[Strikeout King]

For all the midseason speculation that the Cowboys would decline a one-year option for 2010 in coach Wade Phillips' contract, it's now more likely he will wind up landing an extension, sources close to the situation have said.


The thinking is obvious. Phillips has won this season, proven his worth and made it a foregone conclusion that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would keep him.



But at least one year could be tacked on to the option year for subtle reasons.


A potential 2011 work stoppage looms over the league and affects how almost every NFL owner views his head coach. Any coach that has one year on his contract will make it difficult for a team to get rid of him.


If the work stoppage many are predicting does materialize, then teams will need coaches who know their players and players who know the coach's system.


A coaching change at that time could be destructive, and teams know it.
So coaching hot seats will likely be much fewer this time next year,

assuming the work stoppage continues to hang over the league.



http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/new...id=4833846