Wading Through Doubt

Not so, says Jones.

"It's not a Super Bowl issue," the owner said of Phillips' status. "Winning the Super Bowl is not the criteria. It's just plain wrong to say that if we don't win the Super Bowl then Wade doesn't keep his job. That's not even a thought for me."

Former quarterback and current Fox NFL analyst Troy Aikman added, "If Wade was a true lame duck it would not be a good thing. But with the personalities involved I don't see it being a problem. I don't think Wade is threatened by Jason Garrett."

He shouldn't be. Or am I the only one that remembers Dave Campo, Chan Gailey and Bill Parcells?

While Parcells nauseated us by cherishing the Giants' past more than the Cowboys' present, Phillips is trying his darnedest to bridge dynasties. Last time I was in Oxnard, Parcells invited Jim Burt and Carl Banks to camp. Last week on the sidelines were the likes of former Cowboys Duane Thomas, Michael Irvin, Nate Newton, Erik Williams and James Washington.

Hard Knocks, meet soft touch.

While fans clamor for more emotion and the media demands more intensity, Phillips calmly sips his Diet Dr Pepper, gives veterans days off, refers to this li'l shindig as "Camp Marshmallow" and jokes about how he exercised right through last week's Southern California earthquake.

"The coaching staff gets a lot of the credit," Owens said of his team's general giddiness. "Before it was like the military. Now we're allowed to be grown men."

Underrated and underappreciated, Phillips will be a major reason the Cowboys win a playoff game for the first time in 12 years and play in their first Super Bowl since 1995.

Yes, Jason Garrett is the future of the Cowboys.

But in the present, Wade Phillips deserves better than a cold shoulder and a hot seat.