The Sports Bizzo

By Ted…

“Get the ring finger ready.” Super-Bowl coverage began early this year when Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Wade Phillips, decided to actually try and win it this year. Much of the responsibility for last year’s early playoffs exit has been attributed to Tony Romo’s end-zone pass interception (he also gets the blame for the previous Seattle field-goal fudge). But Phillips is no stranger to first game playoff losses either as head coach with Denver and Buffalo. So why the sudden fervor, what gives Phillips such conviction?

What we have is a phenomenal series of ‘ifs’ that shape the fate of the Dallas Cowboys. What if Tony Romo isn’t good enough? What if Phillips isn’t authoritarian enough to control his team? What if Pacman Jones hasn’t regained eligibility or Glenn hasn’t healed? What if Jerry Jones finally flips and sells the whole team so he can add the world’s largest Jacuzzi to the great shrine/new stadium?

In essence what has emerged from a twelve year drought is perhaps the strongest iteration of the Cowboys since… well their last dynasty. An up and coming QB, a ferocious kick returner (which is suddenly pivotal given last season’s highlight reels), the highest paid Offensive Coach in the NFL (more on him later) and more Pro-Bowlers than the PBA. So why not show some confidence, when you have a good shot at going all the way, provided you don’t shoot yourself in the foot? And therein lays the rub.

Now I know Jerry Jones NEVER focuses on winning Super-Bowls, he’s perfectly fine with ensuring The Boys just have a good time and the fans get to see them trying their best, but if he were to want another Super-Bowl trophy I’m sure he’d love to have it prominently featured in the opening of the Cowboy’s new home. And here’s the deal, Wade Phillips has to be aiming for the ring or he may find himself unemployed. Actually, even if he wins he may be unemployed, but maybe a little happier or at least richer.

Let’s face it, no one was incredibly psyched about Phillips being named head coach (unless you got a look at his daughter), he was really more of a stop gap for the Post-Parcells Era to the Bill Cower Era, like Emperor Claudius a boring, some claim semi-retarded, interlude between Caligula and Nero.

Many think that next great era will begin when Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett ascends the throne. It is speculated that Garrett’s current contract runs him approximately $3 million per season. Combined with recently turning down opportunities to work with Atlanta (smart move there) and the chance to head coach the Baltimore Ravens, one has to assume that both he and Jerry have invested too much in this relationship to not end up at the altar.

So Phillips ultimately has two choices: win the Super-Bowl and maybe someone will remember him in the years to come, or fail again and retire having never coached a team past the first round of the playoffs. I’d say that’s a good motivation to be a little overzealous during training camp, even if you stick your foot in your mouth and your finger God knows where.