NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Redskins

Cowboys

Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones says they were close to signing QB Dak Prescott to an extension during the season, but they still need to “land the plane.”

“We’ve got to land the plane and get his deal done,” Jones said, per Jon Machota. “That’s on Jerry and myself. He’s our future. I think he stepped up and improved in all ways last year. … We went over this in depth with Coach McCarthy and he thinks [Dak] is a top-end, top-caliber quarterback. We can do everything we want to do and more with Dak. [McCarthy] can’t wait to spend time with him. We’ve got to land the plane on his contract and get him signed up sooner than later. He deserves everything he has coming. We got real, real close there to start the season and just didn’t finish up. He’s so laser-focused on wanting to win football games and compete that he really didn’t want the distraction once we didn’t get it done in that first week of going back and forth with the contract. We just got to move forward. He’s our quarterback of the future. I’ll take him any time when you go to war against these guys. We’re fortunate to have him.”

• Todd Archer reports that Cowboys S Jeff Heath had successful surgery Friday on his left shoulder.

Eagles

Eagles HC Doug Pederson explained that while he talks to owner Jeffery Lurie and GM Howie Roseman about potential coaching moves, the decision is ultimately his to make. 

“I do have a lot of conversations in the building. And part of my evaluation, me personally, is with our owner Mr. Lurie,” Pederson said, via 94.1 WIP. “I think it’s important he and I continue to stay on the same page, along with [executive vice president of football operations] Howie [Roseman]. We do have some tough conversations. I think in my stand point it’s very beneficial to me, personally, and it helps me lead the football team. But by no means was there any influence there. Ultimately, it’s my decision there through the whole evaluation process. I have a bunch of conversations, but ultimately it’s my decision.”

• Pederson said that if Jim Schwartz doesn’t get the Browns job, he’s “definitely my defensive coordinator moving forward.” (Zack Berman)
• According to Pederson, Duce Staley is an important part of his staff and promoting him to offensive coordinator is a possibility. (Eliot Shorr-Parks)
• Mike Kaye of NJ.com takes a look at four potential candidates for the Eagles’ WRs coaching job including former Cowboys WRs coach Sanjay Lal, former Dolphins OC Chad O’Shea, former Redskins WRs coach Ike Hilliard, and free agent QB Josh McCown.

Giants

Giants owner John Mara said he spoke with Patriots HC Bill Belichick regarding Joe Judge before they decided to hire him as their next head coach. 

“One thing Bill said was that he gave Joe more and more responsibility and very quickly he stopped having to look over his shoulder,” Mara said, via Tom Rock of Newsday. “The more I spoke to him, the more excited I got about Joe Judge. . . .

“I have a lot of respect for Bill. We have a good relationship. He doesn’t have bad coaches on his staff. I think he has said publicly that Joe’s one of the best coaches he’s ever had. All of that was factored in.”

• Adam Schefter reports that the Giants gave new head coach Joe Judge a five-year contract.
• A report said that Matt Rhule contacted the Giants after receiving the seven-year, $60 million offer from the Panthers to see if they were interested in offering the same. However, Mara said “we weren’t going to a seven-year deal with anybody” and they felt good about Judge: “For a new head coach in the National Football League, I just didn’t think that was a reasonable way to go. That’s all. Would we have talked about moving some parts around in that deal? Possibly, if we weren’t excited about the candidate that we already had.” (NJ.com)
• Mara said during a radio interview on Friday that even with a lot of cap space, they will still emphasize building through the draft. (Kimberly Jones)

Redskins

• Jay Glazer confirms recent reports that the Redskins aren’t going to do anything in terms of their GM position until after the draft.