Wade Phillips? Here Are 5 Reasons Jerry Jones Should Fire Himself Instead

Rumors are rampant all around the Dallas Cowboys that owner and GM Jerry Jones is about to make changes. Apparently he has seen enough of this 1-7 embarrassment and has called a meeting with the entire coaching staff for this afternoon.

Despite his promises to the contrary, much of the speculation centers around the firing of head coach Wade Phillips, a good guy and a decent coach, but a man in the cross-hairs of a terrible season and with an owner who won't look himself in the mirror.

For if Jones did that, he would see a meddling owner who is a control freak and someone who has to share in some of the blame for this wretched football team. While some of the Super Bowl hysteria surrounding the Cowboys in preseason was hyperbole, they certainly should be better than what they have shown.

But is this entirely Phillips' fault or should Jerry take some of the accountability? Sure, he apologized to the fans, but in doing so, he sounded more like a man saying he was sorry for the problems caused by others rather than the one ultimately responsible for this mess.

Look, you cannot pretend to be the GM and then point the finger at others. If Phillips was a lousy coach, that would be one thing. But when you have a decent coach maybe it's time to look at the man who has the ego to want to have full control, and that's Mr. Jones.

The Cowboys have played on national TV three times lately and have embarrassed their owner so much that he feels compelled to make changes now. What those changes may be no one knows for sure, but you can bet it won't be to fire himself.

Still, we appeal to the man to do the right thing. And, to help gently nudge him in the right direction, we present five reasons Jerry Jones should be fired.

1. His 2009 Draft Is a Disaster

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IRVING, TX - 2009: Jason Williams of the Dallas Cowboys poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Irving, Texas. (Photo by NFL Photos)

The GM is responsible for drafting the right players, so if you judge the man by this you'd almost have to send him packing. They gave up on their top pick from the 2009 draft, Jason Williams.

The Cowboys have now cut their top two picks from that draft as offensive tackle Robert Brewster was also let loose. He is now on the team’s practice squad. In fact, just four of the 12 players chosen by the Cowboys in 2009 remain on the roster.

When Bill Parcells arrived in 2003, he chose multiple Pro Bowl picks Terence Newman and Jason Witten as well as top tackler Bradie James in his first draft and elite pass rusher DeMarcus Ware and long-term starters Marcus Spears, Marion Barber and Chris Canty in his third.

However, Jones' four drafts since Parcells' departure have produced just four current starters: Mike Jenkins, Anthony Spencer, Doug Free and Alan Ball.

2. His Meddling Ways Don't Allow People to Do Their Jobs

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25 Nov 1999: Head coach Jimmy Johnson of the Miami Dolphins looks at the scoreboard during the game against the Dallas Cowboys at the Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Dolphins 20-3. Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez /Allsport

JJ's inability to stay out of the locker room cost the Cowboys Jimmy Johnson. Since pushing the Big Tuna out the door, his ego has only gotten bigger. Bill Parcells came in and led them to some really good drafts, but when Jerry has tried to do it himself, his drafts have suffered.

Here's my advice: Hire a real GM and stay the hell out of way. If he doesn't get the job done, yes, you have every right to go get a new one. But for crying out loud, give the people you hired a chance to earn their pay.

Do they need a new coaching staff? Perhaps. But not without a new GM, too.

3. The New GM Should Be the One to Hire the Next Coach

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 25: Head coach Wade Phillips of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on October 25, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

If Jerry Jones fired Wade Phillips, nothing much will change. JJ will still be interfering and will still be the one making the final decisions. However, if he fired himself and hired a strong, competent GM, stayed the hell out of his way and allowed him to pick a coach and together they hired a coaching staff, now that would be real change.

As this country has seen, changes don't always work out for the best. But it shows you are at least trying. I mean, isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? Well, that is exactly what Jones would be doing if he simply got rid of Wade and not himself as GM.

Get a fresh mind in there, and know that sometimes the people closest to the situation are too close to see the forest for the trees. Having Jones continue his role as GM would not allow the out of the box thinking that is needed to turn this train wreck around.

If Jerry doesn't like his current coach and the staff around him, why not go out and hire someone who can get him the coach he desires? JJ is too thick-skinned and control happy to hire a coach like Jimmy Johnson right now, but a strong GM would do it.  

4. The Player Personnel Department Needs a Reboot

As previously mentioned, the draft class of 2009 is bad, and while we don't yet know whether 2010 will work out or not, it is clear that the team needs to bring in some fresh new ideas and talent to the player personnel

Over on Fanhouse, David Elfin points out that "Jones' four drafts since Parcells' departure have produced just four current starters: Mike Jenkins, Anthony Spencer, Doug Free and Alan Ball." That's in stark contrast to what made the Cowboys famous, or, as Elfin writes, "The Dallas Cowboys became one of the NFL's glamour franchises because of their skill with the college draft."

They need to get back to that and they need someone else with GM power to make those changes happen, it can't be Jerry Jones.

5. The Impending 2011 NFL Lockout

With the collective bargaining agreement expiring after this season, the NFL is operating without a salary cap this season. Next Spring, probably around March 1st, there is a strong likelihood of a lockout by NFL owners, and even the first work stoppage in the NFL since 1987. 

While some figure this may have something to do with Jerry Jones' reluctance to fire his coach now, it only serves to highlight how important the GM position truly is. In fact, it becomes almost essential to have a knowledgeable, strong personnel man in charge. One who can navigate the troubled waters and lead his team through tough times.

This is not JJ's strong suit. He is an owner. An owner with a huge new stadium. He has to worry about fans that will be turned off and fail to come back right away even after cooler heads prevail and they come to an eventual agreement.

Look, this is a a wildly profitable business facing a showdown between players and owners during a major recession. Jerry Jones has more to worry about than calculating how to sign players from the draft or as free agents. He needs a GM now more than ever.

Imagine a world where replacement players once again take the field. That just screams for strong talent evaluation.

So, despite front offices reducing salaries and eliminating positions during a labor stoppage, the GM is one whose work may actually increase and be more important. This is too much for one man.