- SPORTSbyBROOKS wonders if the Cowboys’ piss-poor record in December is due to poor conditioning. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

- DALLAS SPORTS FANS relays a reporter’s account of the Cowboys’ surprisingly upbeat plane ride home after their horrible, season-ending loss to the Eagles. [DALLAS SPORTS FANS]

- DEADSPIN has video of Eagles owner Jeff Lurie high-fiving his wife’s (?) face after his team scored a touchdown. [DEADSPIN]

- Over at YARDBARKER, Shizz08 reaffirms that you don’t have to know how to write (or turn off your CAPS LOCK) to blog about how your favorite team got screwed by the refs. [YARDBARKER]

- NESW SPORTS has video of LeBron James’ terrific reverse layup against the Heat. [NESW SPORTS]

- SPORTSbyBROOKS wonders if Bill Parcells might fly the coop this summer after his masterful rebuilding job in Miami. [SPORTSbyBROOKS]

The Philadelphia Eagles absolutely hammered the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, beating their NFC East rivals 44-6 to clinch the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC.

Before I get to the Eagles’ remarkable run to make the postseason, I have to ask: Is Wade Phillips done in Dallas? Yeah, I know – Jerry Jones said multiple times this week that Wade’s job was not in jeopardy. But what is he supposed to say when his coach is trying to prepare his team for a must-win game? He’s not going to put any undo pressure on Phillips when everyone knows what’s at stake.

But to be embarrassed by a division rival when a win gets you into the playoffs is inexcusable. This was essentially a playoff game and Phillips’ team didn’t even show up. My God, it was 27-3 at halftime and Tony Romo looked like he would rather wash himself with barbed wire than be out on the field Sunday.

The problem with parting with Phillips after the season is that unless he can land Bill Cowher, Jones doesn’t have a ton of options. His golden boy Jason Garrett can’t be excused from this mess of a situation either, because his innovative offense could only muster six points. (Although it’s not Garrett’s fault Romo treated the football like a greased hog for most of the evening.)

Entering the season, Dallas was easily the favorite to represent the NFC, especially with the amount of talent the Giants lost from their Super Bowl team. After getting shelled by Philly to finish out of the playoffs, I wouldn’t put it past Jones to clean house with a new stadium set to open in 2009. What an embarrassment.

On a lighter note – how about those Eagles? Six weeks ago their playoff hopes looked bleak after they tied the Bengals and then were shellacked by the Ravens in Baltimore. Then they rattle off three straight wins only to put their postseason aspirations back on life support with a lousy performance in Washington last Sunday. Then today, all of the stars align just right and they’re heading to the playoffs.

And if anyone thinks they can’t go into Minnesota next week and beat the Vikings, you’re crazy. Jim Johnson is already working on a game plan to limit Adrian Peterson and force Tarvaris Jackson to make throws to beat him.

Here are snapshot previews of the late games with playoff implications on Sunday.

Dolphins (10-5) at Jets (9-6), 4:15PM ET CBS
Things got hairy last week for the Dolphins in Kansas City, but their win over the Chiefs put them in position to make the playoffs (not to mention win the AFC East) with a win over the Jets. The problem is that they haven’t had much success in the Meadowlands this decade and the conditions are going to be cold and nasty. Still, they’re playing a Jets team that has lacked fire over the past couple of weeks, while quarterback Brett Favre has recently admitted that he’s at less than perfect health. A win would be the ultimate revenge for Chad Pennington, who has a bad taste in his mouth from the way the team pitched him in the dumpster right after they traded for Favre. Pennington felt that he gave a lot to a Jets’ fan base and organization that didn’t return the favor. So expect a very motivated Chad to show up in Jersey on Sunday and one with revenge on his mind. Miami’s offense got back on track last week in Kansas City, but their defense took a step back after allowing the Chiefs to rack up 31 points. Before last week, the Dolphins had limited their three previous opponents to 9, 3 and 12 points, respectively. Hurt or not, Favre is going to come out fired up considering this might be his final game. This should be a great battle.

Broncos (8-7) at Chargers (7-8), 8:15PM ET NBC
The Broncos have completely crapped the bed the past two weeks, losing to both Carolina and Buffalo to set up a must-win situation in San Diego to win the AFC West. The problem is that the Chargers have won three in a row to put themselves in position to win the division with a victory. San Diego’s offense is seemingly back on track, racking up 41, 22 and 34 points respectively in their last three games. Phillip Rivers is having an MVP-like season and should have no problem moving the ball against a Denver defense that has been shredded for most of the season. But the Chargers need LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles to be effective in order to keep the offense balanced. The defense, which has played dramatically better since Ron Rivera took over at coordinator, also needs to step up against a Broncos’ offense that is averaging almost 280 passing yards per game. Winner takes all in this matchup, although it appears that Denver has already blown its chance. A Charger win would be sweet justice after they lost to the Broncos earlier this season thanks in part to Ed Hochuli’s blown call.

Cowboys (9-6) at Eagles (8-6-1), 4:15PM ET FOX
There’s a bit of a stink surrendering this game because by kickoff, the Eagles will already know whether or not they’re playing for a playoff spot. Philly needs Tampa Bay, Chicago and Minnesota all to lose in order to have a shot at the postseason. Since it’s unlikely that all three teams lose, the Eagles will have to settle for the role of spoiler in this game. The Cowboys control their own destiny. If they win, they’ll clinch the sixth and final playoff spot in the NFC. If they lose, they’re done. According to Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips’ job is not on the line this Sunday. But things could change if the Cowboys are embarrassed by a division rival with the postseason on the line. Despite what Jones says, Phillips better come up with a way to slow down Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook they way Washington did last Sunday, or else he could be heading to the unemployment line.

Jaguars (5-10) at Ravens (10-5), 4:15PM ET CBS
The Ravens need just one more victory to put a cap on an amazing year. They should get that victory, too, because they’re playing a Jacksonville Jaguars team that has lost four of their last five games. Although they showed spunk in almost beating the Colts last Thursday night, they won’t be able to move the ball on a motivated Baltimore defense. As long as rookie quarterback Joe Flacco doesn’t succumb to the pressures of facing a must-win situation, the Ravens should be fine. The Jaguars can’t run the ball behind a depleted offensive line and if Baltimore can beat the Cowboys on the road and in the final game at Texas Stadium, they should have no issues with a hapless Jacksonville squad.

- Apparently Florida State University is out $5 million if head coach Bobby Bowden coaches past 2010. (SPORTSbyBROOKS.com)

- Deadspin speculates which NFL head coaches will be unemployed by next week. Eric Mangini, Andy Reid, Wade Phillips and Norv Turner have been served notice. (Deadspin)

- Here’s a list of sports’ deepest throats. Uh, it’s not what you think…pervert. (Hugging Harold Reynolds)

- Is boxer Floyd Mayweather ready for a return to the ring? (The Boxing Stop)

- The Steady Burn wants to know what is the worst sports memorabilia that you own. (The Steady Burn)

- Here’s a list dedicated to the worst sports transactions of 2008. (Gunaxin)

Following their 33-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Saturday night in Dallas, Star-Telegram columnist Randy Galloway writes that Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones should fire himself.

Then again, Jerry Jones is the dumbest general manager in the history of football, and there he was, postgame on Saturday, proclaiming he has no plans, no matter what, to fire Wade. See, it’s real hard to find good puppets these days.

But please remember that much has changed in the 11 barren postseason years, including five head coaches.

The one and only survivor of this Titanic?

Our captain of the ship, general manager Jones. Why won’t this failure fire himself? No other GM in the league could survive this kind of ineptness, unless, of course, the team owner was in a coma. Now there’s a thought.

Not once, but twice, when Romo had cut the Ravens lead to two points in the last four minutes, the defense caved like a sand tunnel at high tide. Pathetic.

Any defensive coordinator should be fired on the spot. That’s you, right Wade?

Phillips had a run blitz called when Willis McGahee burst up the middle, untouched, for a 77-yard touchdown.

Phillips had a run blitz called when lumbering Le’Ron McClain started outside, broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage, broke two more five yards later, and then just kept running. He stopped in the end zone, 82 yards later.

The comeback was over. The season is all but over. And Wade should be over and out. But Jerry is, as always, football stupid. Nothing can ever change that.

I realize Phillips will take the heat because it was him who made the defensive play calls in the fourth quarter that eventually sunk the Cowboys. But it’s not Wade’s fault that multiple players missed multiple tackles on those two plays. All coaches can do is put their players in position to succeed and then it’s up to the players to execute.

That said, it’s hard to argue with Galloway that something has to be done with Phillips and/or Jones. This Dallas team is on the verge of missing the postseason despite having some of the best talent in the NFC. Somebody has to be held accountable.

At some point it has to happen, right? At some point all of this nonsense that was created by Terrell Owens a week ago has to catch up with the Dallas Cowboys, right?

As Dallas gets set to take on the Baltimore Ravens tonight, there seems to be a cloud hanging over Valley Ranch just ready to unleash a bolt of lighting and destroy the Cowboys’ season in a moments notice. And while everything looked just peachy in a 20-8 victory over the Giants last week, I’m not buying that things have completely smoothed out for Owens, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Wade Phillips and everyone else that dons a big star logo on their clothing appeal these days.

First and foremost, everything is always great among teammates when they win. So it was no surprise to see Owens, Romo and Witten all smiles at the end of the Cowboys-Giants game last week, because Dallas won. Problems seem to get pushed off to the side rather quickly when everything is copasetic on the field.

But what has to worry Cowboy fans is that eventually, off-field issues rise to the surface at some point. And one has to wonder if some point is tonight.

The Ravens have a nasty taste in their mouths after losing at home to the Steelers last week when they essentially had a victory locked up. Ben Rothlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense had done virtually nothing until their final drive of the game, yet they made plays when it mattered most and pulled victory out of the jaws of defeat. Now Baltimore’s playoff hopes remain in flux, but a win over Dallas would go a long way in solving that issue.

If things start going array for the ‘Boys tonight, can they hold everything together? Or will Owens start complaining that he’s not getting the ball enough? And will Romo start turning the ball over again like he has a penchant for doing when the Cowboys are losing? Or will Jason Garrett have an answer for the Ravens’ stout defense if his offense isn’t clicking? (Especially if Marion Barber doesn’t play or cannot be effective with an injured toe and calf.)

Many purists think the Cowboys are back on track after their impressive victory over the Giants last week. They can’t stop writing about how Phillips has fixed the defense and how the trio of Owens, Romo and Witten are all best friends now. Hey, maybe they’re right. Or maybe the win over New York just kept the issues at bay for a week. Either way, we’ll find out very soon what kind of team Dallas is made out of because a win would go a long way in proving that this team is what many people thought they would be at the start of the year: A Super Bowl contender.

Jean-Jacques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News writes that Wade Phillips and Jerry Jones have destroyed the team Bill Parcells built.

Parcells had the power to get rid of players, no questions asked. Phillips doesn’t, so he’ll never have the same level of respect from the players. Why do you think Greg Ellis talked to Jerry Jones about his role in the defense?

He wouldn’t have done that with Parcells here because he knew it wouldn’t have mattered. Why do you think T.O. regularly shows up late to morning meetings? He knows there’s no real consequence.
The players know Phillips doesn’t have the ultimate authority, so they don’t fear him. That, my friends, leads to a culture of losing.

But the biggest reason the culture Parcells created is gone is that no one is here to reinforce it.
When Parcells left, he took VP of college and pro scouting Jeff Ireland with him. He took Tony Sparano and three core defensive coaches as well. Yes, Jason Garrett is still here, but he’s not a Parcells’ guy. He’s a Norv Turner guy.

That means everyone with ties to Parcells, who respected the previous culture and could maintain the same type of environment is gone.

That’s why the environment has changed - and it’s not coming back. This team is in the midst of a free fall. Do you have confidence anyone in the organization can stop the plummet?
I didn’t think so.

This team has also lost its edge under Wade Phillips.

Funny how just a year ago the media and Cowboy players were lauding Phillips for being such a “player-friendly” coach and how it was so nice not to walk on eggshells with Parcells gone. How quickly the mood changes when a team starts losing.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is showing support in sticking with Brad Johnson at quarterback over Brooks Bollinger.

But Jones suggested on his weekly radio show that Johnson’s ability to protect the ball and manage the game trumps Bollinger’s mobility.

“Even in this day and time, you can win games with field position and no turnovers,” Jones said. “You trade that off against being really limited in what you can do downfield, being maybe limited in your accuracy and certainly limited in your mobility. Then you’ve got to pick your poison.

“So I think the real question here is what is our best way to win. My gut is our best way to win is to not turn the ball over, as opposed to go out there and try to create more offense. While Brooks has got some real skill mobility-wise and can throw the ball, you’ve got to look at his track record and look at the limited time he’s been under center this year, and you’ve got a serious chance of turnovers.”

Although his weak arm limits the offense, Johnson is a 17-year veteran with a Super Bowl ring. Bollinger, 28, has started only 10 NFL games and has been limited in practice to scout-team duty.

Jones is saying all the right things now in Johnson’s favor, but Jerry looked like he was going to throw up at any minute watching that game last Sunday. Johnson might be the better “game manager” but at some point he needs to make throws, too. He missed open receivers all game against the Bucs and will need to do a little more than manage the game against the Giants this Sunday.

Randy Galloway of the Star-Telegram absolutely hammered Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys in one of his recent articles.

Fire Wade? Yes, but here’s what happens:

(1) It allows Jerry Jones, the worst general manager in the history of professional sports (you want me to recite his GM record, sans the Jimster?) to casually blow off another bad hire with the usual, “to our fans, I say I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

Twelve bleeping years, Jerry. That’s how long it has never worked out with even a playoff win. Or actually, make it 15 years since Jimmy left town as the jumping off point.
How could a good owner be so stupid to allow this GM to keep his job? Not exactly a new question, but it’s the ongoing truth.

(2) It allows a new head coach-in-waiting to take over when he should be under as much siege as Phillips for what has happened on the field. Jason Garrett, the Red-Headed Jesus of Valley Ranch, has been in charge of an offense in a month-long slump. Jason is failing at the moment. So you promote that?

Not yet, Rojo. Not on merit.

(3) It allows a room full of players, who went gutless in St. Louis, to once again weasel their way out of failure, because, of course, you can’t fire the players.

These are the same frauds who were so happy that a mean old man named Parcells hit the road, allowing Jerry to bring in a “players’ coach, a coach who allows us to be men.”

How, Wade, are these “men” working out for you lately?

Red-Headed Jesus of Valley Ranch? That might be the funniest thing I read in some time.

As for his points, I think Galloway is right on the money. The Cowboys are stuck right now with what they’ve got and they better figure it out because there’s no help coming. If Garrett’s offense was still clicking, than Phillips might have gotten the boot last week. But it’s not and Jones doesn’t have a ton of options.

For the second straight week, the Rams produced the upset of the day (or at least the upset of the early games) as they smoked the Cowboys 34-14 in St. Louis.

While the Rams have been a nice story the past two weeks under interim head coach Jim Haslett, the story of this game has to be how out of sync Dallas looked offensively without Tony Romo (broken pinkie finger). Despite having a plethora of options in the passing game, Brad Johnson was absolutely brutal until late in the third quarter when the Rams’ defense was playing off the ball and allowed easy completions.

What happened to “American’s Team?” They thumped the Packers in Green Bay and everyone said they were easily the best team in the NFC, if not in the NFL. But in hindsight, something that many overlooked was how bad the defense looked against the Eagles on Monday night in Week 2. Dallas was absolutely shredded and is a fumbled exchange between Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook away from being a .500 team. The warning signs were there, but people were so enamored with all of the individual talent Dallas had on offense that they overlooked the underlying issues on defense.

The Cowboys obviously need a healthy Romo to get the offense back in sync. But more importantly, Wade Phillips needs to start making some wholesale changes on defense or else the ‘Boys won’t make the playoffs playing in a stacked NFC East.

Jean-Jacques Taylor of The Dallas Morning News writes that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shouldn’t be the one pumping up his team on the sidelines during games. That job should fall on Wade Phillips and the rest of the Dallas coaching staff.

Jerry shouldn’t be delivering pep talks to an overly sensitive Terrell Owens with 5:14 left in the third quarter because Owens needs a hug while sulking on the bench. Nor should Jerry be exhorting the first-team defense between series.

The same goes for handing out high-fives to Courtney Brown and patting Zach Thomas on the back after Anthony Spencer’s fourth-quarter fumble recovery or congratulating each member of the extra-point unit following T.O.’s key touchdown in the fourth quarter.

After the game, the sweat rapidly rolled down Jerry’s flushed cheeks, staining his snazzy navy and black tie and making his shirt damp.

Jerry crosses a fine line when he’s that involved with the players during the game, because it goes way beyond his duties as owner or general manager.

Blame Wade Phillips. Obviously, the owner thought he was giving the team something it needed.

“It was my emotion,” Jerry said of heading to the field in the third quarter. “In my own way, I was reminding everyone how important – not that they needed reminding – this game was. I added an additional impetus to it. This game was every bit as big as it was against Washington last week.”

I’ve always had mixed emotions regarding this topic. On one hand, it’s the owner’s team. If he wants to be on the sidelines at the end of games and slap high-fives with the players he’s paying millions of dollars to, than he should be able to do that. But where do you draw the line? The owners higher coaches to run the team and should rely on them to keep the players motivated. And besides, if the coaches can’t fire up the players, what makes the owner think he will?

But in the specific case of Jerry Jones, I don’t think there’s anything new here. He’s always been on the sidelines and to me, he doesn’t seem to be a distraction. Do I think it’s ridiculous that he’s giving pep talks to T.O. during a game? Yeah. But that reflects more poorly on T.O. than Owens in my opinion.