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Cowboys Sign Mexico OL Isaac Alarcon; McCarthy as Landry

Originally posted on FanNation Cowboy Maven | Last updated 1/27/23

JAN 27 MORE FUTURES The Cowboys continue to sign up their Reserve/Futures guys, with 11 players so far this week coming back from the practice squad - now including popular offensive tackle Isaac Alarcon.

Alarcon has been with the Cowboys for three seasons on the NFL International Pathway program but has "run out of eligibility'' there. But Dallas believes he's developed enough to merit a spot on the 90-man offseason roster. ... in addition to his presence as a way to connect with the international fan base.

Others signed to futures contracts this week are wideouts Antonio Callaway, Dontario Drummond and Dennis Houston, tight end Seth Green, O-linemen Alex Taylor, Brock Hoffman and Alec Lindstrom, and DBs Tyler Coyle, Juanyeh Thomas and Sheldrick Redwine.

JAN 26 MCCARTHY AS LANDRY? As part of his Thursday season-ending presser, Mike McCarthy dropped a bomb of sorts. ...

McCarthy said that team owner Jerry Jones told him this week that he wants McCarthy to coach the Cowboys as long as Tom Landry did. “I said, ‘OK, that’s a long time.’”

How seriously are some fans and media taking this?

Way too seriously, of course.

Jerry is obviously not only speaking hyperbolically (what's new!) but also figuratively ... and symbolically.

He's trying to express his support for the coach, who has won 12 games in back-to-back seasons ... and who despite that seems to be somewhat of a punching bag for critics.

For what it's worth, the legendary Landry coached the Cowboys for 29 seasons.

Mike McCarthy, with three seasons under his belt, is presently 59.

So Mike, to fulfill Jerry's "vision,'' would coach the Cowboys until age 85.

Again ... Jerry is talking hyperbolically (what's new!) but also figuratively ... and symbolically.

In actual news, Dan Quinn tells CowboysSI.com that he's staying ... and McCarthy, when asked by us about Kellen Moore's job security, could not promise the same outcome.

JAN 26 PFT 'BEHIND THE SCENES' The Cowboys have given every indication that they are keeping coach Mike McCarthy.

But ProFootballTalk.com - as it so often does - has other, more conspiratorial ideas.

The Cowboys have "parted ways'' (i.e., fired) a number of assistant coaches. All of this is painful. None of this is unusual.

And yet Mike Florio at PFT writes ...

"And it makes me wonder whether something else is going on behind the scenes. Something like owner Jerry Jones discreetly lining up the replacement for the head coach before firing the head coach, because Jones will fire the head coach only if he gets the replacement Jones wants. ...

And then Florio mentions "Sean Payton’s candidacy.''

We think it's odd that the firing of assistants somehow equals the firing of their boss, though anything is possible. We don't think it's odd to float the name of Payton here, even though it's being done (again and again) without any real evidence.

And I guess we should no longer be bothered by the idea that a report is going to take us "behind the scenes.'' ... regardless of whether there is any such access to that place "behind the scenes.''

Want a simple fact, rather than speculation? McCarthy is holding his season-ending press conference with us here at The Star at 3 p.m. CT.

If he announces that he’s stepping down to make room for Sean Payton, we will let you know.

JAN 24 WHERE IS JERRY? Radio silence? From owner Jerry Jones?

Jones’ cancellation of his Tuesday radio show on 105.3 The Fan naturally leads to speculation - as Jerry well knows and does not mind - about what’s “rumbling” here inside The Star.

Is it about to head coach Mike McCarthy's staff job security? About the guys out of contract (including George Edwards, Joe Philbin and Doug Nussmeier)? About possible departures of Dan Quinn?

A full-staff postgame meeting is normal. So is some period of football mourning. How about a press conference? When’s that? And … well, Jerry is a busy man.

So … radio silence. But this is Jerry. So the Cowboys won’t be silent for long.

JAN 23 SIGNINGS: The Cowboys are now free - unfortunately - to begin the assemblage of a 90-man roster via “futures” contracts.

The list so far features five players from the practice squad: Wideout Dontario Drummond, centers Brock Hoffman and Alec Lindstrom and DBs Sheldrick Redwine and Juanyeh Thomas.

Stay tuned here for more signings …

JAN 23 RUMBLINGS OF CHANGE? Sunday's playoff loss at San Francisco did not change the mind of owner Jerry Jones in regard to head coach Mike McCarthy's job security.

"No, no, no,'' Jones said when asked about the idea of dismissing McCarthy after his 12-5 regular season. "Not at all.''

But that doesn't eliminate the possibility of change on the staff.

Of course, there is Dan Quinn, as this 19-12 loss may have been his last game as Dallas’ defensive coordinator as he's being pursued by Denver and elsewhere as a head coaching candidate.

And there is offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, up for a Panthers interview ... though this 12-point output probably doesn't help beef up his resume.

But in the Monday morning postmortem, 105.3 The Fan morning host Shan Shariff made note of the fact that Jerry and Stephen Jones canceled their Monday and Tuesday planned appearances. ... and the observer certainly could infer that the cancelations are due to more pressing matters inside The Star.

Like staff changes? Or maybe just a staff meeting, the second of which is commonplace after Cowboys games.

Worth noting: Late Sunday, Jerry explained to us how some change is inevitable - and used iconic Cowboys coach Tom Landry, dismissed by new owner Jones in 1989, as evidence.

“The system recognizes and rewards excellent coordinators and excellent coaches,” Jones said. “So you can’t think that your life’s over when you look ahead and think that you’re not going to have the same people as coordinators or even coaches. (But) ... they do come and go. They all leave. Closest thing to that was the one that left when I got here, coach Landry. I’m really not trying to be cute.

"Especially when you have success, you know there’s turnover.''

And maybe when you have playoff failure, too.

JAN 20 PAYTON, KELLEN INTERVIEWS ON HOLD Professional soccer player Anton Walkes has died following a boat crash in Florida, authorities said Thursday, a tragedy that impacts on the sports world in Charlotte.

Walkes, 25, was a player for the MLS club Charlotte FC, owned by David Tepper, who also owns the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

Tepper said all involved are "devastated by the tragic passing of Anton Walkes. ... He was a tremendous son, father, partner and teammate whose joyous approach to life touched everyone he met.''

In light of the tragedy, Tepper and the Panthers contingent, which had been in New York to interview head coaching candidate Sean Payton on Friday, instead traveled back to North Carolina while putting Payton's interview on hold.

Also postponed is the Panthers’ planned visit with Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

JAN 17 ANOTHER DQ SUITOR Add the Indianapolis Colts to the Dan Quinn interview request list.

The Cowboys defensive coordinator, who will interview for the top job with the Denver Broncos on Friday, is also on the wish list in Indy. Quinn will of course juggle the visit or visits while he prioritizes his preparation for Dallas' Sunday playoff game at San Francisco.

JAN 16 PAYTON UPDATE The Houston Texans have completed an interview with Sean Payton, an NFL source tells TexansDaily.com.

Meanwhile, Payton himself has offered a revelation, saying that the cost to trade for him for any interested team would be "a mid- or late-first-round pick.''

Payton has meanwhile dismissed the idea of the Cowboys as a viable destination for him as he exits "retirement.'' ... as Mike McCarthy looks to be secure in Dallas.

Payton is a top candidate for the Denver job, as is Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who will interview with the Broncos on Friday.

Jim Harbaugh has pulled himself out of Denver consideration, opting to remain at the University of Michigan.

JAN 14 BYE KLIFF! FOX is reporting that former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury - dismissed this week - is telling potential employers (who might want him as an offensive coordinator) that he is not available at this time.

And why not?

Kliff apparently bought a plane ticket.

A ticket to Thailand.

A one-way ticket to Thailand.

JAN 14 SEAN SWEEPSTAKES The Denver Broncos and top head-coaching candidate Sean Payton ... might be a match?

The Washington Post reporting that the Broncos "appear to be the front-runner" for Payton, the former Saints' Super Bowl-winning coach.

Payton, 59, is scheduled to meet the Broncos in Los Angeles on Tuesday morning. Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is also high on the Denver wish list.

JAN 13 MCVAY TO STAY Sean McVay retiring?

That will have to wait another year.

The Super Bowl-winning Rams coach has decided to keep working rather than take a break and go in TV, per multiple reports.

McVay recently told his assistants that they can seek other employment, and in his own media visits has given cryptic responses about his future …

There were rumors that McVay might leave last year after the Rams won Super Bowl LVI over the Bengals, with reports that he had received a five-year, $100 million offer to join the Amazon broadcast booth.But now he’ll stay on after a losing season and rebuild … at least until a year from now, when we’re sure we’ll be covering the same story again.

JAN 13 BILL'S REPLACEMENT? They said they might be "making changes.'' The New England Patriots seem rather serious about this. From our Patriots SI crew in Boston:

"In an atypical display of transparency, the Pats issued a statement on Thursday night both confirming their intention to begin interviewing potential offensive coordinators, and to announce that they have “begun contract extension conversations” with inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo on staying with the team long-term.

The new extension for Mayo - who is getting feelers from other hiring teams - will likely come with an upgraded title (possibly, defensive coordinator?) and it perhaps is setting the stage for Mayo to be the successor to Bill Belichick, age 70, as head coach?