Signs point to Parcells return

Bill Parcells has yet to make an announcement regarding his intentions for 2007, but there is an indication he will return to the Cowboys for at least one more season.

Parcells is planning on attending the Senior Bowl practices in Mobile, Ala., and a room is reserved for the coach at the team's hotel.

Also, Parcells has begun sifting through which assistant coaches he would want on his staff next season, and even has reached out to certain assistants around the league that he would like in Dallas. Were he not returning, he would be wasting his time.

One of the names near the top of the list, if not at the very top of it, is Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who fared well during his two head coaching stops in Denver and Buffalo.

One Cowboys front-office member said this week that the Cowboys are impressed with what Phillips could do with a 3-4 defense in Dallas, and that he might be just the coach to get maximum production out of pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware.

Then again, it looks like Phillips might have to wait at least a year before Parcells steps aside. For now, the signs point to his return.