Dallas Cowboys' Phillips making tough but necessary decisions
January 17
Dallas Morning News columnist jean-Jacques Taylor
"The day after the Cowboys embarrassed the franchise with a pathetic performance in a 38-point loss to Philadelphia in the season's final game, Wade Phillips pledged change.
Thus far, Phillips has kept his word.
The Cowboys' off-season purge continued Friday when Mr. Fix It fired his trusty sidekick, hand-picked defensive coordinator Brian Stewart. Last week, Phillips fired special teams coach Bruce Read, and the Cowboys released cornerback Adam Jones.
Trust me, firing Stewart is the most difficult decision Phillips has made since arriving in Dallas because of their close, personal relationship - and it doesn't matter whether the idea belonged to Jerry Jones or Phillips.
Either way, Phillips lost sleep over firing his friend.
But it's a move that absolutely should've been made based on Stewart's contribution this season. Actually, Stewart's lack of contribution led to his demise with a year left on his contract.
Anyone who spent considerable time around this team knew the players had no respect, no regard and no confidence in Stewart.
We really shouldn't be surprised Stewart struggled. He had only been a secondary coach for three years before Phillips hired him, and as a secondary coach, Stewart had limited experience working with the front seven.
The question was whether Phillips had the fortitude to fire his friend after a disappointing season. I didn't think he did.
Maybe, Phillips really is serious about getting tough, as he should be, after that humiliating loss in Philadelphia.
That said, there's still no good reason to believe Phillips can get this underachieving team, with a roster full of players enamored with their press clippings and forcefully pushing their own agendas, to play to its potential.
You can't find a single reputable coach who believes a soft coach can successfully morph into a drill sergeant and have his team respond. We all know disciplinarians can ease up and still maintain control of the team, but it simply doesn't work the other way around.
Firing Stewart might help Phillips succeed because it will show the rest of the coaching staff that no one is safe if they aren't taking care of business. It might even make the players take notice because they recognized the close relationship between Stewart and Phillips."
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