IRVING � Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips sounded as monotone as usual Wednesday, but he made clear his underlying sense of frustration.

Phillips is 30-14 in his two-plus seasons with the Cowboys, including an 0-1 playoff record. Only the Indianapolis Colts (36-9), New England Patriots (36-10) New York Giants (32-16), and Pittsburgh Steelers (31-16) have won more games since the start of the 2007 season, including the postseason.
Yet, because he is in the final year of his contract, Phillips� future in Dallas is cloudy.
�I don�t know how many (coaches) have won 30 games the last three years, and we�ve still got five games left,� Phillips said. �That�s just the way it is. But I don�t worry about that. I�ve told you that before. I�m not worried about that. I�m not talking about that. That�s of no consequence.�
The Cowboys own an option on Phillips� contract for 2010, and owner Jerry Jones has been noncommittal on Phillips� future most of the season. But Jones hinted Wednesday that a good finish by the Cowboys would increase the likelihood of Phillips� return for next year.
�I don�t know that it�s any more so for Wade than it is for anybody else on this team,� Jones said before Wednesday�s practice at Cowboys Stadium. �...What we do here and how we get into these playoffs and get in with an advantage, have a game here, get a bye, all of those are things that look good for Wade.�
The future is now for Phillips, who is 78-56 overall as a head coach in Denver (16-17), Buffalo (29-21) and Dallas and interim jobs in New Orleans (1-3) and Atlanta (2-1).
Phillips has the Cowboys (8-3) in first place atop the NFC East, but the Cowboys are 3-6 in December and January under Phillips, including a playoff loss to the Giants to end the 2007 season.
The Cowboys� five remaining opponents have a combined 35-20 record. Only the Washington Redskins (3-8), whom the Cowboys play on the road Dec. 27, have a losing record.
�I don�t know what the determining factor is,� Phillips said when asked if a good finish could ensure his return. �I�ve never known what the determining factor is. I didn�t know when I was at Buffalo, and was 29-19 there (in the regular season) through three years, that I was going to get fired. I thought I did a heck of a job there. All I do is try to do the best I can as a coach. I work hard at that. I don�t think I get a lot of respect for that, but that�s the way it goes.�
Phillips was asked why he doesn�t get the respect he feels he deserves.
�I don�t know,� Phillips said. �I�ve won 75 games as a head coach so far in eight years (not counting the interim jobs). That�s not bad compared to a lot of other people. Now I understand the playoffs and so forth. I understand all that. But I think � I think, it�s my opinion � that winning breeds winning, and if you�re a winner, you�re going to come out fine, whether it�s the regular season or playoffs. Sooner or later, if you learn how to coach and win games, then you�re going to do well. I�m confident we�re going to do that.�
Phillips pointed out that it took Bill Belichick getting a second chance in New England after going 37-45 in five seasons in Cleveland before he was considered a winner. Phillips then was asked if he believes things will work out for him with the Cowboys.
�Sure. Sure,� Phillips said. �Like I said, we�re going to win. How many we�re going to win?
�I enjoy it, because it�s such a tough league to win. I�ve gone a long time without many losing seasons. I enjoy it a lot more that way.�