Sources: Ravens make offer Garrett to be head coach

jeremyroyce · Post by **jeremyroyce** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:27 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3197523

Updated: January 15, 2008, 2:16 PM ET

Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has been offered the Baltimore Ravens coaching position, sources told ESPN.

Garrett has not made a decision yet. But according to a league source, there is a "60-40'' chance that Garrett will ultimately accept the chance to succeed Brian Billick, who was fired after the regular season.

Garrett, who arrived at the Ravens' training complex for the second interview on Tuesday morning, was the first candidate to have call-back sessions with the Ravens and Atlanta Falcons.

According to a Cowboys source, Dallas owner Jerry Jones has communicated to Garrett without knowing exactly what the Ravens' financial offer might be that he would match it if Garrett rejects the Ravens' offer.

Jones has said he would compete for Garrett, not only because he has helped transform Tony Romo into one of the league's best young quarterbacks, but because the Cowboys owner views Garrett as potentially being his next head coach.

"There's a feeling that if Jason talks to Jerry last, Jerry can convince him to stay,'' the source said. "Jerry can be a very persuasive guy.''

But if Garrett believes he is ready to be an NFL head coach and convinced that the Ravens offer the right opportunity, there ultimately might be nothing Jones can do. Garrett left Dallas for his second meeting with the Ravens on Monday and remained in Baltimore for a second consecutive day.

Garrett, 41, is a veteran of three seasons as an NFL assistant. He was hired by the Cowboys as offensive coordinator in 2007, after two seasons on the Miami Dolphins' staff. In 2007, he presided over a unit that statistically ranked No. 3 in the league, but struggled in the final month of the year and in Sunday's playoff loss.

A former Princeton quarterback, Garrett played 12 seasons in the NFL as a backup, serving stints with Dallas (1993-99), the Giants (2000-03), Tampa Bay (2004), and Miami (2004). He also played in the World League (1991) and in the CFL (1991).

Before the Cowboys' playoff loss to the New York Giants, Jones said he was prepared to work hard to retain Garrett. "I respect his abilities as a coach. I'm impressed with the success of his guidance relative to our offense," he said. "When you say I went to great lengths to get him, I did, but I didn't give up the Cowboys to get him. Everything is relative.

"What to do to keep him? I'd work hard, but there are some things I can't control."

Jones must also deliberate whether the league's second-highest scoring offense can lose both Garrett and assistant head coach Tony Sparano, who is believed to be the frontrunner to rejoin Bill Parcells as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

Garrett has ties with the Ravens. His father, Jim, was a Cleveland Browns assistant who coached Pat Moriarty, a running back who is now the Ravens' vice president of football administration. Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens' general manager, was the tight end on that same Cleveland team.

Jones continues to indicate the he will not fire Wade Phillips after one season to keep Garrett in Dallas. But Jones has such high regard for Garrett that he hired him before he appointed Wade Phillips the head coach when Bill Parcells retired from coaching.

In fact, Garrett interviewed so well at this time last year that Jones nearly hired him instead of Phillips but ultimately decided to hire him as an assistant and place him first on the list of potential successors.

In their discussions, Jones has reminded Garrett -- Troy Aikman's backup on three Super Bowl-championship Cowboys teams -- of the unique history of the franchise, pledged to remain one of the most aggressive owners in terms of signing free-agent players and told him the Cowboys will have even more financial advantages when they move into their new Arlington stadium in 2009.

Ed Werder covers the NFL for ESPN.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:31 pm

Maybe it'sjust me, but this guy has one season as a coordinator. His offense was successful at the beginning of the year, but by the end, defenses were shutting them down. I smell a Norv Turner.

jeremyroyce · Post by **jeremyroyce** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:33 pm

JansenFan wrote:Maybe it'sjust me, but this guy has one season as a coordinator. His offense was successful at the beginning of the year, but by the end, defenses were shutting them down. I smell a Norv Turner.

You could be right. Although and maybe I'm wrong but weren't there quite a few teams interested in him? I know that Jerry Jones really likes him.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:36 pm

There definitely is a lot of teams interested in him. I just don't understand why.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:52 pm

JansenFan wrote:There definitely is a lot of teams interested in him. I just don't understand why.

Really!!! - I mean he's had some talent to use here - I don't see what all the fuss is about either - just the flavor of the month as far as I can see. :lol:

I do think it will be telling if he stays with the pukes - that will mean that he thinks he might have a really good chance of being the Head Coach and kind of indicates that he thinks Wade may be out of there :twisted:

- why would he turn down a HC job if he didn't think he had a good chance at taking over from Phillips in another year or two :wink:

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:03 pm

I thought Parcells was looking for him first in Miami.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 5:15 pm

Seems Tuna has his mind set on Tony Sparano from the pukes. That deal should be announced very shortly :lol:

LOSTHOG · Post by **LOSTHOG** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:34 am

JansenFan wrote:Maybe it'sjust me, but this guy has one season as a coordinator. His offense was successful at the beginning of the year, but by the end, defenses were shutting them down. I smell a Norv Turner.

I'm with you there. I don't know how he transformed Romo into one of the leagues best passers. They were already to enshrine him in Canton before Garrett ever arrived.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 2:09 pm

SkinsJock wrote:
JansenFan wrote:There definitely is a lot of teams interested in him. I just don't understand why.

Really!!! - I mean he's had some talent to use here - I don't see what all the fuss is about either - just the flavor of the month as far as I can see.

I do think it will be telling if he stays with the pukes - that will mean that he thinks he might have a really good chance of being the Head Coach and kind of indicates that he thinks Wade may be out of there - why would he turn down a HC job if he didn't think he had a good chance at taking over from Phillips in another year or two

Not anymore!

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10582783

Garrett is now staying with the pukes - I would imagine that Jones pointed out that he would replace Phillips - HC of the Cowboys is a pretty big deal - A little pressure on Phillips now to get his team further along than this year :lol:

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Thu Jan 17, 2008 3:08 pm

The Ravens doged a bullet, IMO. I don't think he's experienced enough to be a HC yet.