NFL | Cowboys name Phillips head coach

Wade Phillips was hired yesterday to coach the Dallas Cowboys, giving the team an experienced replacement for Bill Parcells and someone well-versed in the 3-4 defense.

The seventh coach in team history, Phillips is only the second to arrive in Dallas with experience as an NFL head coach. The other was Parcells, who retired Jan. 22 after four seasons with the Cowboys.

Phillips, defensive coordinator at San Diego the last three seasons, has a 48-42 record as a head coach over three seasons with Buffalo, two with Denver, and season-ending interim stints with New Orleans and Atlanta. The 59-year-old son of longtime Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips has been in the NFL for 30 of the last 31 seasons.

Wade Phillips joins Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson as the only Texas natives to be in charge of "America's Team." Landry and Johnson both won two Super Bowls in Dallas.

Phillips was born in Orange, Texas, and played college ball at Houston. He joined his father's staff with the Oilers as a linebackers coach in 1976 and has been in the NFL ever since, except for 2001.

Vikings. Leslie Frazier became the first assistant to leave Super Bowl champion Indianapolis when he accepted the job as defensive coordinator for Minnesota. Frazier had been a special assistant to Colts coach Tony Dungy and also was in charge of the team's defensive backs.

Minnesota's defensive coordinator last season was Mike Tomlin, who became head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bears.

NFC champion Chicago released defensive line coach Don Johnson and assistant offensive line coach Harold Goodwin.

Offensive quality control coach Mike Bajakian accepted the offensive coordinator job at Central Michigan after three seasons in Chicago.

Also, Bears defensive lineman Terry "Tank" Johnson pleaded guilty to violating probation in a 2005 gun case in Skokie, Ill.

Browns. Head coach Romeo Crennel completed the shake-up of his Cleveland staff, appointing Umberto Leone defensive quality control coach, Mike Sullivan assistant offensive line coach, and Frank Verducci offensive assistant.

Bills. Cornerback Nate Clements, a key to Buffalo's defense, plans to test free agency next month, agent Todd France told the Associated Press.

Redskins. Marcus Washington underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left hip, the second operation this off-season for the Washington linebacker.

Raiders. Tom Rathman, a two-time Super Bowl champion as a player with the San Francisco 49ers, was hired as Oakland's running backs coach.