Bill Belichick 'Parting Ways' with Patriots; Here Come Cowboys' Jerry Jones Hiring Rumors

Bill Belichick 'Parting Ways' with Patriots; Here Come Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones Hiring Rumors

FRISCO - After 24 seasons and six Super Bowl wins, the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick are "parting ways,'' according to reports, with a press conference scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

Once official, that will end the year-long speculation about the Patriots-related status of the legendary coach.

Oh, and it will accelerate the year-long speculation that he's going to end up in Dallas.

Belichick has already cleverly had cronies in the media and in the league drop bread crumbs to make sure the NFL knows he deserves to be wanted. And he will be, with the Falcons and the Chargers and surely others.

Clutchpoints

There are seven NFL teams currently looking for a new head coach. Without much to back it up, some Cowboys-watchers think there will be eight of those teams with Belichick now available ... and with Dallas coach Mike McCarthy on some real or imagined "hot seat.''

In the last 24 years, Belichick compiled a 266–121 record, won six Lombardi Trophies and was a three-time AP Coach of the Year. ... and of course, he did all of that with Tom Brady, without whom New England is just 29–38 (including 4-13 this past season).

Is that an argument against Belichick as a coach? Maybe? Should it be a factor when Belichick is attached via rumors to Dallas? Certainly.

There are suddenly "reports'' that Belichick and Jerry Jones are now buddies. If true, that is a fairly new development. There are meanwhile reports that Jones has some sort of clearly-defined "bar of achievement'' that McCarthy's Cowboys must reach in these playoffs ... or else.

We can tell you that Jones is not thinking of McCarthy in terms of firing him; he's thinking of how he can win with him.

"It's not an issue,'' Jones said this week when quizzed about McCarthy's job security.

What's Jerry REALLY Think of 'Firing' McCarthy? FISH PODCAST

That does not preclude a reaction to an implosion - what if the Cowboys lose 50-0 at home on Sunday to the Packers!? - but we can also tell you this ...

The only way for McCarthy to convince some of his critics that he's secure, and not about to be replaced by Belichick, is for McCarthy to win a Super Bowl ... now. 

And frankly? The Monday after he does that? The critics' track record suggests they'll return to the rumor well, pondering whether McCarthy will be fired if he doesn't win two Super Bowls.