At age 64, the toll of another long season has Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells privately contemplating a final retirement -- even as team owner Jerry Jones is urging the coach to sign a contract extension. Sources tell ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the death of Parcells' brother at midseason is one of the events that has triggered the coach's thoughts of retirement. If Parcells stays in Dallas, it's because he truly likes the team he has assembled, even though his work is not complete. The Cowboys (8-6) are coming off a 35-7 humiliation in Washington that marked their third loss in four games. They'll have to recover in time to play Saturday at Carolina (10-4) in a game both teams consider must-win.