Last week, the Cowboys refused to let the Bears talk to coach Mike McCarthy. Starting tomorrow, the Bears — and everyone else — can talk to him.

McCarthy’s contract expires on Tuesday. At that point he will become a free agent.

This is reported by Adam Schefter from ESPN.com No negotiations took place between McCarthy and the Cowboys. This is strange to say the least. The Cowboys had an exclusive window and didn’t use it?

It’s possible there were no negotiations because the Cowboys made McCarthy a non-negotiable offer. Take it or leave it. If so, it’s up to McCarthy’s agent Don Yee to make the Cowboys nervous about what might happen next.

Schefter also reports that the Bears and Saints (who did not request permission to interview McCarthy last week) are expected to be interested in McCarthy when his contract expires.

And if the Cowboys have indeed made an offer to McCarthy with the message that there will be no negotiations before the current contract expires, both sides have a decision to make. McCarthy will have to decide whether to accept the outstanding offer or risk ending up empty-handed. And the Cowboys have to decide whether they want to help McCarthy stay.

It’s possible the Cowboys will see improvement after McCarthy becomes a free agent. It’s possible that McCarthy will do the same when he realizes there is no other destination for him.

It may also be that one side or the other wakes up a little too late.