Jason Garrett is nervous. In the past couple of years, he has been the coach sitting on the hot seat at the end of each season. The Dallas Cowboys leader has yet to bring the team to the playoffs or get them well above a .500 roster. Yet, each year, Jerry Jones gives him another vote of confidence and he returns. Jones continues to say that Garrett or quarterback Tony Romo are not at risk of losing their jobs, but that does not stop the head coach from being a bit concerned.
Garrett is well aware that the NFL is business dictated on wins. He has not produced enough wins to make his job a lock. While he may get the thumbs up from the team owner, he feels that at this point, no one is safe.
"Ever since I have been in this league as a player, as a coach, I think everybody, each and every day, is play and coaching for their jobs. That's the nature of this thing and that's what makes the NFL great. You come here to work every day. And we use the word urgency a lot...And every day is important, as a coach, as a player we are trying to get ourselves better each and every day to become the team we want to be," Garrett said.
It is hard to know whether or not Garrett's job is truly on the line. Romo has not brought a large amount of success to the Cowboys and the team honored him with a contract over $100 million. Jones said last week that Garrett was not coaching for his job and does not need to worry. However, at what point do the Cowboys believe changes need to be made in order to generate success?
Garrett is reaching the third year in a four-year contract. He has not brought Dallas to the postseason. He could end up not being the team's play-caller in 2013. He will be working with a new defensive and offensive coordinator. Despite the changes in staff, Jones remains confident the head coach is the right fit for the Cowboys.
"Well, no, no he's not...to the last question: Is Jason coaching for his job? No," Jones said. "What we're doing is taking the assets that we have, and Jason being right at the top and certainly out premier asset, and we're using them to the best of our ability."
Jones' statement is great, but as the coach reaches the end of his contract, if the Cowboys do not head to playoffs then Jones will likely be singing a different tune.
