Tag: Fire Wade Phillips (Page 3 of 3)

      Did Romo forget what down it was in loss to Broncos?

      October 6, 2009 /

      According to a report by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo may have forgotten what down it was when he threw an incomplete pass to Sam Hurd at the conclusion of Dallas’ loss to the Broncos on Sunday.

      Following the final incomplete pass to end the Cowboys hopes, a video caught on KDFW Fox-4 shows Romo seemingly telling his linemen to line back up. He then flashes three fingers to one of the game officials.

      After hearing the response, Romo screams and walks off field.

      If true, Romo apparently forgot about the spike to stop the clock on second down.

      When asked about the series of events, coach Wade Phillips didn’t know anything about a discrepancy. He said that on the sideline they knew what down it was and any questions would need to be directed at Romo.

      Romo is human – he makes mistakes like everyone else. But this is a biggie if it’s true. As a quarterback, you have to know the situation at all times, including what freaking down it is.

      That said, if Phillips and the rest of the Dallas sideline knew it was fourth down, it’s part of their responsibility to let their quarterback know the situation. He’s got to worry about relaying what the play call is, how the defense is set up and everything else so a simple, “Hey Tony, it’s fourth down – this is it, buddy” could have been relayed.

      The media tends to pin wins and losses solely on Romo, which is unfair. That said, he seems to be regressing as a decision-maker and he misfired badly on a couple of throws on Sunday, one of which got his marginally talented receiver Roy Williams decked in the ribs.

      I’ve written several times in the past how Romo is at a crossroads in his career. Outside of a career day in Tampa, he hasn’t played well this season and he certainly didn’t help himself stave off criticism if he did forget what down it was on Sunday. If the Cowboys continue to stumble, an offseason quarterback change might be forthcoming.

      NFL

      Cowboys embarrassed in Philadelphia – will Wade Phillips be fired?

      December 28, 2008 /

      Wade Phillips & Andy ReidThe 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.

      NFL

      NFL Week 17 Primer Late Games

      December 26, 2008 /

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


      Chad Pennington      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.

      Wade Phillips      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.

      NFL

      Galloway: Jerry Jones should fire himself

      December 21, 2008 /

      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.

      Wade PhillipsThen 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.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Is Wade Phillips the problem in Dallas?

      November 5, 2008 /

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

      Wade PhillipsParcells 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.

      NFL

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