Drama at Valley Ranch

These Cowboys, on the eve of yet another monumental game they must win to salvage their season, give every indication they're spiraling out of control.
Think about all the stuff that's happened this week: The owner running his mouth about the star runner's toughness and back-door meetings between petulant receivers and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
Every one of those issues is a systemic problem that accompanies a weak head coach like Wade Phillips.
He has zero control of this team.
None. Nada. Zilch.



Phillips won't agree, but that's too bad. It's the truth. All you have to do is look at this dysfunctional team and how it has played all season to see that.
There hasn't been one major storyline this week involving strategy about how to beat the Giants. These Cowboys have spent the week bickering among themselves, which is what underachieving teams do.
A real head coach would've asserted himself after a tough loss at Pittsburgh and forged an all-for-one mentality built around that quality performance even in defeat. Instead, the Cowboys' clueless coach let the team blow itself up.
The players are mad at Jerry for ripping Marion Barber. Now, you have a team divided. Players have taken sides. You're either a Witten guy or a T.O. guy.
Ridiculous.
But that's what happens when your head coach doesn't command respect.
The players like him – who wouldn't? – but they don't respect him. Or fear him. And they shouldn't.
They do what they want. And say what they want. Repercussions don't exist.
Phillips has no power. Jerry doesn't even bother hiding it anymore. Since Jerry calls all of the shots, why would anyone care what Phillips thinks? Besides, we all know Jason Garrett is going to be the next head coach.
Phillips is a terrific defensive coordinator and a likable person, but he has allowed the players to seize control of this team.
No one is saying he needs to be Bill Parcells, a curmudgeon who bullied everyone and controlled virtually every aspect of the organization.
Phillips, of course, is the exact opposite. No law says you must choose one end of the spectrum or the other.
Successful coaches who have earned Super Bowl rings like Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren, Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden reside somewhere between unyielding disciplinarian and total player's coach.
Phillips acts as though he's afraid of confrontation. He lets situations fester while he ignores them. Or he blames the media.
Let's take this latest embarrassing situation. Several players – offensive and defensive – believe Tony Romo is throwing the ball to Witten because they're the best of friends.
That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
Every quarterback has a favorite receiver because quarterbacks want a guy they trust to be where he's supposed to be when he's supposed to be there, and they want a guy with great hands.
Witten, the game's best tight end, fits that category.
When this started becoming a media firestorm Thursday morning, Phillips feigned ignorance and blamed the media for creating a controversy.
Whatever.
Instead of addressing it then, he spent valuable preparation time Friday having a 30-minute team meeting about an issue he initially said wasn't important.
And let's not forget what Phillips did to defensive coordinator Brian Stewart this week.
After the Cowboys' embarrassing 20-point loss to St. Louis in October, Phillips stripped Stewart of his play-calling duties, but he refused to say who was calling the defensive signals.
Now that the Cowboys are tied for the lead league in sacks and playing their best defense of the season, Phillips let it slip that he's calling all of defensive plays. Stewart, Phillips said, does a wonderful job of putting the game plan together.
In other words, now that everyone thinks the defense is playing well, it's OK to accept the credit.
What a joke. Considering the head coach, it's hardly surprising.

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Johnny Cane: San Diego

L-Train: Jacksonville

Steve West: New England

Coming next week: The NFC

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Deep End Sports National Championship game predictions

For posterity's sake, let's get these in print:

L-Train: USC vs. Ohio State - Rematch of early regular season game

Johnny Cane: Georgia vs. USC - Newcomer (UGA) vs. Regular (USC)

Steve West: Oklahoma vs. USC - Classic matchup, should be closer than 2004

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Deep End Sports is the official blog of the internet talk radio show Deep End Sports with Train and Cane which airs on Saturdays on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ from noon to 2 p.m., CST. Based in Dallas, Texas, the show not only touches on Dallas area sports, but also gives a national perspective as well. Topics include: The NFL, NBA, MLB, the NCAA, Golf, the NHL, Horse Racing, Track and Field, Sports Entertainment and MMA. With nationwide contributors and the occaisional big name guest, the D.E.S. crew is all over the place. From coast to coast, on the world wide web, Deep End Sports goes deep. Your erstwhile hosts, L-Train and Johnny Cane, provide an informative and sometimes raw, take on sports and pop culture.