By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-933860.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Dallas Cowboys have a new coach. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is in; head coach Wade Phillips is out. KERA's BJ Austin says team owner Jerry Jones fired Phillips yesterday hoping to salvage something from one of the worst seasons in Cowboys history.
This is the first time in Cowboys history that the head coach has been fired mid-season.
Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones says it was a difficult decision. He had recently voiced his support for Phillips. But Jones says after Sunday night's 45-7 loss to Green Bay, it was time to make a change.
Jones: I recognized after the game that we just weren't playing winning football and our best chance was to make this change. Now with that, I don't apologize to anyone about changing my mind.
A couple of Cowboys fans in downtown Dallas had mixed reaction to Phillips' firing.
Fans: I don't know I think it's a mistake. I don't know. I think it's not really his fault. I think it's the performance that's been going on. But, I'm not in command. Oh, my God that's what he needed to do. Yes, that's what he needed to do because the Cowboys have potential but they've got to have a good leader.
Jerry Jones says he's depending on Jason Garrett as interm coach to change the "culture" of the Cowboys. He says he'll be watching Garrett and players these next 8 games.
Jones: Evaluating each player's ability to win. Evaluating their participation in a team.
Jones says he was in denial for the past couple of games, but the Green Bay rout was the last straw. Jones says the Cowboys 1-7 record is very disappointing because the expectations were so high - with the possibility of the Cowboys in the Super Bowl in their home stadium.