11/05/24
November 08, 2010
Dallas Cowboys Fire Wade Phillips: The Dallas Cowboys have fired Wade Phillips after the team fell to 1-7 this season with a 45-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers on national television. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett has been named as his replacement. "I'm not stomaching this," owner Jerry Jones said after the game. Phillips was 34-22 in Dallas, reaching the divisional round of the playoffs last season.
Wade Phillips out, Jason Garrett in. Everything should be fine now.
If anyone doubts that the Cowboys are America's team, Phillips' firing made Fox News this afternoon. Would that happen for the Buffalo Bills, for example?
posted by Howard_T at 03:34 PM on November 08, 2010
I doubt it. They don't really cover the CFL.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:58 PM on November 08, 2010
Someday the NFL will figure out Wade Phillips is a horrible head coach. If a team wants him to only focus on defense, he may be able to handle that. But the guy has proven he can't run the show. In Buffalo, as in Dallas, his teams were sloppy and undisciplined. Watching him when cameras focus on him on the sidelines is painful. He stands there with that confused, "Aw, shucks" look on his face. The only good thing about having him in Dallas was I didn't have to constantly listen to his press conferences following games.
It took the Jason Garrett era a longer time to come around than most people thought. He's got a lot of work ahead of him, but improvement shouldn't be too hard to attain.
posted by dyams at 03:59 PM on November 08, 2010
I dislike Jerry Jones immensely after all these years for the way he disposed of a legend like Tom Landry. But, even I hated to see the team fall this season the way they did. I think Jones did Phillips a favor by canning him this early. They can use the rest of the season to prepare for 2011 and try to find what works, since there's now a radioactive crater where the Cowboys' hopes for the 2010 season was.
If Jones wants to win, he needs to hire a competent coach instead of one of his friends, and let him do his job. Phillips was a mistake from the beginning.
posted by NerfballPro at 04:17 PM on November 08, 2010
Just another "Bum" Phillips I guess...
posted by wildbill1 at 05:02 PM on November 08, 2010
It took the Jason Garrett era a longer time to come around than most people thought. He's got a lot of work ahead of him, but improvement shouldn't be too hard to attain.
No doubt now that he is head coach, Garrett will suddenly find a running game that works, an offensive line that blocks, and a group of receivers that can hold on to the ball. He could not do that as offensive coordinator. And everyone knows he is a defensive genius. Frankly, his best chance at success is that other teams will take the Cowboys so lightly that Dallas can now sneak up on them and maybe pull some upsets.
posted by graymatters at 05:19 PM on November 08, 2010
Help or no, had to be done.
posted by justgary at 06:13 PM on November 08, 2010
Homeland Security laid down the law: the Cowboys can't look as bad on Thanksgiving Day as they did last night. Hence the change today.
Looking at a fan partnership website offering Cowboys game packages for Thanksgiving Day (against the Saints -- another Dallas / New Orleans Lee Harvey Oswald Invitational), here is the blaring headline:
PACKAGES EXTREMELY LIMITED!!!
It didn't say that the number of packages was limited, so one has to assume that the packages themselves are limited. At this point, I would take that to mean that buyers should anticipate getting less quality sports content for the money. Perhaps an earnest attempt to lower people's expectations.
It's been a long time since a victorious Nate Newton and a hungry John Madden huddled together on the sideline after a Thanksgiving Day game with just one turkey leg hovering in midair between them.
posted by beaverboard at 06:25 PM on November 08, 2010
PACKAGES EXTREMELY LIMITED!!!
Most guys like to keep that quiet.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:34 PM on November 08, 2010
No doubt now that he is head coach, Garrett will suddenly find a running game that works, an offensive line that blocks, and a group of receivers that can hold on to the ball. He could not do that as offensive coordinator.
Agree. I was always under the impression that Jason Garrett was the heir-apparent. Since the regime has changed, the future coronation of Jason Garrett (especially considering how woeful the team has been on offense) probably isn't a sure thing.
posted by Bonkers at 01:59 AM on November 09, 2010
Someday the NFL will figure out Wade Phillips is a horrible head coach.
Please. He seems like a good coordinator, but I can't take the hapless look on the sideline. He, Norv Turner and a host of other Peter Principle victims should just stick with star coordinator jobs: 80% of the money and 20% of the pressure/ spotlight.
posted by yerfatma at 07:52 AM on November 09, 2010
I'd add Brad Childress to the list of Peter Principle victims.
posted by cobra! at 10:20 AM on November 09, 2010
Local Dallas sports anchor Dale Hansen's take on the change. For those who don't know, he and Jerry Jones have a history, and not a good one.
posted by graymatters at 11:02 AM on November 09, 2010
Tell us what you really think about Jerry Jones, Dale!
I know Hansen is the most powerful sports journalist in Dallas, but it's still surprising to me that he can get away with slamming the owner of the city's biggest sports franchise so many times and with such obvious scorn. Covering the Cowboys is any sports reporter's main job in Dallas. Jones could restrict WFAA's access to the team, give all the scoops to its competitors and come after Hansen in other ways.
posted by rcade at 11:39 AM on November 09, 2010
That was harsh and true. I don't really understand Jones. Does he like managing better than he likes winning?
posted by bperk at 12:47 PM on November 09, 2010
Jones likes not having a coach around who can hog all the glory in triumph, the way Jimmy Johnson did. Aside from Bill Parcells, Jones has never allowed anyone on the sideline unless they were willing to defer to his authority as a football mind. Not coincidentally, the only success the team has experienced since the 1995 Super Bowl win was under Parcells.
posted by rcade at 01:04 PM on November 09, 2010
Wow -- Dale Hansen, I (heart) you.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:12 PM on November 09, 2010
The problems start at the top. Jerry made the final call on the p[layers. until they have a coach that isnt a Jerry puppet( Gruden?) that he lets run the team as a coach should, They will be the most talented underacheiver in the game.
posted by Debo270 at 01:27 PM on November 09, 2010
the only success the team has experienced since the 1995 Super Bowl win was under Parcells.
I'm not sure what success you are referring too. The Cowboys didn't get their first win since '96 until last January. The Parcell's era was a rebuilding era, but he won just just 1 playoff game less than Phillips.
posted by sgtcookzane at 02:25 PM on November 09, 2010
I wasn't suggesting Parcells had any playoff success. But he took a team that had gone 5-11 for three straight years and turned them into a playoff-caliber team with a deep roster.
posted by rcade at 02:37 PM on November 09, 2010
A prime example of overall-poor management in Dallas? Or a sly calculated piece of timing on Jones's part?
posted by NerfballPro at 02:52 PM on November 09, 2010
PACKAGES EXTREMELY LIMITED!!!
Most guys like to keep that quiet.
Made my day, l_b_b
posted by Howard_T at 03:13 PM on November 09, 2010
until they have a coach that isnt a Jerry puppet
Won't happen until Jerry Jones is out of the picture.
Even if Jones gets credited with assembling the most talented team in the league, the Cowboys will never be successful unless the Coach has authority to control the on-field performance.
Not coincidentally, the only success the team has experienced since the 1995 Super Bowl win was under Parcells
For the record, Wade Phillips was 34-21 ... Parcells was only 34-30 in Dallas. The team appeared to perform closer to it's capabilities under Parcells, a possible by-product of following the reign of JJ's version of the 3 stooges, Campo/Gailey/Switzer.
The fact that Parcells, a coach who consistantly won with average teams, couldn't achieve success in Dallas should be enough to scare any other worthy candidates away.
But ... Jerry just might be able to throw enough money at Jimmy Johnson to convince him that coaching the Cowboys is a better gig than having to make a living telling the world his dick is too small.
posted by cixelsyd at 03:39 PM on November 09, 2010
For the record, Wade Phillips was 34-21 ... Parcells was only 34-30 in Dallas.
Phillips followed Parcells and had a playoff team when he arrived. They went 13-3 his first season as coach.
Given that record, how does Parcells' tenure reflect badly on Dallas? He left just as the team he built was getting somewhere and a franchise quarterback was finally in place.
posted by rcade at 04:10 PM on November 09, 2010
Parcells was brought in for one primary reason - to get the voters in Arlington to approve the city's part of the new Cowboys stadium. After that, Jones started trying to take back control, bringing in TO, etc. against Parcells' wishes. As far as Jones was concerned, Parcells served his purpose and was no longer needed.
posted by graymatters at 07:06 PM on November 09, 2010
how does Parcells' tenure reflect badly on Dallas?
It reflects on Jerry and the circus that is Jerry's Cowboys.
If Parcells was allowed to continue coaching the team, based on talent the Cowboys would have at least 1 more trophy by now (if he could win with Sims at QB, winning with Romo is conceivable)... but Parcells realized the agenda and moved on.
Not suggesting that Bill is a vindictive type, but if he was he'd be grinning ear to ear about now.
posted by cixelsyd at 09:18 PM on November 09, 2010
Parcells was the reason Parcells quit. It wasn't because of T.O. or Jones, it was because he doesn't stick around one place for long any more and wanted out of the long hours required of a head coach. He has a good relationship with Jones.
posted by rcade at 10:32 PM on November 09, 2010
rcade, I don't know why you keep inserting facts in what could be a very good discussion of the Cowboys.
posted by bperk at 09:36 AM on November 10, 2010
a good relationship with Jones
All that link really confirms is that Parcells is a class act.
Jones choosing to belittle yet another employee, under whatever circumstance, is a clear indication of the problem in Dallas.
posted by cixelsyd at 10:59 AM on November 10, 2010
So you know better than the press, Jones and Parcells? Based on what, exactly?
posted by rcade at 12:08 PM on November 10, 2010
Sorry, must have hit my head or something and become delusional.
Wade Phillips' has been to blame all along ... all is resolved now he's gone and everything will be roses in Dallas starting with their next game.
posted by cixelsyd at 12:28 PM on November 10, 2010
The Cowboys really are America's Team. They're just like America, broken and divided and arguing about the future.
Hey, Dale Hansen. Stop stealing my material!
posted by cjets at 01:58 PM on November 10, 2010
Cixelsyd: Wade Phillips has nothing to do with your groundless claims about Parcells' departure from Dallas. I'm no fan of Jerry Jones, but I have never seen evidence that he drove off Parcells. He appeared to want Parcells to come back for another year when he resigned.
posted by rcade at 02:15 PM on November 10, 2010
Everything should be fine now.