ST. LOUIS — Before Sunday, there had been three weeks of a once-good team slipping into various stages of decline.

Despite the in-house denials, and the yelping of the usual apologists, it was apparent the Cowboys were trending soft, were void of critical coaching and locker room leadership, were finally being forced to deal with injury issues, and, in general, had morphed into a dreaded chemistry disaster.

But this?

This was flat gutless. A disgrace to football mankind. So pathetic, it would actually have been unfair to fire Wade on the spot, so why not wait until Monday and show him and the general manager the exit, along with about half the team, if not all the team.

Quitting on Jerry Jones is one thing. Quitting on the head coach, well, see what happens, coach Phillips, when you are a nice, mushy guy?

Unfortunately, the suddenly mighty Rams in a 34-14 blowout is a much more serious indictment of these Cowboys. What we had here were players quitting on themselves and their paychecks.

Any denials? Well, from Jerry, of course. And also from Wade, although he actually didn't out-and-out dismiss the gutless factor. But in all honesty, there shouldn't be a denial from anyone, at least not with a straight face. Either that, or the Rams'1-4 record coming in was a misprint.

Wade's coaching style certainly played a role in what was on display Sunday, and Jerry's constant coddling of his troops is even a more prevalent factor. It's too easy to go gutless for members of this team. There are no repercussions from the top.

But now to the main menu after the Rams over-served the Cowboys with a dish of disgrace and humiliation:

Will Wade Phillips be fired on Monday, or will a coaching change come quickly if there isn't an immediate reversal of the past month, including losing three of four, and barely hanging on against the dog-butted Bengals?

"No. Emphatically, no," answered Jerry, who afterward was actually trying to prop up his head coach, and his team, at least in public comments. Sad, but true. Also remember, that if Wade is fired, that's even a more damning indictment against Jerry, who entrusted Phillips with a boatload of talent.

"My thought is for us to use this complete whipping for something positive," Jerry added.

What, he actually found something positive about Sunday?

"No, there was nothing positive," Jones answered. "But this is not the time to sit around moaning about anything. Seven games into the season, let's not get down in the mouth. Lets review what we have been doing, and make changes that need to be made."

"Sunshine on a cloudy day"

Jones stressed that Brad Johnson at quarterback, and two rookie cornerbacks being shoved into prominent roles, were not excuses. In both areas, the Cowboys suffered, but, overall, this disgrace was more about a complete team failure to compete against a team at the lower level of the league.

Finally, however, Jones admitted to concern about the season slipping away, even still one game from the halfway point.

"Yes, that's a factor," Jerry said. "But I also think this team has the ability not to let it slip away." Huh? Based on what, at least lately?

Jones spoke to the team in the postgame locker room. He wouldn't say what he said, but if there wasn't strong and manly language used, then Jerry is being a fool. There were indications Jones did verbally unload on the players in tones some veterans had never heard.

Later, Jones admitted to disappointment over the team's "energy level," which is a round-about way of saying the players quit. Yet, Jerry stressed he wasn't going that far with his public criticism.

OK, but that doesn't stop the rest of us.

Phillips, I guess to his credit, actually couldn't find anything positive after an afternoon of disgrace. That's a first for Wade, who didn't even mention the Cowboys "won" the fourth quarter 7-3.

Repeating a question, Wade noted, "I'm angry, disappointed and embarrassed. We shouldn't get beat like that. I don't have an answer for it. If I did, we wouldn't have played the way we did. But we're going to do something about it."

Was that last comment a threat? Or is that concept so foreign to Wade's personality, a locker room threat would be ignored anyway.

Wade mainly talked around a question about the team quitting on him, but conceded it may have looked like it in the second half. Personally, I had a dismal first quarter in mind.

Look, as bad as it was here Sunday, the Cowboys actually didn't divert from the destructive script they've been reading from for a month.

Offensive line? Awful, after a sharp opening touchdown drive.

Receivers, even with the addition of Roy Uno Uno? Does anybody consistently work open among this group? Eldorado Owens might as well be retired. Patrick Crayton appeared to be the only wideout with a clue. Uno Uno? Maybe saw two balls thrown his way. No catches. Miles Austin had one long gainer. But overall, awful

Defense? Looking for a reason to fire Wade, as if Sunday's effort wasn't enough reason? Then this is it. The defense was gashed again in all areas, and even if you account for the rookies in the secondary, there were veterans who got their heads handed to them. Just think, Stephen Jackson was considered by some to be way overrated until Sunday. The Cow defense saved his reputation (160 yards rushing and three TDs.)

The Cowboys reached a new low for the Phillips' administration in this contest. But here's the worry:

Who says they hit bottom? Quit once, and they'll definitely do it again.