COWBOYS COACH WADE PHILLIPS
“The most gutless team in franchise history.”
That’s how Monday’s Dallas Morning News referred to the current edition of the Cowboys following a season-ending 44-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead of rising to the occassion in the ultimate “must win” situation, Dallas spit the bit and a team many argued would win the Super Bowl ended up not even making the playoffs.
So, a football team that is NOT lacking in talent showed itself to ABSOLUTELY be lacking in character. Most observers called Sunday’s loss to Philly the most embarrassing moment in franchise history. You would think that following such a loss that heads would roll. You would be wrong. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has shown in the past that he is willing to get get rid of anyone, including Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson, the most legendary coaches in Cowboys history. Both of whom, by the way, WON Super Bowls.
Yet, Jones continues to defend Cowboys coach Wade Phillips and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, all evidence to the contrary. Jones has already announced that both Phillips and Garrett would return next season. Whether Sunday’s debacle changes Jones’ mind remains to be seen, but all indications are the Cowboys owner is sticking to his guns. No matter how impotent those guns might be.
In a bizarre incident following Sunday’s loss, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (much like his team) collapsed. Literally. Romo apparently fell in the Cowboys shower. He was reportedly having trouble breathing after suffering a fourth quarter rib injury. The incident was so serious that paramedics were initially called. Romo turned out to be ok, but teammates originally rushed to his side. That’s a good sign for Romo since, following Sunday’s effort, many Dallas fans might have had second thoughts about saving the team’s quarterback.
The finger pointing in Big D has already started. Controversial wide receiver Terrell Owens, the poster child for this year’s under-achieving group, called Sunday’s performance, “shameful.”
That could be the first honest thing Owens has said all year.
TERRELL OWENS-SYMBOL OF COWBOYS “ME FIRST” ATTITUDE
