Will this waiting game with Dan Quinn put the Cowboys in some sort of predicament, especially in terms of finding a replacement if he leaves? Has the once-a-year breakup affair become a bit of a hassle? Especially when the defense hasn't lived up to expectations when they needed it most this season? – Cedric Morton/Lewis, St. Missouri
Nick Eatman: This probably isn't an ideal situation, since going into the offseason, coaches and scouts want to get their plans in place as quickly as possible. That's not easy to do when there's a lot of uncertainty on one side of the ball. But I imagine the Cowboys already have some contingency plans in place. And one more thing: this is how the process works. The head coaching position is one of the most coveted jobs in the world. They have to make sure they give Dan Quinn every opportunity to get a shot if that turns out to be the best situation for him. So I'm not sure if “bind” is the right word, but it just doesn't allow the Cowboys to jumpstart the process as quickly as they would like.
Mickey: It remains to be seen whether Dan Quinn's continued interviewing for the head coaching position will put the Cowboys in trouble. They understand how the system works. Additionally, like most company or department managers, they usually already have a long list of potential replacements at hand and know the direction they want to go. Additionally, the Cowboys will likely know Quinn's status by the end of the week. Will it be in Seattle, maybe in Washington, or will it be back for another season? Certainly, head coach Mike McCarthy has enough connections to know where Quinn would want to go if he were to leave after multiple seasons in the NFL. And there may be internal candidates that we've already talked to. The important thing is not to make too many fundamental changes to the defensive system with so many players in place.
