Phillips' time may be running out in Cowboys country.


Since there's not a whole lot going on with the Eagles right now, I figured I'd comment on what the rest of the division is up to here and there. We're in the dark days of the year right after the season ends and the offseason stuff hasn't started yet, so we need something to keep us entertained.

Anyway, by now I'm assuming everyone has heard about Wade Phillips' contract extension through the 2011 season. It was originally supposed to extend him through the 2013 season, but the last two years were lopped off at the last minute, so he's now only locked up for the next two years.

Well, I suppose it's technically two years, but it's really only a one-year extension as it's understood that coaches typically do not ever make it into the final season of their contract.

Teams do that because they fear that a coach in a contract season will not have the same type of respect from the players. They fear that players may start making plans for the next season if things aren't going well and that it may cause dissension in the locker room.

So with that in mind, it's fair to say that the second-to-last season on a coach's contract is actually the final season.

With that understanding, Jerry Jones is basically telling Phillips, the team, the Dallas fans, and the rest of the country that if Phillips can't win a Super Bowl in 2010 he will be shown the door.

Jones said in the press conference he held to announce he was extending Phillips that he was "encouraged" by the Cowboys' 2009 season, but not "satisfied." Jones is basically saying that he feels Phillips is his best option at this point with Mike Shanahan going to Washington, Bill Cowher staying at CBS, and Jon Gruden staying at ESPN.

So what does this mean for the Eagles? Well, from where I'm sitting it means that we have at least one more season of not worrying about the Cowboys as a legitimate Super Bowl threat. I don't believe that Phillips has what it takes to lead his team to the ultimate prize, or to even duplicate the season that the Cowboys had in '09.

The 2010 Cowboys will once again be good in the regular season (if they can avoid locker room squabbles two years in a row and, really, who thinks that's possible?), but will fall short again come December and January.
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Could DeMarcus Ware prematurely leave Jones and the Cowboys?


According to Len Pasquarelli of ESPN, the Cowboys and DeMarcus Ware are nowhere close to agreeing on a new deal for the All-Pro pass-rusher.

The Cowboys would love to lock Ware up for about six-seven years, no matter what the dollar amount. Ware, on the other hand, is not looking for this to be his last big deal, as he wants more around the area of three years in order to hit the market one more time.

What Ware doesn't seem to understand is that Jerry Jones will pay him whatever he wants. Literally, whatever he wants. He will make him the highest paid player in the league if that's what it takes. Higher than any left tackle, defensive end, or even quarterback.

As long as that deal says six or seven years, Jones will sign off on it and Ware will make his money.

It's like saying well you can have $20 million in guarantees now, and again in three years, or just sign a six-year deal and take the $40 million in guarantees right now.

Ware is seeing dollar signs and getting greedy, without realizing that a six-year $100 million deal with $40 million in guaranteed money is best for both side. He gets the money that he's looking for, and the Cowboys get peace of mind.

If Ware will sign the longer deal, he will surpass Albert Haynesworth money. He could probably even surpass Matthew Stafford guaranteed money, but only if he's willing to commit to the Cowboys for the amount of time that they want, not that he wants.

I think we'll probably see this get done for about a six-year deal, but with Ware being able to opt out of the last two if he reaches certain levels in his play such as Pro Bowls, All-Pro teams, certain number of sacks, snaps played, etc.

Of course, as an optimistic Eagles fan, we could just hope that the Cowboys severely mess this whole thing up,Ware leaves and heads off into the AFC.
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