The Dallas Cowboys have exceeded everyone's pre-season expectations of them by nabbing the NFC East crown at 12-4. Cowboys fans can feel good about defying the odds and finding success as they head into their round one playoff matchup against the Detroit Lions.
But head coach Jason Garrett may not be feeling quite as good because he isn't under contract for 2015. A new deal could be contingent on how Dallas performs in the post-season.
"Most assume that Garrett's 12-win season will be enough to get him a new deal from owner Jerry Jones," Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wrote. "But there's a school of thought in some league circles that, if the Cowboys lose at home on Sunday against the Lions, Garrett could be gone."
Yes, Garrett has impressed this season with an increased focus on the running game and making due with less than desirable cast of defensive players. But we can't just forget about the three straight seasons of .500 ball the Cowboys experienced under Garrett.
Jones has made 2014 the sole focus of this year, refusing to comment definitively on Garrett's future with the team. While it is likely that Garrett will receive a new contract, the notoriously impetuous Jones could look elsewhere if the Cowboys lose in an embarrassing fashion this weekend. After all, Jones has gone through seven different coaches since he purchased the team.
Garrett is currently the 11th highest paid coach in the NFL with an annual salary of $5 million. It's expected that Garrett will be looking for a raise that will firmly put him in the top ten. Will Jones be willing to pay that if the Cowboys fail to make a post-season run?
