Can the Dallas Cowboys save Wade Phillips’ job?

Posted Monday, Nov. 02, 2009 Comments   (0) Print Share Share Reprints
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By JIM REEVES

revo@star-telegram.com

reeves IRVING — Quirky thing about these resurrection stories; they can snowball in the blink of an eye and, before you know it, everyone’s involved.

The avalanche starts picking up momentum, cascading downhill, smashing trees, picking up a Miles Austin here, a Patrick Crayton there; next thing you know Tony Romo’s on board, Keith Brooking is riding the wave and anything and everything goes.

Out of nowhere, Austin zooms from bust to go-to receiver in the span of three games. Imagine the beating GM Jerry would be taking over the Roy Williams trade if Austin hadn’t stepped up as the perfect distraction at the perfect time.

Romo, for the first time in his career, patches together a modest three-game stretch without an interception. Suddenly he’s once again that dashing, can-do-no-wrong quarterback with the devilish smile we all fell in love with in the first place .

The Cowboys’ defense, led by the passionate Brooking, rebuilds itself from the ashes after repeatedly burning out in crunch time in game after game, which begs the question: Was that a dog pile or a bonfire in the end zone after that overtime win in Kansas City?

Great theater all, but the biggest question, the real resurrection story, lingers alluringly in the background as we wait for all of this to play itself out.

Can even Wade Phillips still save his job?

Only Jerry Jones knows for sure and, heaven knows, he’s been known to flip-flop from one week to the next.

Finally, one last question remains before the Cowboys plunge into their final game before the halfway mark of the season:

Would that be what’s best for the Dallas Cowboys for 2010 and beyond?

Ponder your answer carefully, then proceed with caution.

As for me, I’ve been on record since that abysmal playoff week against the Giants two years ago that Coach Wade isn’t the right leader for this team and, so far, nothing has changed my mind.

So far ...

It was a given that Coach Wade began this season, the last on his three-year contract, needing a dramatic statement to prevent Jerry from going after one of the big names on the market. The most popular question hasn’t been whether Wade would come back, but which veteran, winning head coach would replace him: Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan or Mike Holmgren?

There was even speculation, with good reason, that Jones would break from tradition and make an in-season change during the bye week had the Cowboys lost to the Chiefs in Kansas City, a disaster that was narrowly averted.

Three weeks later the Cowboys find themselves riding a three-game winning streak, tied for first place with the Eagles atop the NFC East and headed for a Sunday night showdown in Philadelphia.

There are no guarantees here, of course. Playing in Philly is always a dicey proposition and the Cowboys have still beaten just one team (Atlanta) with a winning record. The combined won-loss record of the five teams they’ve defeated, in fact, is a dismal 10-24.

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