Loss By Dallas Opens Door

The loss by the Dallas Cowboys has opened the door for the Miami Dolphins to hire Dallas assistant Tony Sparano, and possibly more.  The Cowboys, the NFC’s number 1 seed, was knocked out of the playoffs by the NY Giants in Big D.

Tony Sparano the long rumored candidate for the Dolphins vacant HC spot is now officially free to leave the team.  A move the Dolphins will likely make by Thursday, if in fact Sparano has been there target all along.  He will likely be in Miami on Tuesday or Wednesday to meet with owner Wayne Huizenga.

The Cowboys’, specifically Jerry Jones, have been very accolading with the Dolphins so far in this short Phins off season.  That trend should continue and the loss to the Giants could potentially fuel more speculation of a blockbuster trade come the April NFL Draft.

Consider that so far the rumor has been a combination of both 1st round picks of the Cowboys and either Marion Barber or Bobby Carpenter, or both…for the right to AR RB Darren McFadden who has notified the NCAA on his intentions to skip his senior season.

At first glance, Marion Barber would be a surprise and as I watched the game vs. the Giants I often found myself asking why they would want to get rid of him…afterall, up to this point everything is only a rumor, still, the Cowboys did not lose because of Barber, but they didn’t win with him either.

Barber will be a RFA this off season and as of yet has not received a new contract.  Most believe that Jerry Jones will have that done soon.  However, if there is a chance that Jones could or wants to land Darren McFadden, keeping Jones would be costly in terms of the cap.  Jones would likely have to shell out top 3 and possibly number 1 overall money to get McFadden and a new contract for Barber would put a lot of dough at the RB spot.  It may be cheaper to keep Julius Jones, although that is more unlikely.

Barber played well on Sunday night, but the Cowboys lacked any real explosion.  Perhaps it was the many dropped passes that curtailed the offense, but in reality there was something missing…excitement, something.  As good as Marion Barber is, there is no flash to his thunder and for reasons mentioned above, the Cowboys likely won’t have both.

Overall, the Cowboys are done and officially have entered the off season.  One in which will see major changes in the coaching ranks both in Dallas and Miami.  For Dallas it is year 12 since their last playoff win and in Miami it will be going on year 7 since their last trip to the playoffs…yet both, this off season, seem completely intertwined.