Wade Phillips fired by the Cowboys

Despite saying on Friday that Wade Phillips would remain head coach of the Cowboys until the end of the season, owner Jerry Jones has decided to give Phillips the heave-ho in Big D.

I guess that's what happens when you get humiliated by the Packers, 45-7, on national television.  

Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, a former backup with Dallas and the Giants, has been named interim head coach. He will lead the 1-7 Cowboys, losers of five straight, into the New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday to face the first-place Giants (6-2).

Phillips went 35-23 in his three-plus year tenure in Dallas with two NFC East titles, and last year led the franchise to its first playoff win since 1996. He is 83-65 overall as a head coach.

Jones had never fired a head coach during the season, but was fed up with his team's horribly inconsistent play — especially because he had visions of his Cowboys hosting Super Bowl XLV in their home stadium before the season began.

"There are a lot of people here who are certainly going to suffer and suffer consequences," Jones said after last night's game. "I'm talking about within the team — players, coaches who have got careers. This is certainly a setback. I know firsthand what it is to have high expectations."

Phillips had been given a two-year contract worth a little more than $3.5 million per season after last year's postseason.

Garrett was the highest paid assistant coach in the league at nearly $3 million per season.