IRVING – Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips has not gotten angry with his team too many times, so when he does, the players know he is serious. There was the training camp blowup when several rookies were late for a special teams' meeting. There was the release of tight end Andy Thorn after he blew curfew. Last week, Phillips warned his team that he thought the ship was getting a little too loose. And on Wednesday, Phillips had another moment that caught the players' attention. He had pieces of paper handed out to the players that had a pledge they would not hurt the team with post-play penalties – like the ones against the Giants last week by Bradie James, Kevin Burnett and Keith Davis. Phillips told the players they didn't have to sign the paper, but they all did.
Phillips really did not need to act because the players took care of the issue among themselves at halftime. Phillips' leadership style has allowed the players to take ownership of the team.
"He allows us to be more in control of the situation," wide receiver Terrell Owens said. "If he needs to say something he will."
The two best teams in the NFC are living dangerously. The Cowboys have been penalized 66 times. Green Bay has been flagged 71 times. Only Arizona and Baltimore have been penalized more.
New England has been penalized 47 times. Last year's Super Bowl champ, Indianapolis, has been hit 37 times. Pittsburgh is at 44.
Dallas Cowboys know post-play flags must stop flying | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | SportsDay: Top Stories
11-15-2007, 10:39 PM
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