Shanahan The Object Of Jerry Jones' Affection?

When Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys, he was immediately infatuated with former college teammate Jimmy Johnson. Jones was able to land his first love and it was a marriage that lasted 5 seasons. It ended with a bitter divorce.

Later Bill Parcells couldn't resist Jones' temptations. That union lasted until 2006.

Now that Mike Shanahan is on the market it seems he is becoming the object of Jones' affection.

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Shanahan could be stalking the sidelines of Jerry's New Football Palace in 2010.

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported this Saturday morning on NFL Gameday Morning on the NFL Network:

"Mike Shanahan and a potential coaching position with the Dallas Cowboys makes a lot of sense. The Cowboys and Broncos have practiced together in training camp for the last two years. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Shanahan know each other. Shanahan went to Eastern Illinois where Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo played college football (Sounds shakey). Romo and Shanahan would work great together, but in talking to people in Dallas, Jones is not going to do that this year. It looks like Wade Phillips is going to be back as head coach of the Cowboys next season as Jones has said. It sounds like the Cowboys are open-minded, perhaps exploring Shanahan in 2010 if things don't work the way they want next season."

Sports Illustrated's Peter King interviewed Mike Shanahan for SI.com and reports that Shannahan may take a year off to catch his breath.

"What I'm going to do is take a couple of weeks to sit back and relax a little, then consider what it is I'm going to do. Unless there's a perfect situation out there, I'd rather sit out the year and return next year.''

But Jerry Jones may make an offer Shanahan can't refuse. Cowboy offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who is the Cowboys head coach in waiting, is talking to the Denver Broncos about their head coaching position. Should Garrett get the Denver gig do you think Jones and Shanahan might make a "secret" deal to be Dallas' new head coach in waiting?

The flirtation has only just begun.

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