It's hard to keep up - there is so much going on - whether it's real news or idle speculation. There's plenty of talk about who will replace Bill Parcells in Big D. Here's the latest I've got on the search.
ESPN's Ed Werder reports the Dallas Cowboys have requested permission from the San Diego Chargers to meet with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips regarding their vacant head coaching position.
This is backed up by John Clayton.
The Cowboys are also seeking permission to speak with Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
So it sounds like Wade Phillips is going to get an interview. Someone who won't be getting an interview is Jeff Fisher, so we should probably remove him from any list, including the long-shot list.
"We haven't been contacted by Dallas," chief executive officer Steve Underwood said in a statement Tuesday. "In the event that we were, there are no circumstances that we would grant permission to the Cowboys to speak with Coach Fisher."
Just for clerical record keeping, the Cowboys have met the requirements of the Rooney Rule.
Interviewing [Todd] Bowles, an African-American, means the Cowboys have met the stipulations of the Rooney Rule, which mandates a team must interview at least one minority candidate.
Clayton also says we have contacted Jason Garrett about coaching under a potential head coach.
The Cowboys first received permission from the Miami Dolphins, who have [Jason] Garrett under contract as their quarterbacks coach for one more season. The Cowboys are making hires that will accelerate the development of Romo and are believed to be considering pairing Garrett with either Phillips or 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Both have previous head coaching experience.
Over at his blog, Clayton says add a couple of more names into the mix.
Two names that might be added to the list of candidates for the Cowboys head coaching job are Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast and Broncos assistant head coach Jim Bates. Both have coached in Dallas and know Jerry Jones. Bates gained valuable experience as an interim coach with the Dolphins and was a finalist for the Packers job a year ago. Pendergast would have been the interim coach in Arizona had Dennis Green stepped down during the bye week. Jerry and Stephen Jones spent Tuesday mapping out their plans for replacing Bill Parcells.
Bob Stoops says he's not interested.
Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday he is not a candidate to coach the Dallas Cowboys or to leave the Sooners for any other job.
"To end speculation here in the heart of recruiting, I want to make it clear that I am not interested in any other coaching positions at this time," Stoops said. "I am too excited about our future at Oklahoma and the program we're continuing to build."
That's a pretty weak denial. BTB regular Doomsday has his own view on the candidacy of Bob Stoops in a Diary, here.
Nick Eatman brings up another possible name that I've seen a couple of times over the past day.
Les Miles - Has Cowboys ties, having spent two years under Chan Gailey as tight ends coach. Miles went to Oklahoma State and then LSU, where he is considered one of the best motivational head coaches in the nation.