IRVING, Texas – As the highest-seeded losers in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs, the Cowboys are eligible to send their coaching staff to Glendale, Ariz., to coach the Pro Bowl on Jan. 25.
There's one problem with that scenario, however. Following Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers, many members of the Cowboys' coaching staff are out of contract. Most notable among them is head coach Jason Garrett, but Cowboys' coordinators like Rod Marinelli and Bill Callahan are also currently at the end of their respective deals.
That's why, according to team executive vice president Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' top priority in the coming days is resolving those contract situations so their coaches can work the Pro Bowl.
"I know their wishes are to coach it, we want them to coach it," Jones said Monday on 105.3 The Fan. "We've got some work to do here over the next couple of days – but certainly work I think we can get done. When two sides want to get something done, then usually there's a way you can get everything accomplished."
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The Cowboys have a three-day window to negotiate exclusively with their coaching staff, and Jones said they have already begun that process. Specifically, he said that finding a new contract for Garrett is the team's first priority in the coming days.
"He's the No. 1 priority – he's what I'm working on all day today, been working on it," Jones said. "It started last night, and we want to get him signed up and everything else obviously can fall from there once we get Coach Garrett taken care of."
For his part, Garrett said Monday in an interview with 105.3 The Fan that he had heard that he and his staff might be coaching the Pro Bowl, but he didn't have complete confirmation as of yet.
"That's what people told us last night after the game. We'll confirm that today and what those logistics are," he said.
Garrett also reiterated that he hopes to be back with the Cowboys when the negotiation process has concluded.
"Oh, absolutely," he said. "This is a great organization. I think we've really built a football team, like I said, that we can be proud of. There are some really good things ahead for this team."
If the Cowboys' coaches do work the Pro Bowl, they'll be surrounded by plenty of their own talent. Dallas is sending six players to the all-star game in two weeks – Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant, Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin.
Jones said he felt confident that the Cowboys could do enough to make sure their coaches and players are in attendance at University of Phoenix Stadium for the game.
"I know we feel like we can get it done, and I think there's positive feedback from the coaches back there and we're going to roll up our sleeves and get to work and try to get everything done," he said. "If that happens, I think they'll be coaching in the Pro Bowl."
