Thursday, January 01, 2009

ESPN: DeCamillis to get special team job

Source: ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and ESPN.com NFL blogger Matt Mosley contributed to this report.

The Dallas Cowboys fired special teams coach Bruce Read on Wednesday after two seasons with the organization.

Sources tell ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the Cowboys will hire Joe DeCamillis, who has been an NFL special teams coach for 16 seasons, the past two with the Jaguars. The move did not come as a surprise since Read's special teams units struggled in consecutive seasons. A blocked punt in overtime led to the Cowboys' second loss of the season and landed Pro Bowl punter Mat McBriar on injured reserve. Read lost key special teams players Sam Hurd and Pat Watkins to injury in 2008. The Cowboys signed Adam "Pacman" Jones, in part, because of his potential as a return man, but that never panned out. This isn't the first time Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has sent a special teams coach packing. In the aftermath of The Music City Miracle loss, Phillips -- then coach of the Buffalo Bills -- fired Bruce DeHaven, one of the most respected special teams coaches in the league. Phillips' firing occurred a year later.