Stephen Jones: Cowboys’ Jason Garrett ‘right guy for job’

Jason Garrett isn’t interested in discussing his lame-duck status.

He takes a day-to-day approach in coaching and life, and was in no mood to talk about being in the final year of his contract Thursday. The Cowboys, after all, are days away from their biggest game of the season against the Eagles on Sunday night with the NFC East lead on the line.

“All I have interest in is this practice that starts in 10 minutes,” Garrett said.

But it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Garrett and the Cowboys will reach an agreement to extend their partnership for well beyond this season.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones made it clear that the organization feels Garrett is “the right guy for this job” during a radio appearance Wednesday night on KTCK/1310 AM and 96.7/FM, saying his father, owner Jerry Jones, shares the same sentiment.

“Jason not only was qualified when he took the job, but he improves every day, every week, every month, every year,” Stephen Jones said. “You know, one of the things you fear is that you train a guy up and then he leaves and he goes on and he’s even better for the next team than he was for you. Jason has grown leaps and bounds.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do. But I really think Jason is the right guy for this job, and I know Jerry thinks the same thing. I certainly see Jason being a big part of our future.”

Garrett took over the team during the middle of the 2010 season and led them to a 5-3 mark the final eight games. The Cowboys, though, then proceeded to go 8-8 three consecutive seasons without a playoff berth.

They passed the .500-mark this year when they defeated the Bears for their ninth win on Dec. 4.

“It’s an improvement this year and an improvement at a time when a lot of people didn’t think we would improve,” Stephen Jones said. “They actually thought we might go backwards and here we are at nine wins with three games to go.”

The Cowboys control their own playoff destiny at this point, too. If they win out, they will win the NFC East and host at least one playoff game.

Brent sits

Defensive tackle Josh Brent didn’t practice Thursday, a day after tweaking his calf during practice.

Brent’s status for Sunday night’s game against the Eagles is unknown at this point, but signs suggest that he will likely be inactive. The Cowboys are deep with defensive linemen and promoted defensive end Kenneth Boatright to the 53-man roster Wednesday.

“It’s part of football,” Brent said. “Throughout my career, I’ve had numerous different injuries. We’ll take it day-by-day and see on Sunday.”

Brent played 22 snaps in the Cowboys’ last game against the Bears on Dec. 4, recording two tackles. It was his first game action in more than two years since his drunken driving accident took the life of teammate and friend Jerry Brown Jr. in December 2012.

Brent said he came out of the game all right and this injury popped up during practice.

As far as how Brent has responded to getting back in football shape, Garrett said: “He’s responded well.”

Linebacker Dekoda Watson also wasn’t at practice. Defensive end Jeremy Mincey returned after missing Wednesday for personal reasons.

Ready for rematch

The Eagles held the Cowboys to a season-low in points on Thanksgiving, dominating the game from start to finish. They closed running lanes for DeMarco Murray and had quarterback Tony Romo under constant pressure, sacking him four times.

They even bloodied wide receiver Dez Bryant’s lip, something Bryant called “kinda cheap” after the game.

But Bryant wasn’t going to get into the trash-talking game this time around.

“C’mon now, don’t do that,” Bryant said. “I’m just saying, you ain’t gonna get no hype leading up to this. I’ll tell you that right now.”

Instead, Bryant and the rest of the team are simply focused on preparing for another road test. They are the only undefeated team on the road in the NFL and looking to put themselves in position to win the NFC East.

“They just all-around beat us last time, beat up on us really good,” tight end Jason Witten said. “More than anything with where we’re at in the season and what’s at stake, there’s a lot of excitement.”

This story was originally published December 11, 2014 at 4:51 PM with the headline "Stephen Jones: Cowboys’ Jason Garrett ‘right guy for job’."