In brief: Phillips fired; Garrett steps in

NFL: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has fired coach Wade Phillips and promoted offensive coordinator Jason Garrett (pictured) to take his place.

Jones decided enough was enough Monday, following a 45-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers the night before. It was the Cowboys’ fifth straight loss, dropping them to 1-7.

This is the Cowboys’ worst season since 1989 and among the worst in franchise history by record alone. Realistically, it’s the low point considering Dallas was coming off a division title and a playoff win, and was expected to contend for the Super Bowl that’ll be held at Cowboys Stadium.

The first game under Garrett will be at the New York Giants on Sunday.

Associated Press

UW’s Elisara out for season

Football: Former Ferris High School standout Cameron Elisara, a starting defensive lineman for the Washington Huskies, may be done for the season because of a neck stinger suffered against Oregon State on Oct. 16.

“I don’t think he will be back,” said UW coach Steve Sarkisian at his Monday press conference. “The issue with Cameron is the strength just isn’t there, and we don’t want to put him out there until he gets that strength back, and it’s not showing the improvement needed to get that done.”

Elisara, a senior, has a history of trouble with neck and shoulder injuries.

UW’s Woodward backtracks

Colleges: Washington athletic director Scott Woodward has issued an apology and clarification for comments he made about Oregon during the weekend.

During Washington’s pregame radio show on Saturday, Woodward said Oregon, as an academic institution, has became “an embarrassment.”

He told KJR-AM that the growth of the Ducks athletically has come at the expense of their academic standing.

Woodward attempted to clarify his comments Monday, apologizing if his comments were found as “critical or insulting” to Oregon. He says he has great respect for Oregon as an institution and athletic program, but that Oregon is “a great example of the struggles which can accompany a university when state funding decreases.”

He says Oregon is not the only college suffering from a decrease in state funding.

Associated Press