Jones: Phillips' job not in jeopardy

IRVING, Texas, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips will still have a job even if the team loses a third straight game to open the season, owner Jerry Jones said Friday.

Jones told a Dallas radio station Phillips' job is safe if the Cowboys should fall to 0-3 with a loss Sunday to the 2-0 Houston Texans, ESPNDallas.com reported.

When asked by KRLD-FM, Dallas, if he had lost any confidence in Phillips, Jones replied, "I can just give you a very affirmative 'no.'"

The Cowboys, tabbed as a pre-season contender for the Super Bowl -- to be played in the team's new $1.2 billion stadium -- have struggled to begin the year, falling to a pair of teams that didn't even make last year's playoffs.

"I do believe in Wade and the staff and the players," Jones said, adding that he expected to see Phillips and his staff respond well to the Cowboys' "hard times."

Phillips signed a two-year contract after last season, when he guided Dallas to its second NFC East title in his three seasons and the team won a playoff game for the first time in 12 years.