Stumbling Cardinals Fire Tobin

Vince Tobin, who coached Arizona to its first playoff victory in 51 years, was fired Monday, a day after the Cardinals lost, 48-7, to the Dallas Cowboys.

Defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis was appointed interim coach for the remainder of the season.

“I felt it was time,” owner Bill Bidwill said. “Vince is a very fine man. He’s worked very, very hard here. I wish him well in the future.”

Bidwill said McGinnis will be “a prime candidate” for the job after this season.

“Dave McGinnis brings a great deal of experience and enthusiasm to the job,” Bidwill said. “We anticipate that hopefully there will be a different Cardinal team on the field this Sunday.”

McGinnis said his top priority will be to instill some enthusiasm in the team.

“The last three weeks we haven’t been playing, we’ve been pressing,” McGinnis said. “I want the guys to play instead of press.”

He said he intends to have his fiery personality rub off on his team.

“The one thing I can bring right now is some passion, some focus and some intensity to what we’re going to do,” McGinnis said.

Bidwill said he and General Manager Bob Ferguson had been discussing the direction of the team for some time.

“We’ve been very disappointed in the apparent decline, which was most noticeable yesterday in Dallas,” Bidwill said.

He said the two talked again during the flight from Dallas, and the decision to fire Tobin was made Monday morning.

Quarterback Jake Plummer said he was sad to see Tobin go, but excited to work with McGinnis.

“I think you’re going to see a fired-up ball club that’s going to be ready to play,” Plummer said.

Tobin had a 29-44 record in 4 1/2 seasons as head coach. In 1998, he directed the team to a 9-7 regular season, then beat the Cowboys in Dallas for their first playoff victory since the NFL championship game 51 years earlier.