'Undisclosed source' strikes again.

Everyone’s favorite rumor monger, this time speaking to the New Haven Register in New Haven, Connecticut, said that Cowboys offensive line/assistant head coach Tony Sparano had not only been offered the Dolphins head coaching job but had accepted it as well.

However, Todd Archer got the skinny straight from the horse’s mouth here - http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/cowboys/stories/010708dnspocowbriefs.296a018.html.

If Sparano had been offered the job, it would have been in violation of the Rooney Rule, which specifies that at least one minority coach must be interviewed before any hirings are done. The Dolphins are interviewing Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier today, so any offer can made after that.

Sparano has been the favorite even before Cam Cameron was fired, and it would seem like the job would be his for the taking in the end, but it’s good to see where his focus lies right now, while he’s still got a job to do with his current team.

And, as Albert Breer points out on the DMN’s blog, it’s far from a done deal, much like the Steelers‘ coaching search last season, when two Pittsburgh assistants looked to be the favorites, then Tomlin went in there and snared the job. It could turn out that his successor as Vikings’ D-coordinator does the same with Parcells and Ireland.

It could end up that Sparano, along with Jason Garrett, could end up staying in Dallas. The haste or patience the Dolphins, Ravens, and Falcons have in terms of their coaching search, how far the Cowboys go in the playoffs, and how well the other candidates do could be the difference in the two coveted coaches going or staying.

No telling what’s going on Garrett’s mind, but you’d have to hope that he’s as focused as Sparano is. These guys know that they have a job to do, and that they have to do that one before they can put serious thought to another one.

Assistant coaches' update.

The Dallas Morning News’ website confirmed what we knew was going to happen already, that Cowboys offensive line/assistant head coach Tony Sparano will have an interview with the Miami Dolphins about their head coaching vacancy.

Sparano will have the interview tomorrow in Dallas with new Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland, following his interview with Baltimore Ravens execs about the same job.

Sparano and Jason Garrett were scheduled to have their interviews with Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank today. Whether or not Garrett will be interviewing with the Ravens on Saturday hasn’t been confirmed yet.

According to the report by the site, Sparano is one of several candidates, with former Dallas assistants Todd Haley and Maurice Carthon (both now with Arizona) in the mix, along with Minnesota’s Leslie Frazier, Jacksonville assistant and former Vikings coach Mike Tice, and Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

Can we just fast-forward to next weekend already?

The tornado that is Bill Parcells' rebuilding project continues to roll through what used to be the Miami Dolphins, as head coach Cam Cameron was fired today after a 1-15 season, his only one on the job.

This isn’t a surprise, considering that we all know Parcells wants to bring in his own guy, someone he knows, someone he trusts.

Cameron didn’t inherit that great of a team from Nick Saban, and the injuries upon injuries that they had this year ruined any chances for even a slightly respectable season.

There are some people who are better coordinators than head coaches, and Cameron may be one of those guys.

Given how fast things have moved in Miami this week, in the next 24 hours, we should know who’ll be interviewing for the job.

Sparano looks like the favorite, and secondary coach Todd Bowles has also been mentioned in some reports, along with, as expected, Jason Garrett.

Sparano and Garrett are already scheduled to interview with the Falcons tomorrow, so it looks to be a busy few days for those guys, as Grizz over at Blogging the Boys reports that the Ravens have requested permission to talk to a few NFL assistants, with Sparano and Garrett among the names mentioned.

So, it looks like we’ve got three teams fighting it out for two guys. From the looks of it, the Dolphins job is Sparano’s for the taking, with Garrett the hot name in Baltimore.

Garrett to interview with Falcons tomorrow, Ireland takes Dolphins GM job.

According to the Cowboys’ official site, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is expected to interview with the Falcons on Friday about their head coaching vacancy.

Garrett joins O-line/assistant head coach Tony Sparano as targets for Arthur Blank.

As for one move that’s already finalized, Cowboys scouting director Jeff Ireland is joining Bill Parcells’ rebuilding project in Miami as the Dolphins’ new GM. Ireland interviewed for the position on Tuesday, a day after Parcells fired Randy Mueller.

Ireland’s got a great eye for talent (DeMarcus Ware, Marion Barber, to name a couple), which is what Miami severely needs right now, so he’s a good get for the Dolphins.

Cowboys assistants in demand?

Assistant head coach Tony Sparano is set to interview with the Atlanta Falcons later this week about their head coaching vacancy.

Sparano, who joined the Cowboys staff in 2003, will interview with the Falcons on Friday after the team was granted permission to talk to him.

This could hasten whatever decision Bill Parcells is going to make about Miami head coach Cam Cameron.

Parcells has already shown the door to GM Randy Mueller and a couple of other guys in the front office, and the next step might be to give Cameron his pink slip and go for someone he knows and trusts, namely Sparano, who was one of his right-hand men during his time in Dallas.

Whether or not firing Cameron would be the right move is up for debate, considering that he’s been in the job only one year, and you can’t pinpoint him as the reason why the Dolphins were as bad as they were this season (injuries, lack of quality personnel, aging in a number of positions).

But, if the Tuna wants to give the Dolphins a complete makeover, then he might see firing Cameron as the best move for the future, and by bringing in Sparano, he could really start molding the team/organization the way he wants to.

Sparano isn’t the only Cowboys assistant that’s going to field some offers in the offseason, as offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is already being mentioned as the potential favorite to succeed Brian Billick in Baltimore.

I’d really hate to lose Garrett to the Ravens, but if he does get offered the job, he’ll have a decision to make from remaining in Dallas and biding his time as a coordinator until Wade Phillips retires (which could be a while yet) or taking a head coaching job and getting his feet wet.

No doubt about it, Garrett could inject a lot of life into an offense that needs it. But, Ravens brass might be warned off of Garrett because of what happened the last time they went after the hottest rising assistant in the league.

Brian Billick went to Baltimore as one of the hottest offensive coaches in the game for his part in turning Minnesota’s offense into one of the best in the league. But while the Ravens defense became one of the most formidable in the league, the offense was barely above average at best, even in its most successful years, thanks in part to having the likes of Tony Banks, Elvis Grbac, Jeff Blake, and Kyle Boller running the show.

Of the two, Sparano seems more likely to leave, especially if the Miami job does come open. As for Garrett, he could decide to leave if he feels it’s the prime opportunity for him to test his abilities as a head coach.

Tuna's back in the biz.

Bill Parcells has the itch, and Wayne Huizenga has the dollar bills and the position to scratch it.

After turning down the Falcons’ offer to head their football operations, Parcells has inked a deal with the Dolphins to join their front office as executive vice president of football operations.

Considering that Parcells is done with coaching, and reportedly didn’t want to join a team as a GM, how hands-on this position will be is uncertain, but he’s back in the game in some capacity, and that suits him a whole lot better than lounging around and drinking fruity drinks does.

This is the third AFC East team that Parcells has been affiliated with in his career, after his coaching stints with the New England Patriots and New York Jets.

One of the first big responsibilities Parcells will be a part of is mapping out the Dolphins’ draft plans for April. Miami (1-13) should have the #1 pick in the draft, and the decision that lies ahead is whether to use the pick on drafting a top college player (likely LSU’s Glenn Dorsey) or to draft down and use the pick to fill multiple needs on both sides of the ball.

However involved he is in the Dolphins’ future, you had to know that it wasn’t going to be long before he took the bait, and considering that he already has a home in south Florida, this opportunity might be the best for him, compared to the potential job with the Falcons, who aren’t exactly the most attractive of situations (not that the Dolphins are either), so good luck to him.

One day, he’ll retire for good, and when that day comes, you might have to give him a lie detector test, because when it comes to Bill Parcells, you can never tell.