“Since there's been absolutely nothing in my mind but the fact I have an option for him next year, that's as far as we need to go,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on his weekly radio show. “And I'm proud that today we've had some success and that the things Wade (Phillips) can bring to the table are showing....It wouldn't benefit our fans at all for me to discuss his status for next year.”
APWade Phillips has the Cowboys on a four-game winning streak.
I agree with Jones regarding extension talk about Wade Phillips. What message would he be sending to the locker room if he rewarded Phillips with a new deal? Every player, after three or four good games, would be knocking on Jerry’s door looking for new deal. The standard of excellence can’t be changed, and for the Cowboys that means a Super Bowl, not a four-game win streak. Anything he would attempt to do regarding Phillips’ contract might backfire on him if things go wrong the next eight games. The season is only half over. Remember last year at this time? The Cowboys were 5-3, the Redskins were 6-2 and the Jets, Bills and Bucs were each 5-3. All of them failed to make the playoffs. There’s too much football to be played to talk about extensions.
Now, I’m not suggesting that it’s Super Bowl or bust for Wade, but clearly he must do more than just win six games. He has to prove he can lead this team to the playoffs and win a postseason game to earn future security. He must keep the team on its current path in terms of its execution on both sides of the ball. When you win games in November, the next game is always the toughest, and Sunday in Green Bay, the Cowboys will face a desperate team. It will take the Cowboys playing their best to win, despite the recent struggles of the Packers.
APOwner Jerry Jones
Don’t confuse this decision not to address an extension for Phillips as anything more than Jones being aware of the negative message it would send to his players, his organization and his fan base. Negative only in the sense that the season is just half over. Anything can happen from here on, as we all know in the NFL. If Phillips can maintain the winning ways, he will be rewarded and have nothing to worry about.
No one wants this to work out more than Jones. He likes the current setup, he loves being intimately involved in running the team, and he would never want to go back to the days of limited involvement. So he has more at stake than money. And for Wade, that’s the best sense of security he could ever hope for.
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Considering the preseason accident and the impressive new stadium, the East leading Cowboys are possibly becoming epic once again. Jerry wants someone who can handle success, not just reach it, that is the highest of standards. Wade is going to get the chance, it goes back to asking of everyone to work to those expectations in camp, under some very different circumstances.
The team has come together in a lot of ways.
28-12 with what playoff record? Jerry doesn't hire people for the regular season.
I agree wholeheartedly that now is not the time for Wade to get a contract extension in Dallas. The record he has in Dallas means nothing. The 'Boys have won 5 Super Bowls. They have a higher standard than just a good start to a season. Wade has not even won a playoff game as Dallas head coach. He turned a 13-3 record with NFC home advantage in 2007 into a bitter playoff defeat at the hands of the Giants. Last year they miss the playoffs entirely. Yes, they are 6-2 now, but that does not mean that he is the long-term answer at head coach. All you have to do is look at the Buffalo Bills. Dick Jauron became the Bills head coach in 2006. His first two seasons in Buffalo end with 7-9 records, missing the playoffs. Last year they start 5-1. The Bills organization overreacts to short-term success and he is offered a 3-year contract extension. 3 years, $9 million. The Bills lose 8 of their remaining 10 games last season and turn a 5-1 start into a 7-9 finish, again missing the playoffs. They are 3-5 so far in 2009 with very little hope to turn things around. The Bills are 5-13 since word first broke that Jauron was being offered a contract extension. Buffalo Bills fans desperately want him removed as head coach of the team. The only reason that Jauron is still head coach of the Bills is because he is owed money, not because he is a good coach. The Bills owner Ralph Wilson does not want to pay someone that doesn't work for him. Wade was a former head coach of the Bills, and he squabbled with Ralph over less than $1 million. Ralph did not even want to pay someone 6 figures not to coach his team. Why would I think he would want to pay Jauron $6 million or so not to coach the Bills? Dallas need not fall into this trap like the Bills did. Let Wade continue to prove himself and the 'Boys to prove themselves on the field.
Another great piece. One of the things people forget when they're negotiating is the value of waiting. Don't be in a rush, you may know if you wait. Remind yourself: Charlie Weis.
Great column, Mike. Totally agree. Can't believe I agree with JERRY JONES on something.
As a Packers fan, and a born and raised Cheesehead, I expect the Cowboys to romp over the Packers Sunday. I agree the Packers are desperate. But they also don't have the talent or will to win against winning teams (except the Bears, thank goodness!).
Falcons fan here, but I have to agree: keep Wade desperate, JJ, if you want to win. Philips tends to regress when comfortable, I think...he has to have a hot poker under him to light similar fire under his players. No coach will walk away from a job midseason, unless he's Petrino (scumbag), so make the coach "play out" his contract.
Besides, if he doesn't re-up Wade--perhaps because some other team grabs him in "free agency"--JJ can always make a power play for Shanny or Cowher or someone similar. It's not like Wade is a HOF coach that JJ can't afford to let walk...
Great insights. However, I have to disagree with one thing. This is the Dallas Cowboys we're discussing here: supposedly one of the greatest football franchises ever in the NFL. It IS only about Superbowls...at least, it should be.
Jones is a lot of things, and business savvy is definitely one of them. It's a good throwaway comment.
But Mike, similar to your column yesterday regarding Quinn, do you (or Jones) really think Wade is going to be the coach to win a Super Bowl for Dallas?
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Nov 11, 2009
06:44 PM
I agree an extension is not warranted yet, but I also think it's unfair that Parcells' old adage "You are what your record says you are" doesn't seem to apply to Wade. The man is 28-12 as head coach of the Cowboys. Give him a little credit.