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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Oregon lawmakers seek to avert corporate tax ballotmeasure ... Ashland schools superintendent announces resignation ... Linn County officials oppose Douglas fir monument proposal ... Oregon lawmakers seek to avert corporate tax ballotmeasure ... Ashland schools superintendent announces resignation ... Linn County officials oppose Douglas fir monument proposal ... One-win Cowboys fire coach Phillips IRVING, Texas — Jerry Jones never wanted to change coaches this season. As the blowout losses mounted, and Wade Phillips' defense was mostly to blame, the owner-general manager of the Dallas Cowboys had no choice. Comment By JAIME ARON MailTribune.com By JAIME ARON Posted Nov. 9, 2010 at 12:01 AM Updated Nov 9, 2010 at 3:00 AM By JAIME ARON Posted Nov. 9, 2010 at 12:01 AM Updated Nov 9, 2010 at 3:00 AM » Social News IRVING, Texas — Jerry Jones never wanted to change coaches this season. As the blowout losses mounted, and Wade Phillips' defense was mostly to blame, the owner-general manager of the Dallas Cowboys had no choice. Jones fired Phillips on Monday and promoted offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to take over the 1-7 club on an interim basis. Defensive line coach Paul Pasqualoni was promoted to replace Phillips' other role as defensive coordinator. "I recognized that after the game we just weren't playing winning football and our best chance was to make a change," Jones said. "We are grateful to Wade and his contribution to the Cowboys, leading us. We also clearly understand we are not where we want to be at this time, and that's an understatement. We share the responsibility — all of us." It's the first time Dallas has made an in-season coaching change. Garrett becomes the first former Cowboys player to take over the job previously held by the likes of Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells. Jones decided enough was enough following a 45-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. It was the Cowboys' fifth straight loss, and the third straight game that the defense allowed at least 35 points. That hadn't happened since going 0-11-1 in the franchise's inaugural season, 1960. Stranger still, the unit — personally overseen by Phillips — features nearly all the same players who closed last season with the first back-to-back shutouts in club history. Jones steadfastly supported Phillips throughout the tailspin, even saying late last week that Phillips would keep the job the rest of the year. The first five losses had all been by a touchdown or less, which showed players were still fighting. But three straight lopsided losses prompted Jones to declare Monday he'd been "in denial" about just how bad the club really is. "It really was paramount in my thinking that we would make adjustments and have our defense more productive and demonstrate a correction," he said. "But I really might not be sitting here today if we had gone and played well against Jacksonville ... and then we'd gone to Green Bay and played lights out defensively." This is the Cowboys' worst season since 1989 and among the worst in franchise history by record alone. It could go down as the worst ever considering Dallas was coming off a division title and a playoff win, and was expected to contend for the Super Bowl that'll be held at Cowboys Stadium. "I told (players) they should not think this an admission of defeat or finality in this season. We have eight games left and we have one goal — to win." The 63-year-old Phillips went 34-22 over 41/2; seasons, plus 1-2 in the postseason. Dallas won the NFC East twice on his watch. The 44-year-old Garrett was a backup quarterback behind Troy Aikman from 1993-99. He was the quarterbacks coach in Miami in 2005-06 before rejoining the club in 2007. He's had the title of assistant head coach since 2008, when he withdrew from other interviews to remain in Dallas. His father, Jim, spent 22 years in the organization, working for every coach but Phillips. By JAIME ARON MailTribune.com By JAIME ARON Posted Nov. 9, 2010 at 12:01 AM Updated Nov 9, 2010 at 3:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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