If what I saw last night is any indication, only the Dallas Cowboys can stop the Dallas Cowboys this year. These guys are the total package. In three weeks, they’ve displayed a well-balanced passing game, Marion Barber has shown us why he’s “The Man” in the backfield, and that Cowboys defense did everything they could short of planting Aaron Rodgers in the ground.
My contempt as a fan for the Dallas Cowboys is thinly veiled. I once was a fan during the Tom Landry- Roger Staubach era, and I never forgave Jerry Jones for how he handled Landry’s ouster (though it was no doubt Landry’s time to hang it up), and for the band of Raider-types he brought to the team afterwards. It was, to me, fitting that the Cowboys took on that character after bringing former ‘Canes coach Jimmie (“We’re number one in three polls. The AP, the UPI and the FBI.”) Johnson to town. I also believe Jones has crossed several more lines for his public comments on the Ed Hochuli situation. If you ask me, it’s none of Jones’ freakin’ business.
But for Wade Phillips’ sake, I wish good things for Dallas. The son of a Bum has long worn the mantle shared by Gunther Cunningham, Art Shell, and dare I add Romeo Crennel to this list: “Successful assistant, failed head coach.” Phillips has long been heralded for his defensive prowess, going back to the days when he toiled for his father. You could always count on Phillips’ name coming up for a coaching vacancy anytime a team needed a defensive-minded head coach. There’s no question that Phillips is a master of the old 3-4 scheme, and anyone who’s followed football for more than five minutes knows However- his previous gigs in Denver and Buffalo have proven disappointing.
To be fair, Phillips has never been given a fair shake. Though I am a Broncos man, I always wondered “What if Pat Bowlen had been a little more patient with Wade?” Phillips would have been the beneficiary of the arrival of franchise cornerstones Terrell Davis and Rod Smith. and just maybe HE’d be deep into a great career in Denver. Not that I’m complaining about Mike Shanahan, mind you.
Buffalo wasn’t much different. I don’t think blame can really be laid on Phillips for the perceived underachievement there. Any reasonable person can see there wasn’t much “there” there in upstate New York.
He may not be in a much better situation in Dallas. if you understand my perspective, then you know I suspect Phillips may be on a short leash in “Big D” under Jones’ ownership. It’s just a matter of time before Jason Garrett takes the reins and everybody knows it. What the old ball coach has going for him is the ‘Boys are winning and it’s like Emmitt Smith once said, “Winning is a great deodorant.”
It’s not hard to see why Phillips is a winner here. Unlike his predecessor Bill “The Big Tuna” Parcells, Phillips has no desire for the spotlight. Phillips likes an aggressive defense (as evidenced by last night’s game. Dallas threw everything but the kitchen sink at Green Bay), and he gives offensive coordinator Garrett the latitude to run an aggressive offense. Phillips is more than happy to let the glow of the limelight shine on the guys who seem to need it: Terrell Owens and Tony Romo, and his own dear boss Jerry Jones. This is seems as an admirable quality in most leaders, though the way they roll in Dallas, I’m just hoping people don’t forget who’s orchestrating the chaos.
As long as they’re winning, Phillips should be o.k. For his sake, I’ll not suffer the Dallas wins too badly.
