what Jason Garrett has done.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones could fire Garrett, but it would not be cheap. According to ProFootballTalk, Garrett signed a five-year contract for $30 million last year after his first playoff appearance. If Jones does decide to go another route, he would still owe Garrett a massive $24 million. While the Cowboys would not owe Garrett any money that he receives if he can secure another coaching job, it could still end up being extremely expensive to fire him. Ed Werder of ESPN agrees, and took to Twitter to explain that while Jerry Jones did not speak to the media, he is likely to keep Garrett for at least another season.

Interesting Jerry Jones did no media. But hard to imagine he spends $24M to fire HC he's supported, pays off staff, spends for big name

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) December 28, 2015

In addition to most likely keeping Garrett as the head coach, Jones also said yesterday that the team is unlikely to make major changes in the offseason. According to ESPN, Jones truly believes the team is in good shape and the core is solid. While certain minor changes and signings will be completed, we are likely to see a similar Cowboys team in 2016 that we saw in 2015, but Tony Romo and Dez Bryant will be healthy. Jones further elaborated on the state of the team in the interview.

“We’re in relatively good shape under the salary cap, and we ought to look at that and change things. Now don’t say that that’s the highlight of the day — ‘Things are changing’ — because they were going to change anyway. There’s at least 20 percent of this roster that changes every year and maybe higher, and so there were going to be those kinds of changes. There’s changes on coaching staffs that happen.”

While Tony Romo will be back and healthy to start the 2016 season, he is getting older and has been more injury-prone in recent seasons. According to the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones believes Romo has another 4-5 years left to play, but the team needs to start thinking about his replacement. Ed Werder of ESPN noted that even Jones believes an eventual Romo replacement is a priority, despite the fact that he probably will not have to play for a few more seasons.

#Cowboys haven't drafted QB first round since Aikman, Walsh in 1989..RT..Jerry Jones: Finding a QB a 'high priority' https://t.co/J3hT27dPJP

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) December 30, 2015

With the NFC East in turmoil this year, the Dallas Cowboys have a real shot at turning things around for the 2016 season. Rumors say they will not make any major changes, and that might be the best move in such a weak division.

[Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images]