Jones indicates Phillips back in 2010

[February 04, 2010]  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is giving every indication that he is picking up coach Wade Phillips' contract option for the 2010 season, and likely keeping him longer.

"We don't have any funny business here, guys. There's nothing funny going on here, at all," Jones said Tuesday. "We just want to do this when we both can do it and both get it stated the way we want to state it."

Standing on the field where next season's Super Bowl will be played, after a spectacular news conference announcing a March 13 boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium, Jones said that he had a "good visit" with Phillips on Monday.

As for Phillips' coming back for his fourth season, and maybe more after that, Jones said he would answer all those questions at a season wrapup news conference later in the week with "both him and me there." The Cowboys have not yet scheduled that news conference.

Jones later told ESPN, though, that he was working out details of what to do besides picking up the option, "but I want (Phillips) back."

The Cowboys owner had earlier refused to specifically discuss the status of Phillips' contract.

"Really, I don't want to say anything about that until we can get into a little more of the details. I don't want it stated one way or another, the structure of it," Jones said then. "I'll have more detail about where we are, what we're doing and that kind of thing. ... We are working through our business and team business."

Jones has indicated the last few weeks that everything was pointed to Phillips returning. Asked if that was still the case, Jones responded "yes" without elaborating.

The Cowboys clinched their second NFC East title in three seasons under Phillips and won a playoff game for the first time since the 1996 season, beating Philadelphia 34-14 at home in the wildcard playoffs a week after a 24-0 victory over the Eagles in the regular season finale to win the division.

Dallas' season ended with a 34-3 loss at Minnesota last weekend.

Dallas is 34-17 under Phillips, playoffs included. Only three NFL teams have won more games in that span. It also gives him the highest winning percentage of all coaches in team history.

This past season, Phillips also became the team's defensive coordinator and the unit was among the league's best. The playoff victory was his first as a head coach.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN HAWKINS]

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