IRVING, Texas -- You have to hand it to Jerry Jones. The man knows how to keep us guessing. Pretty much everyone, including the team's Web site at one point, thought the Cowboys owner would extend head coach Wade Phillips' contract through the 2012 season. But in a season-ending news conference at Valley Ranch on Thursday that featured several interesting twists and turns, Jones announced that Phillips had a new two-year contract that would take him through the 2011 season.

The message was pretty clear that Jones doesn't want his head coach -- or his players -- to feel too comfortable about the future. Phillips sat next to Jones and emphatically denied being disappointed at the relatively short contract extension. This announcement came during the same week former Cowboys head-coaching candidate Norv Turner was given a three-year extension after losing to the Jets in a divisional round playoff game. Of course, Turner has gone farther in the playoffs than Phillips in the past.

"It does address continuity, but addresses it in a way that does not have any comfort zone about it," Jones said. "It addresses the urgency of where we want to go from here."

Jones didn't reveal the financial terms of Phillips' new contract but he did say there were "serious dollars" involved.

"Is he being overpaid?" said Jones. "Not one penny. Is he being underpaid? Probably, for what I think he is."

Jones was as entertaining (and evasive) as always during the news conference, ducking and jabbing his way through the 45-minute session. Let's take a look at some of the key things that were addressed during the news conference:

• Roy Williams: Jones had some fine moments during the news conference, but he flamed out on the topic of his highly-paid eyesore of a wide receiver. I pressed both Jones and Phillips on whether Williams will have to compete for his starting job heading into the 2010 season. Jones was all over the place in his answer, even telling us at one point that Phillips' strength as a talent evaluator would help Williams become a factor in the offense. Sorry, I'm not buying that a lifetime defensive coach will suddenly turn Williams into a valuable part of this offense. But Jones ended with this: "Do you compromise your football team? No." I thought Phillips offered some of the most direct answers on Williams. He basically apologized for Williams' lack of production: "I'm disappointed more in myself than in him," said Phillips. The coach said he needed to help Williams be better "within the whole scheme." Again, that's not really in Phillips' job description. Phillips went on to say he did not care where a player was drafted. He wanted to put the best 11 players on the field. But in all honesty, that's not really up to the head coach under the Jones administration.

• Flozell Adams / Doug Free: I asked Jones after the news conference whether he thought Doug Free was capable of replacing veteran Flozell Adams at left tackle. After telling me he didn't like the way I phrased my question, the owner said that he thinks Free has shown him enough to be a "starter in the National Football League." In fact, he added that Free's capable of starting at left or right tackle. It's obvious that the time Free spent at right tackle during Marc Colombo's injury absence was a big thing for this organization.

I'll have much more on the Cowboys throughout Thursday afternoon and Friday. But I'm well aware that some of you would enjoy reading about the other three teams as well. Thanks for your patience.