Maybe it’s because he’s Bum Phillips’ son, or that he has been a head NFL coach for four teams with two being on a short interim basis.

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But mention Wade Phillips and feedback always seems to be, ‘yeah good defensive mind, but I sure wouldn’t want him to be head coach of my team.’

Phillips is one of seven new head coaches this season in the NFL. He doesn’t have the offensive mind of Bobby Petrino, Cam Cameron Ken Whisenhunt and Norv Turner. He doesn’t have the fiery flair of Mike Tomlin, or the youth of Lane Kiffin.

No Phillips, compared to the others with the exception of Turner, is recycled and unexciting. There’s a belief Phillips is just filling in until Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is ready to anoint offensive coordinator Jason Garrett head coach.

You look at the NFC Eastern Division and see an imposing list of head coaches – Joe Gibbs, Andy Reid and Tom Coughlin. Then you see Phillips’ name and think what’s he doing among that excellent group?

Gibbs already is in the Hall of Fame. Reid could be headed there having led the Eagles to the playoffs in six of the past seven years, while compiling the highest win percentage in Eagles history. Coughlin has made the playoffs with two teams. He may have done the best job ever with an expansion team when he led Jacksonville to two AFC championship berths.

It’s Phillips, however, who just could be the most effective coach in the NFC East this season.

Gibbs has been a huge disappointment in his second go-around with Washington. He probably never should have come out of retirement, especially to work for a hands-on, meddling owner such as Daniel Snyder.

The Redskins were 20-28 in the three previous years before Gibbs under Steve Spurrier and Marty Schottenheimer. They are 21-27 the past three years under Gibbs. Almost beyond criticism before he came back, Gibbs has had his reputation somewhat tarnished by not immediately adapting to today’s ever-changing NFL after being gone for 12 years.

Reid may not be able to concentrate and totally focus on this season because of his two son’s numerous brushes with the law. Things got so out of hand Reid had to take an extended leave.

Coughlin may be sitting on a brewing mutiny. His team has bad chemistry and numerous distractions made worse by being situated in the media capitol. Whether it’s Michael Strahan holding out, Eli Manning getting into it with former teammate Tiki Barber or Jeremy Shockey popping off, the Giants always seem to be in the news in a negative way.

Some thought the only reason the Giants didn’t fire Coughlin last year was because they could get a better coaching candidate in 2008 such as Bill Cowher.

It’s not like Phillips becomes the best coach in the division by default either. He’s actually the perfect antidote to Bill Parcells, a future Hall of Fame coach who overstayed his time in Dallas frustrated by Terrell Owens, inconsistent quarterback play and an underachieving defense.

Phillips has two things going for him. He’s an excellent defensive coach. He’s already transformed the Cowboys into an attacking defense, employing his personnel better than Parcells.

The other thing Phillips has done is improve morale by making for a relaxed atmosphere. The players were too tight under Parcells. So far there haven’t been any distractions from Owens or anybody else.

Thanks to Phillips, the Cowboys rate as the team to beat in the NFC East going into this 2007 season.