NFL teams
Calvin Watkins, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Jerry Jones: 'No hurry' on decisions

NFL, Dallas Cowboys

The fate of the Dallas Cowboys' offensive and defensive coordinators, Bill Callahan and Monte Kiffin, hasn't yet been decided by team owner/general manager Jerry Jones, he said Tuesday on his weekly radio show.

Jones said Callahan and Kiffin are both under contract and that he hasn't spoken fully with coach Jason Garrett about the staff.

"We'll be looking at that in the future," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan Dallas-Fort Worth. "There's no hurry on that."

Although Jones didn't commit to Callahan and Kiffin long-term, he reiterated his belief in Garrett. Jones said Garrett will return in 2014 and said the decision was made weeks ago.

Jones said he only announced it because he was asked about Garrett's job status.

"One thing that's positive here is that we're in it, we've been in it the last three years," Jones said, referring to the Cowboys needing to win a Week 17 game to clinch a playoff spot in each of the past three seasons.

"Of course, Jason has been on this staff for going on seven years now, so we've been in it during his time as head coach. We have been in it, right there playing for it, in the last game for the last three years. I'm in complete step with our fans that want more than 8-8."

The Cowboys finished one of their worst defensive seasons in franchise history when they lost to the Eagles on Sunday night. The Cowboys allowed 432 points, the second-highest total in franchise history, and 6,645 yards, a franchise high and third-most in league history.

Jones noted the numerous injuries to a defense that didn't have starting middle linebacker Sean Lee in the last few weeks and battled through health issues with defensive end DeMarcus Ware, defensive tackle Jason Hatcher and nickel cornerback Morris Claiborne.

Kiffin, 73, said Monday he wants to return and has no plans on retiring.

"It's no laughing matter," he said. "I'm proud to be a Cowboy. I'd like to get another shot next year. We'll see."

On offense, the Cowboys finished 16th overall but had the 24th-ranked rushing offense. Callahan was criticized for his lack of a commitment to the running game earlier in the season.

Running back DeMarco Murray finished with 1,124 yards, 10th in the NFL, but the Cowboys ran a franchise-low nine times in a victory over Minnesota on Nov. 3.

Garrett said he never retook the play-calling duties from Callahan, denying having done so in the Eagles game.

During the season, the only change Garrett made to the offense was moving quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson to the press box to assist Callahan in reading defenses. Garrett relayed Callahan's play calls to the quarterbacks' headsets.

"We had a rough year, but we didn't necessarily have a rough year because of coaching, in terms of our defense," Jones said. "All of that will be considered as we look forward. I haven't really sat down and discussed it, looked at it, and I don't know how much thought Jason has given to it during this latter part of the season."

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