'Shocked' Cowboys Legend Jimmy Johnson Reveals Insight on Belichick's 'Next Opportunity'

'Shocked' Dallas Cowboys Legend Jimmy Johnson Reveals Insight on Bill Belichick's 'Next Opportunity'

FRISCO - When the Atlanta Falcons job didn't happen for Bill Belichick, sources involved in that situation made it clear to us that the legenary coach's desire for authority was a factor.

But now Dallas Cowboys icon Jimmy Johnson is working to dispute that angle, saying that in his visits with Belichick, the deposed New England Patriots czar said, "I don't need to be in charge of everything.''

That, of course, is exactly the position Belichick held during his successful reign in New England, as he won six Super Bowls in 24 years. But that level of power wasn't important to him as he searched for his next gig?

"Bill is upfront about it," Johnson told Joe Rose on Miami's WQAM 560 AM. "He said, 'Hey, I don't need to be in charge of everything.' That's what happened up in New England. He kind of fell into that deal, and it's not necessarily that he pushed for it. That's what happened because he was there for so long.

"But he's more than willing to give up some of the personnel decisions to the general manager and the personnel people."

Johnson's insistence that Belichick wasn't seeking total autonomy in his post-Patriots work may be true. Of course, consider Jimmy's phrasing here; Belichick is "more than willing to give up some of the personnel decisions to the general manager and the personnel people."

Is that really a concession? That the coach would be willing to "give up some decisions to the GM''? Under normal circumstances, wouldn't the coach "give up ALL the decisions to the GM''!?

While there was the oozing of rumors regarding Belichick and other teams - including Jimmy's old team, the Dallas Cowboys - there were never actual facts to substantiate any of that. And in the end, the Atlanta Falcons were the only team that interviewed Belichick. ... and as we reported at the time, Atlanta concerns over recreating its power structure to Belichick's liking is one of the reasons Raheem Morris got that job ... leaving Belichick in the unemployment line.

Johnson did note that front-office members from other teams were "really afraid" of Belichick because they thought they'd "lose their jobs" if hiring him - and what's odd is that feeling actually fits our (and others') reporting about the power-structure issue.

Why would Falcons front-office members be "really afraid'' of Belichick hogging the power if Belichick made it clear to them that he didn't want to hog the power?

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In any event, the Hall of Famer and Ring of Honor member Johnson predicts Belichick's status will absolutely change during the next NFL Coaching Carousel.

There were "a lot of people working against him as far as getting a job," Johnson said. "I was shocked that he didn't get some more opportunities. (But) he'll get opportunities next year."