Post by prossman on Dec 22, 2008 23:48:06 GMT -7
DMN: Todd Archer: Dallas Cowboys' Phillips avoids talk of job status
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Dallas Cowboys' Phillips avoids talk of job status
08:04 PM CST on Monday, December 22, 2008
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Cowboys coach Wade Phillips doesn't do what-ifs.
Like, what if the Cowboys hadn't lost to St. Louis even without Tony Romo, or what if they had not lost in overtime at Arizona or at home to Washington by two points or in last Saturday's Texas Stadium regular-season finale against Baltimore?
"I don't look at negative things," Phillips said Monday. "I don't think that's the way to go. You look forward to the next day. You look forward to the next practice. You look forward to the next game."
And he is not going to play the what-if game on his status as coach should the Cowboys lose their win-or-out finale at Philadelphia on Sunday.
"I don't even want to discuss that," he said. "That's the furthest thing from my mind."
Before he said his goodbye to Texas Stadium on Saturday night, it was the furthest thing from the mind of owner and general manager Jerry Jones, too.
"That is not a consideration for me," he said when asked about a possible coaching change.
Jones said changing coaches "is not necessarily the answer as far as winning," but three of the four first-year coaches this season have their teams in or on the verge of the playoffs, including Miami's Tony Sparano, whom Jones interviewed for the Cowboys head coaching position after Bill Parcells resigned.
If the Dolphins win Sunday against the New York Jets, Sparano will have led Miami to an AFC East title one season after the Dolphins finished 1-15.
Mike Smith has Atlanta, 4-12 last season, in the playoffs and could earn a first-round bye with a win and Carolina loss on Sunday.
John Harbaugh, whom Baltimore hired after Jason Garrett decided to remain with the Cowboys, needs a win Sunday to get the Ravens in the playoffs.
Only Washington, with Jim Zorn, will miss the playoffs with a new coach, but the Redskins can finish 9-7 with a victory Sunday.
With 31 years of NFL experience, Phillips knows the business. He was named interim coach in 1985 after New Orleans fired his father, Bum. In 1994, he was fired after Denver finished 7-9.
In 2000, he was fired after an 8-8 season in Buffalo.
On Monday, the only future he talked about was Sunday's game against the Eagles.
"This is a big game for us, and our team is going to try to play its best, and that's what we are going to try to do," said Phillips, who is 22-9 with the Cowboys. "We are looking forward to it. I think we can win this one and go from there."
If the Cowboys do not make the playoffs, they will be the fifth NFC team since 2000 to not make the playoffs a year after being the top seed, joining Chicago (2007), Philadelphia (2005), St. Louis (2002) and the Giants (2001).
The Cowboys held their Christmas party Sunday night at Texas Stadium. The day before, they left the stadium thinking their season could be over but returned with an air of anticipation, thanks to Tampa Bay's loss.
"They were all excited about playing, about the opportunity," Phillips said. "It's almost like a second chance. It isn't because we earned to be where we are ... but they're ready to go.
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Dallas Cowboys' Phillips avoids talk of job status
08:04 PM CST on Monday, December 22, 2008
By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com
IRVING – Cowboys coach Wade Phillips doesn't do what-ifs.
Like, what if the Cowboys hadn't lost to St. Louis even without Tony Romo, or what if they had not lost in overtime at Arizona or at home to Washington by two points or in last Saturday's Texas Stadium regular-season finale against Baltimore?
"I don't look at negative things," Phillips said Monday. "I don't think that's the way to go. You look forward to the next day. You look forward to the next practice. You look forward to the next game."
And he is not going to play the what-if game on his status as coach should the Cowboys lose their win-or-out finale at Philadelphia on Sunday.
"I don't even want to discuss that," he said. "That's the furthest thing from my mind."
Before he said his goodbye to Texas Stadium on Saturday night, it was the furthest thing from the mind of owner and general manager Jerry Jones, too.
"That is not a consideration for me," he said when asked about a possible coaching change.
Jones said changing coaches "is not necessarily the answer as far as winning," but three of the four first-year coaches this season have their teams in or on the verge of the playoffs, including Miami's Tony Sparano, whom Jones interviewed for the Cowboys head coaching position after Bill Parcells resigned.
If the Dolphins win Sunday against the New York Jets, Sparano will have led Miami to an AFC East title one season after the Dolphins finished 1-15.
Mike Smith has Atlanta, 4-12 last season, in the playoffs and could earn a first-round bye with a win and Carolina loss on Sunday.
John Harbaugh, whom Baltimore hired after Jason Garrett decided to remain with the Cowboys, needs a win Sunday to get the Ravens in the playoffs.
Only Washington, with Jim Zorn, will miss the playoffs with a new coach, but the Redskins can finish 9-7 with a victory Sunday.
With 31 years of NFL experience, Phillips knows the business. He was named interim coach in 1985 after New Orleans fired his father, Bum. In 1994, he was fired after Denver finished 7-9.
In 2000, he was fired after an 8-8 season in Buffalo.
On Monday, the only future he talked about was Sunday's game against the Eagles.
"This is a big game for us, and our team is going to try to play its best, and that's what we are going to try to do," said Phillips, who is 22-9 with the Cowboys. "We are looking forward to it. I think we can win this one and go from there."
If the Cowboys do not make the playoffs, they will be the fifth NFC team since 2000 to not make the playoffs a year after being the top seed, joining Chicago (2007), Philadelphia (2005), St. Louis (2002) and the Giants (2001).
The Cowboys held their Christmas party Sunday night at Texas Stadium. The day before, they left the stadium thinking their season could be over but returned with an air of anticipation, thanks to Tampa Bay's loss.
"They were all excited about playing, about the opportunity," Phillips said. "It's almost like a second chance. It isn't because we earned to be where we are ... but they're ready to go.