Cowboys' Jerry Jones clarifies comments on Mike McCarthy's future: 'I couldn't be more pleased'

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seemingly is as fickle as ever.

Following Sunday's victory over the Commanders to close the season with 12 wins, the No. 2 seed and an NFC East title, Jones raised some eyebrows when he wouldn't fully commit to bringing head coach Mike McCarthy back for a fifth season.

"We'll see how each game goes in the playoffs," he said when asked about McCarthy's future, per Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort-Worth Star-Telegram.

Given a chance to follow up on his apparent wait-and-see approach Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan’s _Shan & RJ, Jones was far more emphatic about his faith in the Super Bowl-winning coach moving forward.

"I was a little surprised," Jones said regarding the reaction to his previous comments. "I don't know how I could be any clearer. Coach McCarthy is under contract for next year. So, that's not an issue. Secondly, I couldn't be more pleased with what he's done, and how he's coached. … I certainly haven't sat down here right in the middle of the playoffs and started talking to him about a contract. Why would you do that?

"And by the way, he's the busiest cat in all of Texas. … So, the last thing that I want to do is spend any time talking with him about these kinds of things, on agreements, extension of agreements, especially when I've got one. So, that's it."

Jones has said in the past that he's pleased with the job McCarthy is doing. By regular-season metrics he certainly should be.

McCarthy has put together a 42-25 record as Dallas' head coach, rebounding from a 6-10 record in his first year in charge to rattle off three straight 12-win seasons -- two of which included division titles.

Four year into the decade, the Cowboys' number of campaigns with double-digit wins matches the entirety of their