FRISCO - Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is at the end of his contract, and that is a headline-grabbing issue.
Dallas Cowboys personnel boss Will McClay is in pretty much the same boat, and maybe that fact is worthy of similar headlines.
McCarthy's deal ends on January 14, with potential bidders needing to ask permission from Dallas to interview him from Sunday to that date ... and then after that date, he is free to negotiate.
McCarthy has indicated that he would like an extension to stay on here.
And McClay? He has been with the Cowboys for 20 years; he is virtually a member of the Jones family by now, and is extremely loyal to ownership led by Jerry and Stephen Jones.
Nevertheless, his deal runs out following the April NFL Draft, we are told.
Is it possible that at age 58 he might want to finally explore being a real general manager (rather than a de facto assistant GM as he is here)?
And to Cowboys Nation, does that mean it is worth wondering if it is possible - if that's what it takes to retain him - that Dallas GM Jerry steps back and assigns the title to McClay?
McClay received an extension three years ago, but between then and now has been pursued. A year ago, as usual, McClay declined to move, prompting McCarthy to note his value.
.“He’s very important to our operation, without a doubt,'' said McCarthy a year ago. "The most important thing to want as an organization when you know things are right is to build off the consistency.''
McClay's work in the NFL Draft and in player evaluation and acquisition has been "consistently'' excellent. Also "consistent'' are those interview offers that figure to lead to job offers that McClay eventually spurns on a perennial basis.
Those outside the building who continue to clamor for McClay to be given a title to some degree don't get it: McClay has a tremendous amount of power here and yet gets to stay behind the scenes while Jerry does the radio shows.
So far, McClay has liked it that way.
But as we've said to him frequently over the years, "Most lieutenants aspire to be captains who want to run their own ship.''
Our understanding is that McClay is "paid like a GM'' in addition to his authority here. So maybe what is now a tradition in Dallas of more than a half-decade will continue in that other NFL teams will absolutely investigate the idea of luring McClay away from the warm and familial embrace of the Jones family by offering him a GM title.
We also understand that the Joneses feel comfortable about their ability to keep this personnel department intact - meaning, in short, they plan on retaining McClay.
And needless to say, they plan on retaining McClay without Jerry giving up his title.
