Wade Phillips FIRED!!

Bill Jones of CBS 11 Dallas/Fort Worth was the first to report (via Twitter) at around 2:00 pm EST that Wade Phillips has been fired and Jason Garrett will be filling in as interim head coach.

It was something that should have happened two weeks ago, if not two years ago... Wade may not be responsible for all of the horrible play lately, but ultimately he is responsible for this team and with a 1-7 record and no signs of improvement coming anytime soon, something had to be done and Wade is the one who unfortunately gets the boot.

The regular Monday press conference is scheduled for 5 pm EST and that is probably when we will get more details, such as who will become defensive coordinator and if Jason Garrett will still be offensive coordinator or if someone else will be promoted to that position.

*UPDATE*

Jerry Jones held his press conference at 5 pm EST, and as expected, he officially announced Wade Phillips' dismissal, the promotion of Jason Garrett to [interim] head coach and the promotion of linebackers coach, Paul Pasqualoni, to [interim] defensive coach. When asked if Garrett will find himself in the head coaching role in 2011, Jones pretty much said (in 'Jerry-speak') that these last 8 games will pretty much be his audition. He has expectations for a 'culture change,' in this organization and although it was hard for him to do, the embarrassing loss to Green Bay pretty much forced his hand in firing Wade.

Jason Garrett held a press conference at around 7:30 pm EST, and although he acknowledged and appreciated Wade Phillips' tenure as head coach, he focused on the future and putting his stamp on this team, having expectations, and holding players accountable.

In my opinion, Garrett certainly shined in his first press conference as head coach. Sure he was very much like a politician, from his poise to his commanding speech at the podium (which he requested, as opposed to Wade's table and chair,) but he gave me confidence and he seemed very authoritative and intelligent. I could see that he has been waiting a long time for this moment.

His focus was on moving ahead and when asked what changes he plans to implement and how, he emphasized that changes will come because the team's personality will change to match that of it's leader... which I took as a subtle dig at Wade's way of coaching. He talked about how it's important to be consistent and pile up the positives.

I might regret saying this, and maybe I'm just so used to Wade's 'ho-hum' speeches, but my opinion on Garrett has changed. I still think he made some awful mistakes with playcalling for parts of last year and most of this year, but he seems like he'll bring some much needed changes. He can't possibly make it worse, and I have a feeling that ever since he was hired in 2007 he's been pining for that head coach job... plotting and planning and maybe even scheming...hmmm.

We'll see... On Sunday, Dallas will travel to the Meadowlands and face The Giants for the second time this season... to say it'll be a challenge is a major understatement.

Go Cowboys!! And Congratulations to Jason Garrett, the 8th head coach in Dallas Cowboys history and the very first interim coach.