Memo to Jerry Jones: Bring back Jimmy Johnson

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones can solve his coaching and PR problem if he does the unthinkable and rehires Jimmy Johnson to coach his floundering team.

Yes, that Jimmy Johnson. The 65-year-old Fox football analyst who built one of the best NFL teams in history and won back-to-back Super Bowls with the Cowboys in 1993 and 1994 only to leave after he and Jones had a stupid spat. Why, Johnson's team was so good that even a dim bulb like Barry Switzer was able to coach the leftovers to a Super Bowl title a couple of years later. Of course, the Cowboys haven't been back to the Super Bowl since.

Granted, Johnson didn't live up to lofty expectations when he coached the Miami Dolphins and finally quit after the 1999 season. But maybe he can be lured back to the Big D if Jones opens up his big, fat checkbook.

It all makes sense to me. Wade Phillips is a disaster as a coach -- there's a reason why he's never won a playoff game -- and Tony Romo can't win any big games in December or January. Meanwhile, Terrell Owens is a caricature of a Dr. Phil episode. Besides that, Jones has a billion-dollar football stadium to open up next fall, so he needs some colorful talent to keep everybody coming. So bring back Johnson.

After all, Jimmy likes colorful, out-of-control personalities on his team (remember Michael Irvin, Deion Sanders, Nate Newton?). That means T.O. can stay too.

Of course, Jones would have to admit he made a mistake letting Johnson go 15 years ago, and his ego isn't probably open to that idea.

If so, I have another, less serious suggestion. Fire Wade and hire his dad, Bum Phillips, as coach. I know, Bum is 85 and can't coach anymore, but truth is, Wade can't either and Bum still looks better in cowboy boots.

-- Barry Stavro

Top photo: A drenched and hair-messed Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson makes his way to the Cowboys locker room after his second straight Super Bowl victory in 1994. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times   

Inset photo: Wade Phillips, one day after the Cowboys lost to the Eagles, missing the playoffs. Credit: Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press

Comments

[Glenn]

I wish Jimmy would return to Dallas, obviously things haven't been the same since he left. Even if Jerry would apologize and give him 10M I don't think Jimmy would coach again. He was real good. I like Wade but with Jerry having all the control, Wade or anyone else can't do it "their" way. Dallas coordinators and position coaches weren't up to the challenge. Remember most of their coaches from a 13-3 season went to Miami, nearly a complete turnover. The OC stayed and without Sporano leading the running portion of the game, it was a big letdown in D this year.

[Brandon in Virginia]

I've been a Cowboys fan since 1992, but bringing back Jimmy isn't necessarily the answer, much as I'd love to see that. Dallas needs a head coach who will keep them in line and hold them accountable. Not a yes man. Wade Phillips seems like a nice guy, but he did a pretty bad job of handling the locker room middle school soap opera from late-2008.

Romo's injury hurt, but he wasn't the reason Dallas failed so miserably this season. The lack of leadership on and off the field hurt them the most. Make your team captains and head coach accountable for their actions, and get a GM with some football knowledge. I don't mind Jerry being owner, but GM? Well, that's another story.