[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Monday, December 22, 1997

Switzer, Jones unsure about Cowboys' coach in '98

By JAIME ARON

Associated Press

IRVING - Even Barry Switzer is wondering who will coach the Dallas Cowboys next season.

Switzer, who has held the job the last four years, said following Sunday's season-ending 20-7 loss to New York that, "I don't know if I want to be the coach next year."

He added that he has discussed with team owner Jerry Jones the possibility of returning in a different role, such as a consultant or with some other front-office title.

"Jerry and I will talk about that in the future," Switzer said.

Jones, however, said that was news to him.

"Barry and I have never had a conversation about him not coaching this team," Jones said.

The doubletalk was reminiscent of the day Switzer was hired. At his introductory news conference, Switzer said the offer came several days before while Jones said he waited until Jimmy Johnson had been let go.

Switzer has been on the hot seat ever since then, even while leading Dallas to the NFC championship game his first year and winning the Super Bowl in his sophomore season.

Now, following a 10-6 season that ended with a playoff loss to Carolina and the miserable 6-10 season that ended Sunday, Switzer is even more of a target than he was in his darkest days at Oklahoma.

Dallas is easily in its worst shape since Jones bought the team in 1990.

Not only did the Cowboys not win the NFC East for a sixth straight time, they didn't even make the playoffs. Their record was their worst since they went 3-13 in Jones' first year, and their five-game losing streak to end the season was the worst since going 1-15 in 1989.

As for Switzer, it was the first time in 20 years of coaching that he'd ever lost more than two straight games and his first losing season.

"I'm personally responsible for what's happened," said Switzer, who is believed to be on the payroll for at least two more years. "I've always said it all starts with the head coach and goes down from there."

Just 15 minutes into the postseason, Switzer cautioned that he didn't "want to make emotional decisions" about his future.

"I'll sit down with Jerry and we'll talk about it," said Switzer, 61. "We'll let you know what we decide. But I'm not making that decision with the emotion of today's game influencing me."

Jones, who went on a limb by luring Switzer out of retirement and into the NFL for the first time, agreed it was far too soon to make any moves.

"I feel very rewarded that Barry and our team have a Super Bowl ring. This (season) would be very hard to take if we didn't have that," Jones said. "But we're not going rest on our laurels because this hurts too much. ...

"I'm not looking through rose-colored glasses at the challenges to be done. We've got a lot of work ahead."