Jerry Jones and Mike McCarthy sat down to talk Tuesday. Later in the day, the Cowboys denied Chicago’s request to interview McCarthy for its head coaching vacancy. The two are related, based on what two people with knowledge of the impending discussions told The Dallas Morning News after the Bears made their request.

As questions swirl around McCarthy's future in Dallas, the Cowboys have denied the Bears' request to interview him.

Dallas brass “still has not responded to Chicago’s request” to speak to current Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy about the Bears’ vacancy, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday, one day after the NFC North club initially sought permission.