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Wearing out his welcome? Gailey meets with Jones to discuss future with Cowboys
Posted: Tuesday January 11, 2000 08:58 AM
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Even after an hourlong meeting Monday with Dallas Cowboy owner Jerry Jones, coach Chan Gailey doesn't know if he'll be keeping his job. Gailey said the talk centered on personnel issues such as free agents and college players available for the draft. The second-year coach said he resisted flat-out asking Jones if he is considering changing coaches. "Did I want to? Probably," Gailey said. "It's better to let him. Instead of me commenting on anything, when he gets ready to make a statement, he'll make a statement." Although Gailey didn't ask the big question, he would like an answer, he agreed. "The sooner the better," said Gailey, who for the first time this season at Valley Ranch wasn't wearing a Cowboys shirt or hat. Gailey's job is in jeopardy because Dallas followed an 8-8 regular season with a 27-10 loss to Minnesota on Sunday. It was the team's biggest defeat of the season and marked the second straight year the Cowboys were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs. Last season, Gailey's first with the Cowboys, Dallas went 10-6 and won the NFC East before being eliminated 20-7 by Arizona. Jones' support of Gailey has gone from absolute to abstract in recent weeks. Instead of standing solidly behind the coach, Jones has refrained from discussing his coach. The pair walked off the Metrodome field Sunday about 15 feet apart. Jones told the media he wanted to reserve comment for a few days before discussing the coach's status. Gailey said he senses he could be fired because of what he's read. Jones, though, has never directly said publicly that he's considering making a change. "No, but he gets asked the question and he doesn't deny it," Gailey said. "That's what I read in the paper." Jones was not immediately available for comment. Team spokesman Rich Dalrymple said the owner will be involved in NFL meetings later this week and could be tied up for days. Gailey was Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator when Jones hired him to replace Barry Switzer in February 1998. Jones, who wanted a creative offensive mind, proclaimed "Chan's the man!" and even wrote into the contract that Gailey would always call the plays. Many of this season's problems came from the Cowboys' inability to move the ball, especially in the second half of games. Dallas lost four games despite holding the other team to 13 points. Gailey said he doesn't believe that being the head coach and offensive coordinator is too much for him. He said that he and Jones did not discuss whether Gailey should start looking for a coordinator. The coach said he would be willing to hire a coordinator, "If I had a guy." Gailey said he wouldn't hire anyone who doesn't share his philosophy. If someone were brought in with a different mindset. "I probably wouldn't be the head coach," he said. But Gailey is, and he'll keep doing his job until told otherwise, he said. "I'm going to keep working as hard as I can until they say, 'Don't come back,'" he explained.
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