Mike McCarthy warned as Cowboys face season on brink and Bill Belichick looms

The drama is not over in Dallas, it never is, but the buck is going to stop with head coach Mike McCarthy.

After three successive winning seasons, McCarthy enters his fifth year with the franchise knowing that anything less than a Super Bowl run is likely to spell the end in Arlington.

An offseason that has featured a wait on contracts for Micah Parsons, CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott has so far delivered just a record-busting deal for Lamb.

Lamb finally signed, Prescott is in the final year of his deal and Parsons is entering the fourth year of the rookie deal he signed and will expect to be among the highest paid defensive players in the league.

All this is playing out under the guidance of head coach McCarthy, who is also in the final year of his deal – and former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been linked with succeeding him.

It’s a remarkable set of circumstances for a team, and an owner, who love the spotlight – and former Cowboys special teamer Jason Bell believes it will be the coach who pays the ultimate price.

“He’s in a tough situation, I think he knows it,” Bell told talkSPORT.

“Even though they’ve won a lot of games, it’s all about the postseason – they’ve got to win in the playoffs.

“They have to have a Super Bowl run. I’m not saying they’ve got to win it, but there’s got to be a ton of hope. Jerry wants an extra playoff game. He wants everybody talking about them contending for the Super Bowl.

“If Mike McCarthy does not deliver that, he’s next. He’s got rid of everything. Offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators, obviously one left to become a head coach.

“Now it’s on him. He’s taking over the play calling with Mike Zimmer. They got to have success or else a guy like ‘the hooded monster’ Bill Belichick might be getting a ring on his phone.”

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With Lamb signed to a new deal, Bell believes it won’t be long before Prescott is tied to a new contract too – the alternative would involve him walking away in free agency.

With McCarthy’s future under the microscope, Prescott is likely to play a waiting game himself because the prize is likely to be the richest contract in NFL history.

Whether it’s in Dallas or somewhere else is up to Jones.

“I think Jerry Jones does a good job with making sure he’s in the narrative,” Bell added.

“His is the team that is always spoken about. It’s the number one franchise in sports for a reason. We’re always talking about the Cowboys. So maybe he ends up paying like he always does.

“Everybody just has to understand that and not take it personal. When you look at Dak Prescott, you look at that team. What else are they going to get?

“Tell me another quarterback they’re going to go find and plug in there and for them to have success like that. When you pay a receiver what they paid, the worst thing you can have is not having a quarterback.

“You have to have somebody there who can deliver them the ball and take care of that. So I think it’ll all work out with Dak.”

Belichick was linked with a number of teams during the offseason after leaving the New England Patriots following 24 successful seasons with the franchise that delivered six Super Bowls.

The 72-year-old might not be coaching but has already shown he will be a very visible presence throughout the year.

Regular appearances on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s ManningCast, Inside the NFL as well as contributions to Underdog Fantasy and The 33rd Team mean that the New England Patriots will loom over every coach under pressure to deliver.

The Cowboys begin their season on the road, when face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday – when Tom Brady will make his announcing debut.

As if the spotlight wasn’t already on Dallas.

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