NFL insider delivers update on pool of Cowboys HC candidates after Jerry Jones' Deion Sanders' pursuit

There has been plenty of movement in the Dallas Cowboys' coaching search over the last two days. On Monday, franchise owner Jerry Jones and coach Mike McCarthy parted ways after no offer was extended to McCarthy. In his five years in Dallas, McCarthy had a 49-35 record with the Cowboys finishing this season at 7-10.

The New Orleans Saints are expected to show interest in McCarthy, while the Chicago Bears have already scheduled an interview with him later this week.

On the Cowboys' side of things, Jones reached out to Deion Sanders on Monday, prompting intense speculation that Sanders could be the next coach at "The Star." For his part, Sanders remained non-committal, telling ESPN:

“To hear from Jerry Jones is truly delightful, and it’s intriguing. I love Jerry and believe in Jerry. After you hang up, and process it, and think about it, it’s intriguing. But I love Boulder and everything there is about our team, the coaches, our student body and the community.”

On Tuesday evening, NFL insider Jane Slater had an update for Cowboys fans after reaching out to league and college football circles:

“It sounds like Jerry has been on a bit of a solo mission. He is picking up the phone, he is making calls. It’s my understanding he has not yet called Kellen Moore, he has not yet called Kliff Kingsbury. He has not yet called [Steve] Sarkisian down at the University of Texas. Sark, to get out of his deal, that would cost $6 million.

"I was told with Deion that would be about $10 million and that would go down over the length of his contract from five years. Pete Carroll’s another name out there and Jon Gruden. Gruden has not gotten a call yet, that's my understanding. Nothing official there."

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Former Cowboys All-Pro latest to be linked with replacing Mike McCarthy

Slater also addressed the growing speculation around former Dallas All-Pro Jason Witten, whose name has popped up over the last two days. Witten, who suited up as a tight end for the franchise, is serving as the coach at Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas.

“It’s been my understanding that Jerry has talked to Jason [Witten] in recent weeks and I do believe that he was part of a plan that Jerry initially had when he was going to bring back Mike McCarthy," Slater reported. "I think the plan there was to make him an heir apparent of sorts."

She added that those conversations ended prematurely when Mike McCarthy "sort of surprised" Jerry Jones by deciding there wasn't a future for him with the Dallas Cowboys.