IRVING, Texas -- Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones has staunchly declined to discuss contract negotiations with any of his employees – players and coaches – during this playoff run.
Approached about the subject on ESPN's NFL Insiders, however, Jones offered a small amount of insight about the future of his head coach, Jason Garrett.
"I've got tremendous confidence in Jason Garrett's growth and how he has evolved as head coach," Jones told ESPN. "I felt when the time is right – I didn't think it was right to start the season – and so I felt when the time is right, we'll sit down and extend his contract."
As he said, Jones famously opted not to renew Garrett's contract before the start of the 2014 season, after multiple seasons of speculation that Garrett might be fired after .500 finishes. Upon being appointed head coach midway through the 2010 season, the longtime offensive coordinator posted 8-8 records for three years before exploding to a 12-4 mark and a division title this past year.
"I'm glad we're having, not only for us but for our fans, the year that we're having. Because we've paid a price, and you always do, for a coach that's learning," Jones said.
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In the same interview, Jones discussed Garrett's promotion from offensive coordinator to head coach, and then the eventual decision to hire Scott Linehan as the team's play caller while Garrett focused on being a "walk around" head coach.
This isn't a new phenomenon for Jones, as he touched on the improvements former coaches have made given years to acclimate – particularly one notable, Super Bowl-winning coach.
"I'll give you one example, Jimmy Johnson. We won one football game in his first year being a pro football head coach," Jones said. "So coaches grow, coaches evolve, I'm glad that we're going to get a chance to have the benefit of the experience and the growth that Jason Garrett has shown."
