IRVING, Texas — Jerry Jones and George Steinbrenner became business partners Monday, but there's one trait Jones is not willing to copy from Steinbrenner.

While Steinbrenner is no longer running the day-to-day operations of the Yankees, he is famous for firing and re-firing managers, but Jones said Monday that Wade Phillips will be his coach, so you can put away your wishes for Jason Garrett or Bill Cowher or even Jimmy Johnson.

"Absolutely, he's going to finish the season," Jones said via conference call from New York for the announcement of Legends Hospitality Management LLC, a new stadium concessions and merchandising venture. "That isn't even a remote consideration."

Phillips' job security has been called into question after an embarrassing 34-14 defeat at St. Louis on Sunday that dropped the team to 4-3. In his 31st year in the NFL and his third head-coaching stop, he knew the questions would come

"That kind of talk comes up with coaches all the time when things aren't going well," Phillips said. "Things aren't going well here, I understand that. I've been in the league a long time. But it's not going to affect how we prepare this week."

Inside the locker room Monday, players defended the coach and his staff.

"Why is this question being asked?" safety Ken Hamlin said. "It doesn't make sense. We've lost a couple of games, but he's done a good job. It doesn't make sense."

Phillips and the players find themselves answering those questions because a team with Super Bowl aspirations has lost three out of four games and did not play well in its one win during the stretch. That victory came against the NFL's only seven-loss team (Cincinnati).

Phillips made vague references Monday to making changes but admitted there are few personnel moves that can be made. One potential change is to have Phillips handle the defensive playcalling, which coordinator Brian Stewart has handled.

Nose tackle Tank Johnson said he believes the Cowboys are doing too much defensively to be effective. Phillips did not disagree.

"I think overall our execution is more of a problem than anything," Phillips said. "I'm talking about in all areas. We're not executing well enough on offense, defense and on special teams. We can identify those things. Coaches are working all day today and tomorrow.

"And we try to do this every week, but it's come to a point where we need to identify the things that we are doing well and try to do those things better."

The Cowboys, at 12-1, had the NFC's best record in mid-December last season. Since then, they are 5-6, including the playoff loss to the New York Giants. During that stretch, the Cowboys have thrown 14 interceptions, lost five fumbles and committed 84 penalties. Their opponents have thrown three interceptions, lost eight fumbles and committed 66 penalties.

If the Cowboys do not turn it around in a hurry, they will find themselves needing help in the playoff chase. All three losses have come against NFC foes, hurting their tiebreaker chances.

"We definitely had at some point been riding high," linebacker Bradie James said. "We're not riding high anymore. Here we are just like every other team in the league. We have to earn every victory. Nobody's going to give us anything. We just need to win. That's it. If we win, we'll be all right.

"However that comes, I'm fine with it. But I know losing is just tough. It's a tough pill to swallow."

In 1998, Phillips' first year in Buffalo, the Bills started 0-3 but rallied to finish 10-6 and make the playoffs, largely behind the insertion of Doug Flutie at quarterback.

"I've been around teams that have done it before," Phillips said. "And I believe in this team. I believe in these players. They're going to fight as hard as they can fight and they're going to work hard. They're hard workers and they're determined. And I think that will help us."