Based on every indication over the last few days, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is the front runner to land the Raiders head coaching job. Johnson is said to “enamored” with Tom Brady and the Raiders, and to this point he has not been closely linked with anyone else in the league.
Nevertheless, it’s early in the hiring process and storylines can change quickly in the NFL. In fact, the league’s coaching landscape did take a little turn on Monday morning.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dallas Cowboys are not expected to reach an extension with head coach Mike McCarthy, and he will be eligible to talk to other teams after midnight on Tuesday.
There haven’t been any reports tying Johnson to Dallas, but the 38-year-old head coach will surely be on the short list of coaches the Cowboys will want to interview. The Cowboys have issues of their own, but from a personnel standpoint, most would consider the situation in Dallas to be more attractive than what the Raiders are offering at the moment.
The Cowboys have a competitive roster to go along with a quarterback that most would consider to be in the range of top 10 to 15 in the league, and there might not be a professional sports team in the United States that gets a bigger spotlight.
What the Raiders bring to the table, though, is Tom Brady and presumably a much more stable front office going forward. As long as Jerry Jones looms large in Dallas, the Cowboys will not be an example of a well-run organization.
Even Cowboys fans are united on that opinion.
Other than Mike Vrabel going to the New England Patriots, the NFL’s hiring cycle is just getting started. The Raiders, Jaguars, Browns, Titans, Bears, Jets and Saints are all looking for head coaches and if the Cowboys enter the mix, there could be as many as eight teams in the market for a head coach by Wednesday morning.
As for the Raiders, every indication is that they have their sights set on hiring Johnson. Pete Carroll, who is interviewing in Las Vegas today (Monday), has some momentum as the no. 2 candidate, but if he shows up to his interview with an impressive plan, could the buzz around Carroll start gaining traction again?
x: @raidersbeat
The cowboys give me a break Jerry Jones runs that franchise and nobody else!
Jerry Jones, the new Al Davis?
NO!
I think the Raiders waiting until the Lions are done with the playoffs to make a decision is a bigger mistake than last year… I think if they want Ben Johnson, they should get a commitment from him and agree on terms, then move on to GM. suppose the Lions go the Super Bowl and behind the scene Dallas makes its move and the Raiders end up losing out on Johnson, Carrol and who knows.. Then like last year here we are, No QB, plus No Coach or GM!!! come on guys
stop dancing and make a commitment!