Bill Belichick Coaching the Dallas Cowboys? Culture Could Be a Problem

Now that the dust has settled on Super Wild Card Weekend, all of the teams involved can take stock. The winners are looking forward to their next game, while the losers are now faced with the unenviable task of trying to discern where things went wrong. And, in some of those situations, a coaching change could be on the cards.

Consider, for example, the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy's seat might not have been as hot as some other bench bosses, but Jerry Jones can't be happy after another disappointing playoff exit. And with QB Dak Prescott's contract representing a potential roadblock, it might be easier to change who's calling the shots.

Given that Jerry Jones is never shy about big-game hunting, some have started wondering about the idea of Bill Belichick coaching the Cowboys. If America's Team wants to get over the postseason hump, after all, who better to lead them into the playoffs than a man with a jewelry store's worth of rings?

Sounds like a pretty cool idea, right? And, if nothing else, Louis Reddick is into it. Well, there could be a major roadblock: the very brand that Jones himself has created.

Let's break things down.

The Cowboys' Spectacle Doesn't Seem Like Belichick

When we speak about "knowing" a player or a coach, things are always viewed through a filter. We can draw conclusions from quotes and actions, but very few of us truly know the people who make things happen on Sundays.

With that being said, though, there seems to be a rather clear clash in personalities between Belichick and the Cowboys. For all of his success, the head coach has generally preferred to keep things low-key. Take his hoodie as an example of that; it may seem silly, but it takes a certain personality to step in front of a national audience wearing a torn sweatshirt.

But it's not strictly wardrobe related. Belichick is apparently comfortable breaking out a one-liner, but he's never been the most verbose with the media. He's also been opposed to appearing on Hard Knocks, citing the fact that other teams could use it to glean a glimpse behind the curtain, among other things.

Remember, this is the man who made a career out of "Do your job" and "The Patriot Way." And at the risk of painting with a broad brush, that's not the most exciting statement a coach has ever hung his hat on.

Ultimately, there was no room for distractions during the football season. The results, not the extracurricular activities, made headlines.

Now, let's jump over to Dallas and compare the atmosphere around the team.

Everything within the Cowboys organization, for better or worse, starts with the owner. And Jones is never shy about making his way in front of the camera (or phone, in the case of his regular radio appearances) and speaking his mind. Without casting a value judgment, that creates a certain level of distraction.

Imagine if your boss gave a public address every week; whether they were bashing you or praising you, that running commentary can't be ignored when it's coming from the person cutting the checks.

Beyond that, the Cowboys are America's Team. Being a box-office attraction is simply part of the deal. Having big-time former players commenting on the state of the franchise is part of the deal. Jones adding pressure is part of the deal. You can't avoid the microscope.

And while Belichick is no stranger to the spotlight—winning brings its own expectations—it's fair to question the cultural fit of a potential job. At this point in his career, the head coach is a living legend who could take his pick of virtually any post. Would he want to fight an uphill battle trying to change an organizational attitude, especially if his boss is the one who's creating at least some of the spectacle?

Other Pros and Cons of Coaching Dallas

And that's not even touching on the idea of organizational control. While it's probably fair to say that Belichick should consider taking a job where he can focus on coaching, Jones' track record as a general manager isn't exactly stellar. That would be a dramatic change for the head coach, and it's fair to wonder if he'd want to deal with the challenges it could present.

Again, it's one thing to take a step back when you're working with a top talent; it's another to relinquish power to work with a hands-on owner who doesn't pay the price for his own choices.

To be fair, there are some appealing elements of the job. The Cowboys could back up a metaphorical Brink's truck to Belichick's door, paying whatever it takes to make him the marquee move of the offseason.

Prescott is also an established quarterback, something the head coach hasn't had since Tom Brady headed to Tampa Bay, and the Cowboys have plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball.

And while it's tricky to imagine the bench boss anywhere other than New England, there are some interesting options out there. A move to Seattle would let him work with a top-tier general manager.

The Chargers have a plug-and-play quarterback in Justin Herbert; the Falcons have offensive weapons, which Belichick has struggled to acquire in recent years, but lack a reliable signal-caller.

And, in all three of those landing spots, things would be lower-key. Will a living legend always draw some level of attention? Sure, but things would be much different in Jerry World.

At the risk of leaning on something intangible, culture has been a touchstone of Belichick's NFL career. It seems unlikely that he'll throw all of that out the window now.