Dallas Cowboys won't name head coach until after Super Bowl

IRVING, Texas (AP) _ The Dallas Cowboys won't name Bill Parcells' replacement until after the Super Bowl. <br/><br/>In his first public comments since Parcells retired Jan. 22, owner and general

Thursday, February 1st 2007, 5:55 am

By: News On 6

IRVING, Texas (AP) _ The Dallas Cowboys won't name Bill Parcells' replacement until after the Super Bowl.

In his first public comments since Parcells retired Jan. 22, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Wednesday he wouldn't have a decision on a new coach until next week. Jones has already interviewed eight candidates, and might add to that list.

``We've got a good football team, and I've got to get this right,'' Jones said. ``We've got to make a good decision when we select the next coach. We're going to have the opportunity and a plan in place that will allow us to do that.''

By waiting until after the Super Bowl on Sunday, Jones could interview Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and Jim Caldwell, the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Indianapolis Colts. NFL rules prohibit teams from talking to those coaches until after the Super Bowl.

When asked if the possibility of more interviews meant he would talk to coaches from the Super Bowl teams, Jones responded, ``Not necessarily.'' He is scheduled to travel to Miami for the Super Bowl on Thursday.

Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary, the assistant head coach for the San Francisco 49ers, interviewed Tuesday. That came two days after 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who was the Cowboys' offensive coordinator for two Super Bowl victories and a two-time head coach.

Singletary and Turner are both expected to be at the Super Bowl. Singletary played for the Bears when they were last in the Super Bowl 21 years ago, and Turner's brother, Ron, is Chicago's offensive coordinator.

``We'll probably be bumping into them, and it would be impossible not to be talking about some of the things that we've discussed in the interview,'' Jones said.

Jason Garrett was hired last week for an unspecified role on the Cowboys staff, likely as offensive coordinator, after he interviewed for the head coaching vacancy. Garrett, who was Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman's backup for two Super Bowl titles, is still a candidate for the top job. He was the Miami Dolphins' quarterbacks coach the past two seasons _ his only coaching experience.

Defensive coordinators Wade Phillips of San Diego and Gary Gibbs of New Orleans have also interviewed, as did three of Parcells' assistants.

Jones said he hasn't eliminated any of the candidates from consideration.

``I feel very comfortable with where we are,'' Jones said. ``But if I can, I don't want to leave any stone unturned here.''

The Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since the 1996 season, a year after the last of their five Super Bowl victories. The next coach will be the seventh in Cowboys' history _ and the sixth hired by Jones, who bought the team in 1989.

Parcells went 34-32 and failed to win a playoff game over four seasons. Two weeks after the Cowboys lost their NFC wild-card game against Seattle, the 65-year-old Parcells announced his retirement after a 19-season career that included two Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants.

``Bill's leaving was a surprise,'' Jones said. ``But as it should be, I have things in my desk drawer and things in my back pocket that should prepare you if somebody gets hit by a car, so to speak.''