Cowboys Corner

Assistants consider Dolphins job offers

Today is decision day for three Cowboys assistants — linebackers coach Paul Pasqualoni, defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers and secondary coach Todd Bowles.

The three have been offered contract extensions by the Cowboys, but according to a source, they also have been offered jobs on former Dallas offensive line coach Tony Sparano’s staff in Miami.

Sparano, hired last week as the Dolphins’ head coach, has asked Pasqualoni to be his defensive coordinator. The Dolphins offered Bowles the position of assistant head coach/secondary and offered Rogers the same position he held with the Cowboys.

The coaches are expected to give Cowboys owner Jerry Jones a decision before the staff and scouting personnel head to Mobile, Ala., this afternoon for the Senior Bowl.

If any of the coaches choose to join the Dolphins, the Cowboys will likely use this week at the Senior Bowl to identify and interview replacements.

-- Clarence E. Hill, Jr.

Sparano, Garrett to continue job interviews

Cowboys offensive assistant coaches Tony Sparano and Jason Garrett each interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons for their vacant head coaching job on Friday.

Sparano is also expected to interview with the Miami Dolphins about their open position, as well as the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.

Garrett could interview with the Ravens on Saturday.

Sparano is thought to be the leading candidate to replace Cam Cameron and join Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland with the Dolphins.

After this weekend, the Cowboys assistants will be unable to interview for other head coaching positions until their playoffs are over, or until the bye week before the Super Bowl.

-- Mac Engel

Eagles assistant on UCLA list

Eagles defensive backs coach John Harbaugh, brother of Stanford coach Jim, was on the interview list this weekend for the UCLA opening, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday. Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel was also to be interviewed. Titans quarterbacks guru Norm Chow is expected to be in the mix, and UCLA interim head coach and defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker is reported to have interviewed last week.

 

Wade in Indianapolis

Wade Phillips has been sighted in Indianapolis. While Phillips was meeting and greeting in the lobby of the Marriott, agent Drew Rosenhaus introduced himself to Phillips. Rosenhaus is the agent for more NFL players than any other agent and counts Terrell Owens among his clients. Owens, of course, is due a $3 million roster bonus in June.

_Charean Williams

coaching moves

    Now that the Cowboys have hired a special teams coach and a quarterbacks coach, there is one decision left.

   Oregon State assistant Bruce Read was hired as special teams coach and Wade Wilson was named quarterbacks coach.

   Wilson had one year left on his contract with Chicago.

  However, he is from Commerce and enjoyed a stint with the Cowboys as a player and coach. He clearly wanted to come back home and Bears coach Lovie Smith understood as much, which is why he allowed Wilson to interview with Dallas Wednesday.

   The Cowboys still must name a defensive coordinator and were hoping to talk to Brian Stewart, but Stewart was retained by the Chargers.

   Coach Wade Phillips, who came to Dallas after serving as the Chargers defensive coordinator, has been trying to get Stewart since he took the Cowboys job. The Chargers had been firm in their decision to deny Stewart permission to interview with the Cowboys. The Chargers staff had taken a lot of hits since the end of the season and they didn’t want to lose any more coaches. And this was the case even after the firing of head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

   That scenario might expedite a move of Todd Bowles to defensive coordinator.

-Clarence E. Hill Jr.

It's official

Former San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, a native Texan and son of former Oilers coach Bum Phillips, is the seventh Cowboys coach in history. Owner Jerry Jones made the announcement at a 5 p.m. news conference at Valley Ranch.

News conference at 5 p.m.

Rejoice!

A news conference has been announced. The Cowboys will introduce Wade Phillips as their head coach at 5 p.m. It's probably just a coincidence that the local news begins at that time, too.

- Mac Engel

Where's Jerry?

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has left the team’s headquarters at Valley Ranch. Where was he headed?

His sons, Stephen and Jerry Jr., have also left the complex and so has public relations director Rich Dalrymple.

Were they headed for a rendezvous with Wade Phillips?

Maybe they're working out the final details over a late lunch.

-- Rick Herrin

We have a time

We have a time. We hope. It's sounding like the press conference is going to start sometime after 4 p.m. Maybe by 4:30 p.m.

- Mac Engel

The take from San Diego

Here’s what some people in San Diego are saying about Wade Phillips.

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith, who worked with Phillips in Buffalo and was instrumental in bringing him to San Diego, said “I think he was a terrific head coach and a terrific defensive coordinator. The players have always liked and respected him over the years. ...

He has a tremendous defensive mind and uses a lot special packages to get the most out his players and their abilities. It’s remarkable how quickly he can bring people together.”

Said Chargers offensive coordinator Clarence Shelmon:

"He gets after people. He puts players in the right position to get the most out of their talents.

The players will enjoy playing for him.”

-- Clarence Hill