Phillips quickly sets himself apart from Parcells
By JAIME ARON, AP Sports Writer
February 9, 2007
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- With two words, Wade Phillips showed how different he is from predecessor Bill Parcells.
Those words?
"Terrell Owens," Phillips said, smiling wide. "I did say his name. Terrell Owens."
Parcells nearly always referred to Owens as "the player" this past season, their first and last together with the Dallas Cowboys. Whether Phillips noted his full use of T.O.'s name to make a point or just to be funny doesn't really matter -- either way, the line symbolized the new tone surrounding this club.
Phillips became the seventh coach in franchise history Thursday, 17 days after Parcells called it a career.
In many ways, the two coaches are alike. Both have gray hair, could stand to lose a few pounds and are among the foremost authorities on NFL defenses, especially the 3-4.
And both can crack up a room -- though not in the same way.
Parcells amused with biting wit and sarcasm. Phillips is more self-deprecating and folksy. At his introductory news conference, he managed to do both at the same time.
Phillips, 59, spent the last three years as the defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, the latest stop in an NFL journey that began in 1976 as the linebackers coach for his dad, then-Oilers coach Bum Phillips.
Since 1981, Wade Phillips has been a head coach or a coordinator for all but one year. He's been a head coach four times, although twice on an interim basis.
Phillips is 45-35 over his five full seasons -- three in Buffalo and two in Denver -- and made the playoffs three times. However, he's yet to win a playoff game, with his last loss coming in the "Music City Miracle," when Tennessee used a trick kick return for the winning touchdown in the closing seconds against the Bills in January 2000.
Dallas is headed into the 11th season since its last playoff win, the longest gap in the team's proud history.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he expects Phillips to bring immediate improvement, noting that the last six times Phillips changed jobs, his new team always made the playoffs in his first year.
Phillips, who was born in Orange, Texas, and played college ball at Houston, added that all six had losing records the previous year. At his last stop, San Diego immediately went from 4-12 to 12-4, leading to another bit of Phillips humor.
"Drew Brees made the statement I was the big difference," Phillips said. "I called him back this year and told him, `I think you're the big difference in New Orleans.' But it takes everybody, the coaches and the players."
Phillips doesn't have a rebuilding job this time. He inherits a team that went 9-7 and made the playoffs. The Cowboys' problem was an 8-3 start was followed by a 1-4 finish, with three straight losses at the end. Dallas had a similar collapse the previous December that prevented it from making the playoffs.
"According to Jerry, we're not very far" from being a Super Bowl contender, Phillips said, smiling at his new boss. "Somebody told me once to underpromise and overachieve. ... I know they have some outstanding people."
Phillips was no easy pick for Jones, who was able to take his time because no other teams were looking for coaches. (Of course, because Parcells waited until Jan. 22 to retire, five other teams already had hired new coaches.)
Jones talked to three people inside the organization and seven outsiders. Phillips was the first one, then became the only guy called back for a second interview. That call came Wednesday night, with Jones insisting he didn't actually decide to strike a deal until Thursday afternoon.
A few hours later, Jones became emotional twice during the news conference introducing Phillips, who received a three-year contract with an option for a fourth.
"We needed to get it right," Jones said, pausing as tears welled up in his eyes. "In my mind, we got it right."
There was no immediate announcement of the rest of his staff, but Phillips and Jones both said that's their top priority.
Jones made it clear that Jason Garrett, who was hired away from Miami during the interview process, will have a strong role on offense, as will Tony Sparano, the assistant head coach under Parcells. Jones acknowledged that Todd Bowles is being considered to make the leap from secondary coach to defensive coordinator.
While Phillips joins Parcells as the only coaches to take over the Cowboys with NFL head coaching experience, he also has a strong kinship with the first two coaches in team history, Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson -- fellow Texans with a strong defensive background.
"It's great to have these cowboy boots back in Texas," said Phillips, showing off his footwear. "It's a big job, but I'm ready for it."
February 9, 2007
IRVING, Texas (AP) -- With two words, Wade Phillips showed how different he is from predecessor Bill Parcells.
Those words?
"Terrell Owens," Phillips said, smiling wide. "I did say his name. Terrell Owens."
Parcells nearly always referred to Owens as "the player" this past season, their first and last together with the Dallas Cowboys. Whether Phillips noted his full use of T.O.'s name to make a point or just to be funny doesn't really matter -- either way, the line symbolized the new tone surrounding this club.
Phillips became the seventh coach in franchise history Thursday, 17 days after Parcells called it a career.
In many ways, the two coaches are alike. Both have gray hair, could stand to lose a few pounds and are among the foremost authorities on NFL defenses, especially the 3-4.
And both can crack up a room -- though not in the same way.
Parcells amused with biting wit and sarcasm. Phillips is more self-deprecating and folksy. At his introductory news conference, he managed to do both at the same time.
Phillips, 59, spent the last three years as the defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers, the latest stop in an NFL journey that began in 1976 as the linebackers coach for his dad, then-Oilers coach Bum Phillips.
Since 1981, Wade Phillips has been a head coach or a coordinator for all but one year. He's been a head coach four times, although twice on an interim basis.
Phillips is 45-35 over his five full seasons -- three in Buffalo and two in Denver -- and made the playoffs three times. However, he's yet to win a playoff game, with his last loss coming in the "Music City Miracle," when Tennessee used a trick kick return for the winning touchdown in the closing seconds against the Bills in January 2000.
Dallas is headed into the 11th season since its last playoff win, the longest gap in the team's proud history.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he expects Phillips to bring immediate improvement, noting that the last six times Phillips changed jobs, his new team always made the playoffs in his first year.
Phillips, who was born in Orange, Texas, and played college ball at Houston, added that all six had losing records the previous year. At his last stop, San Diego immediately went from 4-12 to 12-4, leading to another bit of Phillips humor.
"Drew Brees made the statement I was the big difference," Phillips said. "I called him back this year and told him, `I think you're the big difference in New Orleans.' But it takes everybody, the coaches and the players."
Phillips doesn't have a rebuilding job this time. He inherits a team that went 9-7 and made the playoffs. The Cowboys' problem was an 8-3 start was followed by a 1-4 finish, with three straight losses at the end. Dallas had a similar collapse the previous December that prevented it from making the playoffs.
"According to Jerry, we're not very far" from being a Super Bowl contender, Phillips said, smiling at his new boss. "Somebody told me once to underpromise and overachieve. ... I know they have some outstanding people."
Phillips was no easy pick for Jones, who was able to take his time because no other teams were looking for coaches. (Of course, because Parcells waited until Jan. 22 to retire, five other teams already had hired new coaches.)
Jones talked to three people inside the organization and seven outsiders. Phillips was the first one, then became the only guy called back for a second interview. That call came Wednesday night, with Jones insisting he didn't actually decide to strike a deal until Thursday afternoon.
A few hours later, Jones became emotional twice during the news conference introducing Phillips, who received a three-year contract with an option for a fourth.
"We needed to get it right," Jones said, pausing as tears welled up in his eyes. "In my mind, we got it right."
There was no immediate announcement of the rest of his staff, but Phillips and Jones both said that's their top priority.
Jones made it clear that Jason Garrett, who was hired away from Miami during the interview process, will have a strong role on offense, as will Tony Sparano, the assistant head coach under Parcells. Jones acknowledged that Todd Bowles is being considered to make the leap from secondary coach to defensive coordinator.
While Phillips joins Parcells as the only coaches to take over the Cowboys with NFL head coaching experience, he also has a strong kinship with the first two coaches in team history, Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson -- fellow Texans with a strong defensive background.
"It's great to have these cowboy boots back in Texas," said Phillips, showing off his footwear. "It's a big job, but I'm ready for it."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:17 PM
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