Rod Marinelli never considered leaving Cowboys

There was speculation at the conclusion of the Dallas Cowboys' 2014 season that defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli could be headed elsewhere. However, Marinelli insists leaving the organization was never an option for him.

"I just love it here," Marinelli told Todd Archer of ESPN.com. "I love football and this place, it just reeks with tradition and winning and wanting to win, wanting to be the very, very best. I think that's as exciting as anything."

Marinelli cited the Jones family, head coach Jason Garrett and his players as the biggest reasons he decided to sign a new three-year contract with the Cowboys.

Dallas now shifts its attention to preparing for next season, beginning with player evaluations after the Super Bowl and then the draft. Defensive lineman Anthony Spencer, Nick Hayden, George Selvie and Henry Melton are all set to become free agents, while the team is happy with the progress second-round pick Demarcus Lawrence showed in his rookie season.

"Hopefully things are in place, but, no, you start right from scratch, from the bottom again," Marinelli said. "You got to put your socks on again."