Cowboys football blog

Now or never for coach Phillips

Wade Phillips’ shocking declaration following the exhibition finale against the Minnesota Vikings that the Dallas Cowboys had won the preseason NFC East title was promptly met with rolled eyes and thrown-up hands.

It was simply another example of coach "Golly Gee Whiz" pumping sunshine to a throng of media and a fan base that has grown frustrated with the power of positive thinking.

And considering all the questions hanging over the Cowboys after last year’s fall from Super Bowl talk to a 9-7 playoff-less finish, no one really cared about the final game of the preseason won by a fluke touchdown by the survivor of a reality show.

Yet, there was Phillips yukking about a preseason championship. Last season, it was him claiming "we won the first half" or equating a wild-card bye with a win to reach the second round of the playoffs. And then there was "the best team lost" offering after the playoff loss to the New York Giants in 2007. Continue

Dallas Cowboys coaches told to keep quiet

For the second straight day, Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips declined to talk to the media Friday at the NFL scouting combine.

"Haven't you heard? The Cowboys aren't talking," Phillips said as he returned to the team's hotel from Lucas Oil Field.

 On Thursday, Phillips said it was "against the rules" to talk. According to multiple sources, owner and general manager Jerry Jones has told the coaches – including Phillips – not to talk to the media in an attempt stop information leaks. Continue

Dallas Cowboys coach vows to change team’s culture

Weeks before the season began, one Cowboys veteran predicted the 2008 Dallas Cowboys could very well finish with a 9-7 record.

There were certain ominous signs floating around as far back as Oxnard, Calif., that have now become so obvious after a 9-7 season that even a head coach with more than 30 years of experience admits changes need to be made in how he does things.

Sensing this was not the time nor the place for "the better team lost" as he did a year ago, Cowboys second-year coach Wade Phillips changed the tune of his season-ending rhetoric with the team Monday. Continue

Wade Phillips finally fixed Dallas Cowboys’ defense

When Wade Phillips was hired to replace Bill Parcells as head coach in 2007, he had one specific charge: Fix the Cowboys’ defense.

Considering the playmakers Dallas had on offense, owner Jerry Jones surmised that adding a dominant playmaking defense to the mix would be key to solving the team’s Super Bowl puzzle.

Well, it might have taken longer than expected and it might not be quite ready to adopt the Doomsday III moniker, but as far as Phillips is concerned, consider the defense fixed. Continue

Wade Phillips needs to toughen up Dallas Cowboys

Good news from Valley Ranch: Terence Newman and Kyle Kosier and Tony Romo are all back, and Romo's throwing with his old zip. Bad news: Captain Kangaroo is back, too. You'd think the Cowboys' week off would have afforded Wade Phillips sufficient time to take stock and drop the squishy, indulgent persona that sends an unfortunate message to media, fans and his players, in particular.

When you coach a team that had Super Bowl pretensions and it goes into an inexplicable spiral that preceded the injuries, as even the owner and players concede, maybe it's time to leap out of character. Continue

Dallas Cowboys coach Phillips encouraged by players' attitude

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Friday morning he was impressed with how the players responded to up-tempo practices this week and also with the atmosphere in the locker room. The Cowboys (4-3) have lost two straight and will be without several key players, including starting quarterback Tony Romo, when they host Tampa Bay (5-2) on Sunday. "I have a good feeling," Phillips said. "Our team attitude is good. They're looking forward to this game." Continue

Two weeks notice? Dallas Cowboys' coaching situation could change

I know Jerry Jones said Wade Phillips will absolutely finish the season. And he probably believed that statement when he made it. My suggestion: Wait another two weeks before you take that promise to the bank.

If the Cowboys lose to Tampa Bay and then get blown out by the New York Giants, then I could see Jerry giving Phillips a pink slip. That's because Dallas would've lost three consecutive games, five of six and be under .500 at 4-5 for the first time since losing the opener to Jacksonville in 2006, a span of 40 games. Continue

'Camp Marshmallow' will pay off for Dallas Cowboys, Phillips says

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips made a crack during the first episode of Hard Knocks that this was Camp Marshmallow. But was that really a joke? It truly was more like Soft Knocks than Hard Knocks in training camp when it came to hitting, but Phillips wanted it that way. He didn’t want to overwork his team or get players hurt. He feels he got the needed work and has a fresh team steadily building toward the Sept. 7 opener at Cleveland. Continue

For Wade Phillips, 13 wins bring no guarantee

I recently read a column in the Sporting News about NFL coaches on the hot seat. The writer, Mike Florio, whom I have a tremendous amount of respect for, listed Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips as No. 1. I think it’s crazy to think a guy who wins 13 games in his first season should be looking over his shoulder.

Florio was very logical in his assessment, writing, "Not many coaches preside over teams that haven’t won a playoff game since 1996, are expected to go to the Super Bowl in 2008 and have the next coach, Jason Garrett, ready to step in at a moment’s notice." Oh yes, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did give Garrett almost $3 million a year to remain as offensive coordinator. Judd Garrett was recently hired as assistant director of pro scouting to bring the number of Garrett family members working for Jones to three. Continue

If Wade is gone, do it now so Cowboys can move forward

I'd take Cowboys owner Jerry Jones a little more seriously when he says that firing Wade Phillips is a foolish idea if the finger-wagging wasn't coming from the same guy who once let his pride cost him a two-time Super Bowl winning head coach. So please, don't talk to us about foolish. We've seen foolish. Foolish is believing that the same approach which has failed time after time is one day going to produce a championship. It just doesn't work that way.

So here's my guarantee: Unless Jones has suddenly decided to drastically lower his Super Bowl-or-bust standards, he will fire Phillips. It's just a matter of when and whether he wants to go through this same miserable feeling next year. I say do it now and get the inevitable over with so that the Cowboys can move on to their destiny before their window of opportunity passes them by. Continue