Cowboys 'Secret Plan' To Hire Belichick? Would Coach Work for Jerry?

FRISCO - It's still early in the NFL season and the Dallas Cowboys are a .500 team, making this an odd time to once again ignite speculation about the possibility that your next head coach is destined to be Bill Belichick.

But after the Cowboys fell to the Detroit Lions in a 47-9 Sunday blowout at AT&T Stadium , the subject of a post-Mike McCarthy era popped up seemingly everywhere, from bored fans to trollish national media members.

The first question, as posed to owner Jerry Jones, was about any contemplation of dismissing McCarthy now, as he works as a lame duck (along with the entirety of his staff) on the final year of his contract.

"I haven't considered that and I'm not considering that,'' Jones replied. "Just so you're clear. I wouldn't (answer) the hypothetical.

And when pushed, Jerry fired back, "Do you think I'm an idiot?''

Answer accepted. Again, Dallas is 3-3 and remains in theoretical playoff contention as it enters the bye week.

The next question, and a long-standing one: Who'll be the coach of "America's Team'' in 2025? McCarthy's future with the organization is not likely to extend through next season; whatever the measuring stick - a Super Bowl? an NFC Championship Game appearance? - Dallas does not seem to be on that track.

Enter, again, the idea of replacing McCarthy with Bill Belichick, with NFL insider Josina Anderson stirring it up by posting a video of Belichick using his binoculars and "keeping an eye on the Cowboys.''

Is there fire under the smoke? Could Belichick really work here?

We know that privately, Dallas is on the wish list of Belichick, who was deposed in New England after a near-quarter century and is spending this NFL season working in media and canoodling with his young girlfriend.

Would Belichick be a good fit for the Cowboys? Jones is the owner/GM, and he did make it work in the past with powerbrokers Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells working side-by-side with him. Belichick is friendly with Johnson and mentored by Parcells, so if Belichick has orchestrated the rumor to this point (and he has indeed orchestrated it), he's obviously already answered the "work with Jerry?) question for himself.

Same with Jones. He's given this thought. He's made a point to announce that Belichick is a "friend'' (a claim that we can tell you is an exaggeration). So Jerry's thought of it. And Bill's thought of it. That means this is now a sort of "open secret.''

Related: Jerry's 'Too Cheap' to Hire Belichick? Wild Rumor

Belichick was essentially his own general manager for the Patriots, so this would be an adjustment for him. How much similar control would he want in Dallas? He won't get it. How much would he bristle at Jones' style, even if Jerry is willing to give in to surrendering great authority to a coach? There is no way to know - and Belichick will weigh that as he also flirts with possible openings with the Jets, Eagles, Jaguars and his beloved New York Giants.

Another consideration, of course, is whether Belichick without Tom Brady will ever again "be Belichick.'' at age 72, does he still have his fastball? New England hasn't been truly good in almost a half-decade ... which is largely why that Pats marriage between Belichick and owner Robert Kraft ended.

"Belichick and The 'Boys'' would be a heckuva story in 2025 - though that's stopping no one from making it a story right now.