Ever since Wade Phillips took over the head coaching job for the Dallas Cowboys, there has seemed to have been a countdown hovering over his head. No one seems to know what it says but owner Jerry Jones.Right now, Jones says the countdown isn't over. Jerry Jones took it upon himself to go into the Cowboys locker room and dress down his team after their pitiful loss to the St. Louis Rams. However, Jones would tell the media that in no way does this mean that Phillips' job is in jeopardy.
"It really isn't about changes peoplewise as much as it is changes within the people, within the coaches and players," Jones said.Sitting right across the field was an example of a coaching change lights a fire under a team. The Rams fired Scott Linehan and replaced him with Jim Haslett three weeks ago. St. Louis has yet to lose.
Dallas is coming off a very tough week. They were beaten by the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday, had to deal with Pacman Jones' suspension, losing Tony Romo and Felix Jones to injury and watched one of their Roy Williamses re-break his arm and lose him for the season. Now they lose to a Rams team that a few weeks ago was regarded as one the NFL's worst.
Those things aren't Phillips' fault. The undisciplined nature they keep showing on Sundays is. They keep making stupid penalties, dropping passes, missing tackles, missing blocks and just playing ugly. This is a team that has a bazillion Pro-Bowl players on the roster but have lost three of their last four games. That one win was a squeaker over the 0-7 Cincinnati Bengals at home.
I know that firing a coach can be an over-reaction. After all, Phillips' likely successor, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, has done an equally poor job. But the NFC East is so competitive that it is so difficult to gain back ground you are losing. The Giants and Redskins keep on winning and the Eagles are still right there. Heck, Dallas is in fifth place in the wild-card standings.
Dallas' season is certainly savable ... even with Phillips as the coach. However, the Cowboys needs to figure this out very quickly as they host the Buccaneers before traveling to the Giants and Redskins. Those teams are a combined 14-5 this season.
A few more losses and Jerrah Jones will wish he made a change sooner.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-20-2008 @ 5:29AM
Radar0076@aol.com said...
The cowboys suck! their owner is a nut with money. Any body who give a bonus to a old wide reciever with diminishing skills and is afraid to go across the middle is screwey.
they ain't won a playoff game in twelve years but idiots STILL buy into the hype.. Who was it that said a sucker is born every, football season in Dallas??
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10-19-2008 @ 9:25PM
nunya said...
I agree Sports Assasin to a point, WADE PHILLIPS NEEDS to rip into his PLAYERS! JJ needs to sit back and let it take its course!
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10-19-2008 @ 9:32PM
Michael Otts said...
I love it. Cowboys are sinking fast!!!
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10-20-2008 @ 12:46AM
Deb said...
Well, if Jerry Jones would let his managers...manage...then maybe the cowboys could do something. anyone that works under Jerry Jones don't have squat to say about their team except of course the owner himself...he did it to the Tuna also.
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11-01-2008 @ 4:08PM
Johnny said...
Just because he pays soooooooooooo much money for these players he thinks they should win everything every year the jerk (Jones) fails to realize nobody's perfect including himself!
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10-19-2008 @ 10:22PM
Cray said...
Jones needs to choke on his own criminal rejects.
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10-19-2008 @ 10:43PM
E-A-G-L-E-S-! said...
Dallas has too many head coaches! I see the cowgirls are headed for self destruction! I see the EAGLES going on a run after the bye! We are in GOOD shape! Big Red needs to let BIG 5 call his own plays!
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10-19-2008 @ 10:51PM
Brian said...
Wade Phillips is wearing concrete shoes and the whole team is sinking with him. Baha bop bop ba I'm loving it.
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10-19-2008 @ 10:51PM
Banacek1969 said...
The defense played the same as they have in the past, [very poorly]. They are NOT going to do any better until a fire is lit under them, and Wade Phillips is not the man who can do it. Jerry Jones is not causing the lackluster attitude of this defense! The defense could keep this team from losing, no matter how bad the offense is. If the opposing team is not allowed to score, they cannot win the ball game. Jimmy Johnson would have not allowed this, JJ or no JJ! Jimmy Johnson would have torn their lazy ears off! We need another Jimmy Johnson, NOW!
The offense was bad, today, also. It may be contagious because they were exhibiting some laziness too. Of course, Brad Johnson couldn't hit the side of a barn with his passing. Why didn't Wade notice that during practice? Why didn't Wade notice the piss poor discipline of all the players during practice and during the last 4 games? Why doesn't Wade Philips resign for the sake of the team? He owes Dallas that much loyalty! Yes, look at the Rams. See what a coaching change can make!
Jerry Jones may be too much of a hands on owner, but look at the millions he is spending for which he is getting nothing in return! He puts up money to gather all this so called talent, but they are not professional enough to play together! He kniows they must have someone to discipline them and to drive them! Wade can't do it, so Jerry Jones tries to. That won't work, either.
Jason Garret displays no disciplinarian abilities, either.
Hey Jerry, the Pittsburgh Steelers old coach is still a TV football commentator and Jimmy Johnson is still a TV football commentator! Just thought I'd pass that along to you.
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10-19-2008 @ 11:16PM
Benny said...
I have been a Cowboy fan since they were born in 1960. Son of a Bum (SOB) was brought in to rebuild the defence which he and his assistants have not and apparently cannot do. The G. Men taught everybody how to beat the Cowboys.If you can get pressure on the QB.you can beat them. Long story short the Cowboys need better Coaching on special teams, defensive backs,and an offensive line that will give our QB time to spot one of our very talented receiver,s. Yes I blame (SOB) because he should have fired our special teams coach right after the Arizona game and benched the guard who let that guy go in untouched and all but take the ball off of our punters foot to score the winning TD in OT. Yes I blame (SOB) because all of the other coaches on the team work for him. JJ needs to fire (SOB) and let Jason Garrett have his chance at head coach. He would bring in coaches to rebuild our defense and offensive line. Next week we have TB then the G.Men and Washington.If we lose those three games we are out of the playoffs. Dont forget Dallas still has to play teams like S.F. Seattle,Pittsburgh, before they finish up with the G.Men, Ravens and Eagles before going home until next year.
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10-20-2008 @ 12:10AM
Charlie said...
Lets see - Dallas still has to play the Redskins and Eagles away, as well as the Giants twice. The players look disinterested, the coaching staff is getting out coached every week, and now the owner is ripping them a new bunger after the game...How 'bout them Cowboys!!!!!!
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10-20-2008 @ 12:35AM
brownpride57 said...
hey what happened ,thought u guys were saying that the cowpaddies were going to the super bowl hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and they were not taking any prisoners hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and that whos ever team they were going to play against would be sorry for even taking the field ,well guess what hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,steelers 4ever ,and will always be the better everything compared to the cowpaddies hahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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10-20-2008 @ 12:37AM
Gina said...
Demote Phillips to defensive coordinator and bring in a marine to be head coach. Coaching problem solved.
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10-20-2008 @ 6:32PM
Larry said...
Bingo!
Gina hit the nail on the head.
Bill Parcells and the iron fisted reign of discipline exited for best buddy Wade Phillips and the wheels spun off leaving the Pokes riding on the rims.
Anyone remember the names of the players who spoke against Parcells discioline agenda as Big Bill exited valley ranch?
Parcells and Sporano took the Rigid Discipline show to a league worst Miami Dolphins and the Dolphins have turned it around with just the off season of work.
The last time discipline gave way to buddy buddy coaching was when Jimmy Johnson left Dallas. How'd that experiment end up where Jerry Jones stated the Cowboys were so good anyone could coach them?
10-20-2008 @ 7:12AM
Wayne said...
I live in Big "D" and I am a die-hart REDSKINS FAN."GO HOGS". and I love to see The America Team Go down!!!! Redskins 2008 Super Bowl !!!!! Watch the score board!
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10-20-2008 @ 2:34AM
cowboy fan said...
I did not watch the game today because of last week's loss and the poor coaching in the previous weeks. And, I could have not predicted it any better. Let me guess, they lost the game because the dismal offense puts the pressure on the banged up defense once again? Was there a lot of 3 and outs, interceptions, fumbless, and overall poor offense? How about tons of penalties? Was there any 2 yard passes? Probably not. If you want Dallas to be like the Patriots (don't know why) then you have to be able to make short passes to running backs and the playmakers, which should help slow down the pass rush. Terrell Owens will fall down 3 yards for God's sake, and the opposing team will not/cannot double coverage off of the line. Rolling Romo out would help too (I don't understand this pocket passer crap for Brady is quite tall and his O-line is not, Romo looks like he has a 10 step drop - he is 6-2 and the shortest lineman is 6-4 while the tallest 6-8 this equals many sacks). Double backs in the back field for blocking or dumping would help too. Dallas has such good players, but it means shit if they are not used effectively and efficiently. Barber in the open field is 5 plus yards after the catch. Stop going for the big plays and they WILL happen and open up. Dallas' offense is too predictable so opposing defenses light them up. I hope its not too late. If not, I will get a lot of things done around my house like I did today. Oh well, hopefully the coaching gets their crap together. Structure, structure, structure...............
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10-20-2008 @ 5:58AM
giant fan since 57 said...
Keeping TO instead of Parcells has had the predictable effect. He might have said his retirement wasn't because of TO but in your heart, Cowboy fans, you know it's true.
Wade Phillips didn't lose the team...he never had it. But it is not all his fault, considering the circus atmosphere perpetuated by Jerry Jones.
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10-20-2008 @ 6:51AM
WJL said...
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAN SNYDER AND JERRY JONES?????????????............SNYDER WEARS LIPSTICK AND JONES WEARS PANTIES!!!!!!!!!
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10-21-2008 @ 2:00PM
jraintdead said...
WJL said...
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAN SNYDER AND JERRY JONES?????????????............SNYDER WEARS LIPSTICK AND JONES WEARS PANTIES!!!!!!!!!
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So, you admit you've kissed Snyder and seen Jones with his pants off, huh?
10-20-2008 @ 7:14PM
Larry said...
Always good to see RedThinSkins fans come out of their hiding places when the Cowboys lose a game.
What is the tally of wins to losses between the Cowboys and Redskins now?
Im not saying lil Danny Snyder and his money have bankrolled some atrocious losing seasons. I don't have to. The Redskins record speaks for itself concerning that subject.
The Redskins have been so awful bad that in a season Jimmy Johnson has stated he was trying to lose when he sat his trade pick players and ran an offense on 8 plays total; the only team the Cowboys beat in the Pokes 1 - 15 season was the Redskins.
After that ugly season the Cowboys have ripped the Redskins over and over again. It got so bad under Joe Gibbs last head coach term that he said he'd contribute a pile of money to Parcells retirement fund if Bill Parcells would retire early. Joe Gibbs never sent the check so being a welcher must be an attribute of making promises in Washington DC even in the NFL
Good to see you Redskins fans crawl out from under your rocks so we know you are still alive. Don't be out of sight and out of mind so long next time. Waiting for the Cowboys to lose games makes us wonder if you are still among the living.
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