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In the aftermath of the Saints' thrilling Super Bowl win over the Colts, it's time to point out that Bill Parcells put together a pretty talented coaching staff in Dallas. Unfortunately, owner Jerry Jones let most of those coaches leave the building. That's the topic of my weekly column on ESPNDallas.com.

Jones identified some excellent head-coaching candidates in 2007. But are most of you guys convinced that he chose the right man in Wade Phillips? It's pretty remarkable to see how successful the members of Parcells' staff have been.

And if you read the column, you'll also find out the back story on how Payton nearly became head coach of the Raiders in 2004. Not taking that job was probably one of the best decisions of Payton's career. By the way, I had a chance to visit with SI.com's Peter King on 103.3 FM ESPN earlier this afternoon. He had some great insight on what led Payton to pull the trigger on the onside kick to begin the second half.

I'll try to track down the podcast and get it to you tomorrow.

Former NFL head coach turned ESPN analyst Herm Edwards said the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets will be the teams to beat in 2010. Edwards, a defensive-minded coach, admires what Wade Phillips has done on that side of the ball. He thinks the Cowboys cleared a major hurdle by performing well down the stretch and finally winning a playoff game.

Of course, no team has ever appeared in a Super Bowl being played in its home stadium. And with Super Bowl XLV headed to Cowboys Stadium, Dallas will try to end that streak. I'm not sure they'll be able to overcome the well-known Edwards jinx.

This man makes the SI cover jinx look like child's play. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not immediately return phone calls regarding the Edwards prediction. We'll keep you posted throughout the offseason.

If you're looking for something to do during lunch, here's an idea. Suggested topics: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Super Bowl XLV, Emmitt Smith, Charles Haley, Clinton Portis, Mike Shanahan, Kenny Phillips, Perry Fewell, Marion Barber, Party Passes, frozen margaritas, Hank Baskett, Kendra Wilkinson.

I'll see you in the chat room -- or something that sounds less creepy.

Friends and family members gathered Monday in Philadelphia to remember the great Tom Brookshier. He wasn't a native Philadelphian but he was adopted by the community during his playing days with the Eagles and subsequent broadcasting career.

Bob Ford of the Inquirer has a moving account of Monday's memorial service. You get the feeling that folks will be celebrating Brookshier's life for years to come.

"Two portraits flanked the altar yesterday, one of Brookshier in his No. 40 Eagles uniform, and the other, from later in life, in the business suit of a professional sportscaster," writes Ford. "He had those two lives here, but unlike some other local celebrities, whose offstage personalities doesn't match their onstage personas, there weren't two Brookshiers. Only one. Only Brookie."

Here's how former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil described Brookshier during the memorial service at Ardmore Presbyterian Church:

"A very unique piece of work," said Vermeil. "Bright, compassionate, empathetic, enthusiastic, humorous, impulsive, spontaneous, intense, tough, a never-ending source of encouragement, and a man of great integrity."

Most football fans under the age of 35 sort of assume that Pat Summerall and John Madden were always together in the broadcast booth. But those of us who started watching the NFL during the 70s know better. You never knew what might come out of Brookshier's mouth, but Summerall was there to gently rein his pal in if necessary. They were a great team -- and that's why Summerall was at the microphone again Monday.

New York Giants second-year safety Kenny Phillips appeared to be on his way to a Pro Bowl season in '09, but his season was cut short by a left knee injury that required microfracture surgery. The Giants never came close to replacing Phillips the rest of the season. C.C. Brown and Aaron Rouse were overwhelmed in starting roles and that contributed to a miserable finish.

Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger caught up with Phillips while he was in South Florida. Phillips played at The U and he's been doing the majority of his rehab work in the area.

"I kind of knew I wasn’t going to finish the year,” Phillips said. “I figured we’d ride until the wheels fell off. I didn’t think they were going to fall off in Week 2."

Makes you wonder why the Giants didn't have a better Plan B. Brown, who once started for the Texans, was not a viable starter. And then the Giants had to sign Rouse, a Packers castoff. Phillips suffers from a condition called patellofemoral arthritis, which is the erosion of cartilage between the patella and femur. It's rare for someone as young as Phillips to have this degenerative condition. But he remains upbeat about his prognosis.

"It’s fixable, very fixable. A lot of guys have had it,” Phillips said. “It should be a full recovery.”

One of the most frustrating things about the injury is that Phillips had finally convinced the defensive coaches to allow him to freelance within the scheme. Given more freedom, Phillips responded with two interceptions against the Cowboys in Week 2. Pretty much everyone in the Giants organization thought Phillips was headed toward a Pro Bowl season. Now, he almost has to start from scratch with new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

"Coming back from my injury, I’m going to have to prove it all over again, that I can cover enough ground for them to take the shackles off,” Phillips said. “I have to show them I’m still all that. I’m willing to do it, though."

Redskins running back Clinton Portis has been known to play the "taken-out-of-context" card on a fairly regular basis, which is always interesting because writers are often working off radio and TV transcripts. In fact, Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post has put together a Portis greatest hits quote sheet.

In a recent appearance on the NFL Network, Portis veered off the road when asked to describe what has changed in his career since he was traded from the Broncos to the Redskins:

"The Clinton Portis in Denver was young and fun, not a care in the world, 20, 21 years old, I was having fun," Portis responded. "I had Shannon Sharpe, I had Rod Smith, I had Ed McCaffrey, I had Al Wilson, John [Mobley], I had all these guys who showed me the ropes and brought me along and carried me and helped me out.

"And coming to D.C., it was like all of the sudden in D.C., some of the players feel like it was a money situation, who getting the money is a captain," he continued. "LaVar Arrington was the man in D.C. when I arrived, and all of the sudden LaVar felt like it was competition, and he left D.C. He didn't want to be in D.C. any more. He gave back $15, 20 million to leave D.C., because he felt like he wasn't the main money guy, because everybody was getting [paid]. Laveranues [Coles], myself, Deion [Sanders] was still getting paid, so he even had input. So I think it was just the wrong attitude, and I think for some of the beliefs that was funneled through, it was like whoever gets the money was the captain."

So that's what has changed from Portis' Broncos days? It just seems like an odd response. Surely Redskins fans don't sit around today wondering why Arrington left the team. And I think Coles has been with like 11 teams since those days. Those players shouldn't have any bearing on whether Portis is still a viable starter in the league.

Portis made some horrible miscalculations over the past seven months. Trying to take a shot at quarterback Jason Campbell's credibility as a team captain was childish and disloyal. It wasn't enough for the injured Portis to simply keep his mouth shut and wait for Jim Zorn's firing. He had to take some shots at one of the most respected players on the team. And you guess it. He quickly called Campbell and explained that what he said was taken out of context.

Shanahan and Portis have reportedly had a conversation about the player's future, but we do not know if they came to any conclusion. General manager Bruce Allen said Portis will "help" the Skins this season, but that does not sound like a ringing endorsement.

I think the Redskins would be better off moving on and cutting their losses with Portis. If you disagree with me, there's a chance I was taken out of context.

Eagles running back Brian Westbrook broke his postseason silence during an appearance on WGFX radio in Nashville, Tenn., with his former teammate Blaine Bishop. Westbrook opened up about his two concussions last season and talked about quarterback Donovan McNabb. Thanks to Jimmy Shapiro of sportsradiointerviews.com for giving us a heads up on Westbrook's interview. Bishop asked Westbrook whether he thinks McNabb will be on the Eagles' roster in 2010.

"I think there is no question in my mind if Donovan will be back," said Westbrook. "After what he was able to do last year, which he had a very good year of course. Everybody measures, a lot of fans measure by Super Bowls. Did you win the Super Bowl and you know? Realistically, there is only going to be one team out of 32 to win the Super Bowl every year and it is hard to do that. I don’t think that you can measure whether a quarterback can be successful or not whether he won a Super Bowl or not. If you look at this football team with Donovan and without Donovan I think you would be hard-pressed to say that there was a better quarterback in the league than Donovan McNabb for the Philadelphia Eagles."

It's important to note that Westbrook and McNabb haven't always been the closest of pals. It wasn't long ago that Westbrook was the best player on offense and he gave the Eagles the best chance to win because of his rare combination of receiving and rushing talents. The two men have completely different personalities. Westbrook is sort of a brooding guy who doesn't let many people into his inner circle. McNabb's a lot more outgoing and he's made a lot of friends across the league. But I do think there's a mutual respect between the two Eagles, and Westbrook would hate to see the McNabb era end.

"Donovan, he brings that added layer, added attractiveness to the game that he could take a play that is not doing nothing and turning it into something," said Westbrook. "As a player, you are always ready for that and you are always willing to want a quarterback that can do that because it changes everything. It changes your whole game plan. It changes everything around. It changes defenses that you actually face. As a teammate of his and a player that has seen him doing so many great things on the football field, it would be hard-pressed for me to find somebody better than Donovan McNabb to play quarterback for us."

Of course, now we need to figure out if Westbrook's going to be on the Eagles' roster in 2010. He's been one of the best players in franchise history, but there's no guarantee that he's able to return to his Pro Bowl form after numerous injuries, the most significant being the concussions. You'll recall that WIP radio's Howard Eskin reported recently that Westbrook's career is likely over because he wouldn't be able to pass a physical for another team.

I guess we'll find out soon enough.

We've scoured Web sites across the nation so you don't have to do any heavy lifting. Here's the latest from the NFC East:

Cowboys

• The countdown to Super Bowl XLV has begun, writes Cal Watkins of ESPNDallas.com.
• Jeff Mosier of the Dallas Morning News allows the North Texas folks to take a little jab at the South Florida Super Bowl committee.
• Phil Simms made an interesting comment about the Cowboys during last night's Super Bowl broadcast.
• Gerry Fraley of the DMN discusses his love of Florida grouper -- and also mentions Emmitt Smith.
• Gary Myers of the New York Daily News has the Cowboys beating the Jets in Super Bowl XLV.
• Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram talks about Smith going into the Hall of Fame.

Eagles

• Bob Glauber of Newsday talked to Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo about Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.
• Les Bowen of the Daily News said there were a lot of rumors flying around Sunday about the quarterback position. Sal Paolantonio reported Sunday that three teams -- Cleveland, Denver and Buffalo -- had inquired about Donovan McNabb.
• Tom Brookshier will be memorialized this afternoon.
• Former Eagles WR Hank Baskett had a say in last night's outcome -- and that's not a good thing.

Giants

• Michael Strahan tells Osi Umenyiora to "stop saying stupid stuff."
• Vinny DiTraini from The Record says Jeremy Shockey finally got a chance to shine in the Super Bowl.
• Plaxico Burress showed a lot of remorse in that interview with CBS' Bill Cowher on Sunday.
• It also looks like Plax will lose his Florida mansion.

Redskins

• Mike Wise has an excellent column on Russ Grimm. But don't read this column over lunch.
• Dan Steinberg of the Post came up with some of Grimm's best pranks.
• Former University of Texas special teams standout Richard Hightower has joined the Redskins' coaching staff.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- As a veteran of nine Super Bowls, I've seen a variety of host committee welcoming booths. I seem to recall the South Florida contingent featuring a woman in a bikini a few years back, which seemed to resonate with reporters from across the world.

But the North Texas Super Bowl committee outdid itself this past week by transforming one corner of a drab convention center into a replica of Cowboys Stadium, scoreboard and all. The folks from the 2012 Indianapolis committee appeared a little embarrassed as they put out a couple of chairs and distributed candy bars.

The North Texas group swung into town with a swagger and you never knew who might drop by next. Hall of Famers Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman serve on the committee and they've been quite generous with their time. Aikman even co-hosted several reporters on a dinner cruise Thursday evening aboard a 91-foot yacht. I prepared for motion sickness based on a bad English Channel experience in sixth grade, but our coastal route was pretty tame.

Until last week, Super Bowl XLV still seemed like a distant date on the calendar. But now the Texas contingent is officially on the clock. On Friday, I spotted the mayors of Dallas, Irving, Fort Worth and Arlington making their rounds along radio row. The mayors and dozens of staffers flew into town for a briefing with south Florida organizers on everything from aviation to partying. Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com spoke with Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert for this excellent report.

Much like last week's buildup in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, the Super Bowl XLV festivities will be spread out across a 40- to 50-mile radius. For those of you who didn't grow up in Kaufman County like Jamie Foxx and I did, Dallas and Fort Worth are about 40 miles apart. But they might as well be in different states because the two cities have carved out two distinct personalities.

Fort Worth features one of the most underrated downtown entertainment districts in the country with Sundance Square. And you'll certainly have to make the short drive from Sundance to the Stock Yards before heading over for some Tex-Mex at Joe T. Garcia's. The AFC champions will stay in Fort Worth and the NFC champs will be in Irving, where Texas Stadium stands until it's demolished this spring.

The media center will be in downtown Dallas at the Sheraton and the NFL Experience will be housed at the convention center a few blocks away. I've looked at where a lot of the events are taking place and you should be prepared to do quite a bit of driving.

Cowboys Stadium is located about halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth in Arlington. If you look hard enough, you can find some good restaurants in Arlington (Olenjack's shrimp and grits in Lincoln Square). I think one of the biggest challenges will be game-day traffic. The Cowboys have had 100,000 fans show up for a home game, but most of them sort of had a general idea of where they were going. The Super Bowl brings in fans from across the world and getting in and out of Cowboys Stadium can be an adventure.

Arlington happens to be one of the largest cities in the nation without mass transit, but officials plan to have a light rail train in operation for Super Bowl Sunday. Members of the Texas committee were encouraged to hear about an increase in parties last week in South Florida. They expect that trend to continue despite the fact that we don't have any beaches to offer.

The weather is as unpredictable as you'll find anywhere in the nation. The average high for Feb. 6 is 58 and the average low is 37. I think it's 42 outside right now. But trust me, it could be 72 degrees during Super Bowl week. In fact, Staubach is working on that as we speak.

Redskins guard Russ Grimm was very brief in his remarks during a phone call to the Hall of Fame announcement show on the NFL Network a few moments ago. He said he'd been watching the announcement on TV with two of his sons. Grimm mentioned a lot of the famed Hogs and attributed much of his success to teammates. He talked a little about what it was like being an offensive lineman.

"If you don't do your job, when you pick up that paper on Monday, then obviously it's going to be your fault," he said.

He said his sons congratulated him and then immediately decided to go fishing. I'm sure Grimm had prepared himself for getting passed over again. Longtime Redskins beat writer for the Washington Times, David Elfin, presented Grimm during the voting meeting. He obviously made a compelling argument. But of course, Grimm's remarkable career provided him with some solid evidence.

Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith has taken the stage and he's sitting next to his close friend and former teammate Michael Irvin. Smith described the moment he was announced in the Hall of Fame Class of 2010 as "surreal." He got to share that moment with wide receiver Jerry Rice. The two men hugged as their names were announced.

Smith and Rice were emotional as they discussed the role their families played in their athletic accomplishments. Owner Jerry Jones had tears in his eyes as he listened to Smith talk about his career. Smith thanked Jones for "opening the door."

"Nobody could've written a script this perfect," said Smith, referring to the fact that he's going into the Hall with Rice.

Smith thanked a lot of people, including Irvin and fullback Moose Johnston. He closed by talking about his legacy.

"Consistency was the most important trait that I wanted to display," Smith said.

He also talked about his Florida roots and how important it was for him to have this announcement take place in his home state.

In one of the least surprising moments in recent history, former Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Smith became the final member of the Cowboys' famed "Triplets" to enter the Hall, mainly because he stuck around for so long. Smith will be joined in Canton, Ohio, by a member of the Redskins' famed Hogs, guard Russ Grimm.

The Skins' offensive line played a huge role in the team's four trips to Super Bowls in the 1980s and 90s, but it didn't have a representative in the Hall of Fame. Grimm embodied the spirit of the Hogs. He was big, brash and funny. Offensive line coach Joe Bugel presided over this remarkable group of players. Grimm was named to the all-decade team of the 80s. There was absolutely no reason for voters to keep him out of the Hall any longer.

The voters probably saved a lot of time Saturday with Smith and wide receiver Jerry Rice, two of the greatest players in league history. Maybe that allowed for more time to consider deserving players such as Grimm, Rickey Jackson and John Randle -- none were viewed as locks for the 2010 class.

Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher and Rice owns most of the meaningful receiving records. It's fitting the two will be inducted in the same class because they were part of the one of the league's greatest rivalries. The 49ers and Cowboys were the best teams in the league during the 90s and they met in the NFC title game on a nearly annual basis early in that decade.

You'll often read about how running backs fall off a cliff at age 30, but it didn't happen to Smith. He gained nearly 5,800 yards after turning 30. And despite his huge success, Smith always seemed to play with a chip on his shoulder that probably dates back to him slipping to No. 17 in the 1990 draft.

Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson wanted to move up and take Baylor linebacker James Francis in 1990, but the Bengals selected him at No. 12. The Cowboys moved from No. 21 to No. 17 and looked at a list of players that included Rodney Hampton and Steve Broussard. Fortunately for Cowboys fans, Jerry Jones and Johnson eventually decided on Smith. He was available at No. 17 because he didn't run a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash and he was only 5-9, 210 pounds.

But all of that weight appeared to be in Smith's legs, and he used them to punish defenders. If football was played on a straight line, maybe Smith's numbers wouldn't have been so remarkable. But he seemed to turn every carry into an adventure. Linebackers rarely got a clean shot because Smith could dart away at the last moment. And when he knew a tackle was inevitable, Smith made his body limp so that he could live to see another carry. One scout told me recently that other tailbacks looked like they had been "electrocuted" when they were hit by defenders.

Maybe that explains Smith's longevity. He never had a true complementary back so that he could catch his breath. And I don't think he would've had it any other way. I'll never forget watching Smith rush for 168 yards against the Giants in the 1993 regular-season finale when he separated his shoulder early in the game. No one would've questioned Smith's toughness had he left that game. Instead, he hung in there and led the Cowboys to a division title and a playoff bye.

The best thing about the "Triplets" is that they all realize how much they needed each other. I don't think the Cowboys would have won three Super Bowls with only Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin. And you can say the same thing about the other combinations.

Cowboys defensive end Charles Haley did not make the cut to 10 modern-day players. That's pretty surprising when you consider the man has five Super Bowl rings and was one of the most feared pass-rushers in the game. But I think Haley will have more chances in the future.

Redskins and Cowboys fans are rejoicing this afternoon. Grimm helped pave the way for John Riggins to have a Hall of Fame career. He kept Joe Theismann and Doug Williams on their feet and helped keep things loose in the locker room. I'm sure Joe Gibbs is happier than anyone about today's announcement.

Offensive tackle Joe Jacoby is probably the other member of the Hogs that received the most individual attention. He is probably also Hall of Fame worthy, but on this day, I think all the Hogs feel they are represented.

Pretty remarkable day for two NFC East players.

As we speak, the 44 members of the Hall of Fame's selection committee are attempting to come up with the Class of 2010. Cowboys running back Emmitt Smith and 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice are virtual locks, but then things get interesting.

After visiting with several voters this week, I'm starting to believe that Bears defensive end Richard Dent has the next best shot at getting in the Hall. That would obviously make it tough for another great pass-rusher, Cowboys/49ers defensive end Charles Haley, to make the cut.

More than all the sacks, the best thing on Haley's resume is that he won five Super Bowls, three with the Cowboys and two with the 49ers. Anyone who was around the Cowboys organization in the early '90s will tell you that Haley's arrival was a huge reason the team got over the hump and started winning Super Bowls. He was a player that opposing quarterbacks and offensive tackles feared, and trading for him was one of the best decisions Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson ever made.

Unfortunately, his turbulent off-the-field behavior might be difficult for voters to ignore. I realize that the bylaws in the voting process forbid the selectors from considering off-the-field transgressions, but it's hard to fight against human nature. Not by coincidence, Haley has recently opened up to reporters about taking medication for bipolar disorder and he's apparently in a good place in his life.

I think making the Hall of Fame is extremely important to him because it would validate and bring some closure to a remarkable football career. But from talking to some of the voters this week, it looks like Haley will have to wait a little longer.

And I fear he won't be the only other play with NFC East ties waiting. It's time for one of the famed "Hogs" to go into the Hall, but I'm not sure this is the best year for Redskins guard Russ Grimm to go in. You have the two locks and then a host of talented wide receivers. I also think it might hurt that the Skins recently had two players enter the same class with Art Monk and Darrell Green.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- It's hard to believe that Saints head coach Sean Payton once had his play-calling duties stripped when he was offensive coordinator with the New York Giants in 2002, but that's exactly what happened. When Bill Parcells became head coach of the Cowboys in 2003, one of his first hires was Payton. In effect, he gave him an opportunity to reset his career.

Payton was instrumental in helping Quincy Carter lead the Cowboys to 10 wins and a playoff appearance in 2003 and it wasn't long before Al Davis tried to hire him to become head coach in Oakland. Payton came close to accepting the job, but he decided to give Jerry Jones one more chance at the negotiating table. Jones never enjoyed paying big money to assistants, but he increased Payton's salary from $500,000 to $1 million.

Payton called and told Davis he wasn't coming. In 2006, the Saints made him their head coach. Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has a good column today about how grateful Payton is for the time he spent with Parcells.

"[Parcells] knows how to win, and I learned an awful lot in a short period of time, three years," Payton said. "When you think about that opportunity for a young guy to work with a Hall of Fame coach, it's invaluable."

Payton attempted to take then-Cowboys offensive line coach Tony Sparano with him to New Orleans as his offensive coordinator, but Parcells blocked the move. Sparano might not admit it now, but at the time he thought Parcells' decision may have ended any hopes he had of being a head coach in the league. He was furious with Parcells for not allowing him to pursue an obvious promotion in both title and money.

Of course, now we know the rest of the story. Parcells and Sparano are running a little team here in South Florida.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has kept a low profile this week while his older brother Peyton prepares for Sunday, but he did make a promotional appearance Thursday. Eli grew up in New Orleans as a huge Saints fan, but he told reporters that he's lost that rooting interest over the years. And there's no doubt that he'll be pulling for the Colts on Sunday.

"No question about it,” the Giants’ quarterback said. “If you think about it, I’ve been cheering for the Colts and Peyton for the last 12 years. And having been in the NFL six years myself and having played against the Saints a few times, you kind of quickly lose your home-team loyalty in a sense when you start playing for another NFC team."

"I keep up with the Saints a little bit, and a lot of my friends are big Saints fans. But for this game, it’s a no-brainer: I’ll be rooting for Peyton and the Colts."

We've heard stories for years about how Peyton and Cooper Manning beat up on their little brother, but Eli came up with a couple I hadn't heard Thursday. Apparently Peyton and Cooper took part in mocking their father's old team at one point in the 80s.

"They were at Saints games and my mom was there with Cooper and Peyton and she looked down and they were wearing the ‘Aints’ bag over the head,” Eli said. “They didn’t really know what they were doing; they just thought it was funny to put a bag over your head."

Wish we could've seen the look on Olivia Manning's face.