Minute-by-minute, story-by-story, we will report on what's going on here inside The Star and around the NFL in our Cowboys Coaching Carousel.

If Jerry Jones cares about branding and buzz, bringing one of the greatest showmen and talkers in pro sports history to Dallas would check plenty of boxes.

The NFL coaching carousel is spinning slowly. The Jets, Saints and Bears got a head start in their searches because they fired coaches during the season. The Jaguars and Raiders joined the hunt last week. The Cowboys jumped in Monday so they have to wait to interview assistants on playoff teams because the first window passed.

On Sunday, it felt like the Cowboys were keeping McCarthy. By Monday morning, the tenor in Frisco had changed. Welcome to working for Jerry Jones - which coach will learn that next?

In a move that has left the NFL and fans alike scratching their heads, Jerry Jones has made a decision about Mike McCarthy's contract extension that defies logic with the Dallas Cowboys.

Mike Vrabel might be the best candidate for what Michael Irvin believes the Cowboys need. Discipline. Vrabel is a no-nonsense type of coach who played for Bill Belichick in New England for the bulk of his career. Vrabel had success in Tennessee as head coach with four consecutive winning seasons and an AFC title game appearance.

ARLINGTON - The rumors surrounding Mike Vrabel set him up as the hottest ... how the Cowboys - with a front office led by owner/GM Jerry Jones and a locker room led by QB Dak Prescott - fits ...

Editor's note: This story was published early Monday. Later, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Mike McCarthy is not expected to return to Dallas and is now set to become a free agent, per source. The two sides engaged in no discussions about a new deal, and McCarthy is expected to be a candidate in Chicago and New Orleans.

Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh is drawing quite a bit of interest from teams with vacant head coach jobs. The latest team: the Cowboys.