By Chris Cates/sports editor

The Dallas Cowboys have done it again. No, not disappoint fans with another season below expectations. They have fooled us with their trickery.

After it was seemingly apparent that Norv Turner had the job, Wade Phillips—who was thought to be out of the running—was named head coach of the team.

One big plus with Phillips is the fact that the 3-4 defense stays whereas with Norv Turner, it would have been out the door. This point is key because revamping a defensive scheme after adjusting to it for the last couple of years can be very rough, especially when most of the group is returning.

Personally, I’m a bit indifferent to the Wade Phillips move. I like his style in that he seems to be a player’s coach and not an in-your-face intimidator. But then there’s that whole part about his never having won a playoff game as a head coach, despite shuffling around the league (as a head coach) since 1985.

However, Bill Parcells had something of an illustrious track record coming in, and his playoff win total as coach of the Dallas Cowboys was the same as mine.

Bill Parcells was a great coach. And when he first announced his retirement, I was not only surprised, but disappointed. Disappointed that we had a legend at the helm and couldn’t come up with a single playoff victory. Disappointed about a lot of things, but mainly that Big Bill wouldn’t be giving his press conferences and roaming the practice field and sidelines anymore. And maybe, just maybe, that’s why Wade Phillips is such a good move.

It was time for change. Wade Phillips has no amazing track record. All Wade Phillips has is a chip on his shoulder after being out of a head-coaching job for the last seven years. And with the talent and youth that are just sitting here in Dallas, maybe a new regime is all that’s needed to put this club over the top.

Phillips was the defensive coordinator for a San Diego Chargers defense that was among the league’s best last season. The Chargers went 14-2 during the regular season, thanks in large part to him. He never had a losing season in his three years as the head man in Buffalo.

Of all the candidates, Phillips was the most experienced, a factor that likely led to his hiring.

If you had a win-now mentality, would you look to an inexperienced former player or a former head coach that’s been around the block and is coming off a successful stint elsewhere? That’s what I thought.

The more I think about this hiring, the more I am beginning to like it. Add up all the unknowns that existed among the candidates and the ability to stay with the same defensive scheme and perhaps even run it better, among many other things, and there lies the appearance of a very good hire here.