[Bette]

Wade Phillips is not a butt kicker. We all know that.
It's not his style. And when you've had as much success as Phillips, relatively speaking, then it's foolish to think he could or would change.

So it's up to the players to take control of this team.
The players can whine all they want about distractions caused by the media, and Phillips can continue to have delusions of grandeur about how the loss to the Giants doesn't overshadow the franchise-record-tying 13 wins and subsequent No. 1 seed, but it's the players who will make the most difference in the Cowboys' future.
It starts with the best players – Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten and Terence Newman – imposing their work ethic and focus onto all of their teammates.

No longer can the players on this team use an excuse, like it's not in their personality to be a vocal leader. They have to force themselves to thrive in uncomfortable environments for this team to end its embarrassing streak without a playoff win at 11 seasons and snap its six-game postseason losing streak.
Otherwise, there's a good chance it will fritter away an opportunity to win its sixth Super Bowl.

The window to win Super Bowls usually only stays open five years.
The Cowboys have already wasted one year, and with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in their primes, none of us would be shocked if Dallas didn't win a Super Bowl in the next few years.
The goal is for the Cowboys to continually put themselves in position to win a Super Bowl. Better leadership will help.




Dallas Cowboys need stars to take control next season | Jean-Jacques Taylor Columns | Sports News | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas