The mating dance between Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Parcells remained unconsummated Tuesday, but there continues to be indications the marriage will be sealed by Thursday.

Parcells' past thoughts on Jones

In Bill Parcells' book, "The Final Season," he chronicled his 1999 season as coach of the Jets, which included a game at Dallas. Parcells came away from that game with some thoughts about Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "I know he's a great marketing guy, maybe the best in the history of the league, and he knows how to make money with his team and his stadium. If an owner wants to come around during the week and encourage the players, root for them, and let them know he is with them, that's fine with me," Parcells wrote. "But once the owner wants to coach, then I'd be out of there the next day," Parcells wrote. "I couldn't coach in that situation myself." Parcells was on the field two hours before the game and was surprised to see Jones alongside the team trainer testing an injured player's ability to perform. "I thought I had seen everything there is to see in this game over the last 20 years. But that was a first, and also disturbing," Parcells wrote. "Jerry Jones, from what I was led to believe that day talking to some of the Dallas people, is very involved," Parcells went on to write. "I know at one time he played college ball and coached a kids' team or something like that. But the NFL is supposed to be a little different." Parcells made further comments about Jones: "Hey, it's his team, and he can do anything he wants with it. That's his prerogative. But I don't see any good it can do for him to get involved in the coaching end of the game. None whatsoever." -- ESPN.com news services

Sources said they anticipate Parcells will be introduced as the successor to Dave Campo by the end of the week and cited Thursday as the target day for completing what is expected to be a four-year contract worth about $17 million.

Those same sources reiterated, though, that Parcells has not officially agreed to a contract.

"It's probably going to take one more conversation," said one league source with knowledge of the negotiations.

Sources said Parcells continued to raise "some hypotheticals" he wants to have answered before ending his three-year hiatus from the sideline. Given his track record, there is some reason for paranoia among Cowboys officials, but most feel the deal will indeed be completed.

Newsday reported on its Web site Tuesday night that the Cowboys would formally introduce Parcells as their coach Thursday.

Meanwhile, Jerry Jones and team vice president Stephen Jones continued discussions Tuesday with Parcells in an attempt to reach agreement on what sources close to both sides describe as the final point of negotiation, ESPN's Ed Werder and Chris Mortensen reported.

The final hurdle remains unknown but a Cowboys source said it is "not insurmountable.''

It is believed at least two assistants from Campo's former staff will be retained by Parcells.

League officials continued Tuesday to insist tampering charges filed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not be a deterrent to completing an agreement between Parcells and the Cowboys. The Bucs will be permitted to argue their claim for compensation, but neither Parcells nor his agent, Jimmy Sexton, will be required to attend the hearing.

When contacted Monday by ESPN, Sexton denied any deal has been completed between Parcells and the Cowboys. Two other sources have told ESPN that reports any deal is done are false.

The Dallas Morning News reported Monday that Parcells had agreed to an $18 million, four-year deal and would be introduced as the team's sixth coach Tuesday. The story was based an unnamed source close to Parcells and Jones.

"It will come to an end pretty quickly," Parcells said in Tuesday's editions of The New York Times. "We've been proceeding toward that end." Parcells also told the New York Daily News that he has had "productive conversations'' but "nothing is imminent."

When he announced the firing of Campo, Jones said he had no timetable to hire a replacement, but added, "I hope it can happen quickly.''

Jones began talking with Parcells about two weeks ago and their negotiations have turned serious in recent days. Jones also has spoken with former Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green.

League officials said Jones has done all that's necessary to make a move, an indication that the interview with Green met the league's minority candidate requirement.

Parcells, an analyst for ESPN, has been close to deals before and walked away, including last year when he signed with Tampa Bay, then changed his mind.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.