Originally published Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 2:05 PM

Jones says Cowboys will make playoffs, backs coach

Jerry Jones "absolutely" believes the Dallas Cowboys will make the playoffs, would welcome Adam "Pacman" Jones back to the team if he's reinstated and isn't considering a coaching change.

IRVING, Texas —

Jerry Jones "absolutely" believes the Dallas Cowboys will make the playoffs, would welcome Adam "Pacman" Jones back to the team if he's reinstated and isn't considering a coaching change.

The Cowboys owner, in an impromptu gathering with reporters during practice Thursday, said he expects his struggling Cowboys to recover. They have gone from Super Bowl favorites to a 5-4 team tied for third place in the NFC East after losing four of their past six games.

"That's not optimism," Jones said. "I just see that we were going to have to be a team that (was) playing well and won a lot of games at the end of the year to be what we want to be anyway."

Cornerback Adam Jones was suspended indefinitely last month for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Commissioner Roger Goodell said he would determine the length of the suspension after four games, which would be after Sunday's game in Washington.

Speculation about coach Wade Phillips' job status has intensified in the past month.

The Cowboys were already struggling when quarterback Tony Romo broke a pinkie in a loss at Arizona and missed three games. Dallas lost two of three without him, and the only win was notable for being the worst offensive performance in a victory in franchise history.

More Sports headlines...

Print Share: Digg Newsvine