CHICAGO _ Jason Garrett may or may not be coaching his last four games with the Dallas Cowboys, starting Thursday against the Chicago Bears.
He may or may not be in his last season with the Cowboys (6-6).
It all depends on how they do over the next month in keeping their one-game lead in the NFC East and whether they playoffs and win enough games in the postseason.
Owner Jerry Jones has gone from going scorched earth on the coaching staff after a Nov. 24 loss to the New England to saying Garrett is the right man to redeem the Cowboys over the last four games and fulfill a dream of reaching the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995.
What's certain is that Jones has not given Garrett the cover of job security.
Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, who led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s, said the team's biggest problem is Jones and how he runs the Cowboys.
"There is a lot to this job," Aikman said Wednesday as he was given the Heart of Dallas Award by the Dallas Influencers in Sports and Entertainment. "There is a lot he has to overcome. It's not run traditionally the way most organizations are and that is to the detriment of the Cowboys. You can't look at three playoff wins over the last 25 years and surmise that all the problems over that time have to do with coaching. I think you have to look at the top and say how are we doing it from the top. I think businesses do that. I think anyone worth their salt evaluate it from the top down."
While Aikman believes the Cowboys have enough talent for a miracle finish, he understands that it might be time for a change in Dallas.
He says Garrett will be fine, no matter what, as he has proven himself as a person and coach with an 83-65 coaching record, three division titles and two playoff wins in less than ideal conditions.
"Jason is a heck of a football coach," Aikman said. "He has done a nice job in Dallas. It's the hardest job in football. It goes beyond just the playing field and what all has to be managed just to give your team a chance to have success. At some point in time, unless you are Bill Belichick in New England, it's time for a change. But this story hasn't been fully written. I wouldn't be surprised if they did get on a run. They are talented enough to do it. Whatever happens down the road, I'm not worried about Jason Garrett. He will be fine. He has proven the quality of person he is, as well as the way he is as a head coach."
Here are five things to watch as the Cowboys prepare for the Bears:
