Even as the Jerry Jones-Bill Parcells mating dance continues, via a flurry of telephone calls and faxes that has put the potential coupling on the fast track, there are two elements that figure to temporarily stymie the Dallas Cowboys search for the successor to lame duck coach Dave Campo.

The first, resolving the delineation of responsibility within the organization, has already proved a stubborn problem even in the earliest stages of contract discussions. Team and NFL sources told ESPN.com Wednesday that, while Parcells is publicly insistent he will not require absolute control over football operations to end his hiatus, he still wants considerable clout.

Committing to precise contractual language how the marriage of two of the NFL's strongest personalities will work, essentially the equivalent of a pre-nuptial agreement, could prove sticky. In fact, the contractual delegation of football powers is expected to be stickier than the financial compensation, an element that is not anticipated to be a problem.

The second hurdle that could slow Parcells' return to the NFL is a more of a league issue, and relates to new guidelines for filling head coach vacancies. The guidelines have been enacted, in part, to address criticism over the lack of minority candidates for head coach positions.

Owners are now compelled to apprise the league when they intend to make a coaching change, to conduct a process rather than a sprint when interviewing candidates, and to strongly consider minority candidates.

Two league sources confirmed that Jones has not officially apprised the NFL that he intends to fire Dave Campo after Sunday's season finale.

That said, Jones has had fairly extensive discussions with league officials over the hiring guidelines, and has also spoken to members of the workplace diversity committee. Jones' initial contention, a league source said, was that he was already well down the road to a coaching change when the NFL last week tweaked the guidelines once again. But that same source said Jones will comply with the guidelines.

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, chairman of the diversity committee, confirmed Jones will abide by the hiring policies. Rooney spent considerable time on the phone with Jones on Monday, he said, reviewing the policies.

"He's going to follow the rules," Rooney said.

Which essentially means that, while Jones already knows who he wants to hire, he will speak with other candidates. Even if the process is a sham, one league official said, it will be carried out. That fact, along with the contract negotiations, could delay the hiring of Parcells for at least a few days after the Cowboys finish the 2002 season at Washington on Sunday afternoon.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.