And Now the Long, Cold [Er, Warmer?] Offseason
By Matt Cordon (kh). Filed in Dallas Cowboys News in Brief |
If you are a true draftnik, then your season has just begun now that the Pro Bowl is over. For those of us who have trouble updating their mock drafts on a daily basis, it’s a long road to August. Sigh.
As for the Pro Bowl, it was unfortunate for Drew Brees that he had to endure a dislocated elbow, but at least it wasn’t Tony Romo. Romo was sacked a couple of times and endured an interception by Ed Reed, but his 47-yard pass to Anquan Boldin, along with a two-point conversion to Steve Smith, tied the game at 28. Moreover, Romo successfully held two extra points! But alas, the AFC still won after driving down in the waning seconds to set up a game-winning 21-yarder by Nate Kaeding as time expired.
Today is such a bad day that I am watching the replays of those mini-games that are played at the Pro Bowl. I can announce that…
(a) Michael Irvin caught a couple of passes in the alumni flag football game that also featured former Dallas cornerback Larry Brown.
(b) Larry Allen, now with the enemy, won the strongest man contest.
(c) DeMarcus Ware looked pretty good in the obstacle course
(d) Romo won the quarterback skills competition, as reported yesterday on the Dallas Morning News.
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Gil Brandt, former head of personnel for the Cowboys, says that hiring Wade Phillips was the right choice.
Dallas Cowboys fans and the world over were breathlessly anticipating the hiring of a “big name” as their new head coach. They might not have been excited about hearing that the new coach is “regular guy” Wade Phillips — but they can rest assured that Jerry Jones has made a very good decision.
For anyone who thinks it wasn’t a “sexy” pick, just go back to when the Packers hired a guy named Vince Lombardi in 1959. A lot of people in Green Bay were disappointed with that hire, and it turned out pretty good.
Phillips is the third native Texan to be named head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He grew up in Texas, played high school and college football in Texas and started his coaching career at a high school in Orange, Texas, which happens to be the state’s eastern-most city.
In describing Wade Phillips, I would say he is a mellow, laid-back individual who is not a yeller or screamer. He reminds me of Tom Landry in this regard: He will make a point and say, “Do it that way and you will be successful. But if you don’t, you’re not going to be successful.”
As an example, I remember when he was coaching with his dad, the legendary Bum Phillips, at Oklahoma State. His dad asked him why some breakdowns were happening on defense and Wade’s answer was simple: The players didn’t follow the plan.
Bum Phillips is still a cult hero in Texas. He coached high school and college there, and then had success in the NFL — particularly with the Houston Oilers. At most of Bum’s coaching stops, Wade has been by his side. At Oklahoma State, as a matter of fact, Bum was the defensive coordinator and Wade was the defensive line coach. And then in the NFL, Wade was on his dad’s staff with both the Oilers and the New Orleans Saints.
And speaking of keeping it in the family, there’s a good probability that Wes Phillips — Wade’s son — will join the staff in Dallas. Wes Phillips played quarterback at UTEP and has been coaching in the college ranks in Texas.
To this day, I am still not certain why Wade Phillips was not retained in Buffalo. I guess it came down to the Music City Miracle, when the Bills went 11-5 and lost in the playoffs on the Titans’ kickoff return touchdown with seconds left in the game. Phillips was replaced the following year.
Wade Phillips is a person with no airs about him. He and his dad both are walking advertisements for cowboy boots — whether in Hawaii for league meetings or on the sidelines. Wade has gotten away from wearing boots on sidelines, like his dad used to do, but that’s about the only place he’s not wearing them.
With Wade Phillips at the helm, I think you’ll see a family atmosphere with a lighter feel around the Cowboys, and I think that will lead to success.
Sunday, February 11th 2007 at 2:18 pm
Those that might argue JJ doesn’t know how to pick ‘em, might take some solace that Gil Brandt belives it was the right choice. Beyond that, it doesn’t matter who the Cowboys would have picked- SOMEBODY would disagree. To those people, I would say.. save up your bucks and buy the tean from JJ someday, then you can do what YOU want…. then the rest of us can just sit back and disagree….