Jones says Phillips to return as Cowboys’ coach

Wade Phillips will be back as coach of the Dallas Cowboys next season, and Jason Garrett will remain in charge of the offense, regardless of whether the team makes the playoffs, owner Jerry Jones said Friday.

“The coaches are in place. I’ve said that. How can I be any clearer?” Jones said. “Look, I’ve said that our coaching staff, as far as I’m concerned, is in place. I just want to make the statement rather than answer questions, because your questions imply certain things that I don’t want to imply.

“I’m saying that when I look at where we are coaching staff-wise and when I look at where we are personnel-wise, I see a team that is in place to compete for several years.”

Still, the questions continued because this team that was 13-3 last season and owned the No. 1 seeding in the NFC is now 9-6 and trying to grab the last available wild-card spot in this season’s playoffs. The Cowboys would get it with a win Sunday in Philadelphia. If they lose, there’s been speculation that Jones will fire Phillips. There’s long been speculation that Phillips might be pushed aside, and Garrett promoted from offensive coordinator, next season anyway as Dallas moves into a new stadium.

“And I’d like to go in that new stadium with a Super Bowl win,” Jones said.

Martz out?

Mike Singletary was noncommittal when the San Francisco 49ers’ interim coach was asked whether offensive coordinator Mike Martz would return to the club with him next season.

Singletary, 4-4 since taking over the 49ers (6-9) from fired coach Mike Nolan on Oct. 20, is widely expected to get the permanent job early next week.

He met with club officials Monday to outline his plans for the future, but it seems unlikely that they include Martz, the former St. Louis head coach who has done fairly solid work in his first season as the 49ers’ coordinator.

Bears’ Brown done

Chicago Bears safety Mike Brown will sit out the rest of the season because of a calf injury, leaving the defense without one of its emotional leaders heading into Sunday’s game at Houston, which could decide whether the Bears make the playoffs.

It’s the fourth trip in five years to injured reserve for Brown, who left the game against Green Bay on Monday night.

“Very disappointing for our football team and for Mike too,” Coach Lovie Smith said. “Injuries are a part of it, and Mike’s been in this situation before. He made it through this time about as long as he had in a while.”

Losing him is a big blow to the Bears (9-6), who need to beat or tie the Texans to have a shot at the NFC North title or a wild-card spot.

Etc.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder expects to play against the New York Jets on Sunday, despite a knee injury that limited his practice time this week. . . . Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters is doubtful for the Buffalo Bills’ game against New England after missing his third straight practice Friday because of a knee injury.