Jones on Job

Thursday, January 13th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones denied rumors Thursday that, hours after he announced the firing of coach Chan Gailey, he phoned the coaches of Arkansas and Texas about the opening. Jones went further, saying that not only has he not contacted Texas' Mack Brown or Arkansas' Houston Nutt, but he doesn't plan to, either. In a statement released Thursday, Jones said: "I have not had any contact with the University of Arkansas or the University of Texas regarding the head football coaches at each institution as potential candidates for the Dallas Cowboys opening. In addition, I will not make contact with those schools -- or those men â€“ during this process." On Tuesday, Jones fired Gailey after a disappointing 8-8 season and a first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings. While Jones has not said who he will pick as a replacement, observers think he has done enough in recent days to suggest his next coach will be someone who has a background in offense and has the approval of quarterback Troy Aikman, a former Oklahoman. Jones also said in the statement that, as a native Arkansan, he knows "how important the football programs are at each of these schools" and that "those who follow these football teams, in both states, should not have concerns about the continuity of their respective programs and the current recruiting process." Jones played at Arkansas and addressed the Razorbacks a few days before the Jan. 1 Cotton Bowl at Dallas against Texas. Jones ended his statement by saying he does not intend to make daily public comments about the names of people he is considering.