IRVING, Texas — Jason Garrett was finally given the title of offensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday nearly a month after being hired.
New coach Wade Phillips also elevated Tony Sparano to assistant head coach with a contract extension through 2009.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hired the 40-year-old Garrett to the coaching staff Jan. 25 after interviewing him for the head coaching vacancy. It had been expected since then that Garrett would be the offensive coordinator, even though his only coaching experience was the last two seasons as quarterbacks coach in Miami.
"We believe that Jason is one of the bright young offensive minds in the NFL," Phillips said. "He has extensive experience in working with some outstanding offensive coaches through his years of professional football, and he is well-prepared for this position."
Garrett backed up Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman in Dallas from 1993-99, a stretch that included two Super Bowl titles. He later played four seasons with the New York Giants before splitting 2004 between Tampa Bay and Miami. He played in 40 regular-season games. All nine of his starts were for the Cowboys.
Sparano, who will also continue as offensive line coach, shared play-calling duties on Bill Parcells' staff last season.
The Cowboys scored 425 points (26.6 per game) and averaged 361 total yards per game last season. It was their most productive offense since 1995, when they won the last of their five Super Bowl titles.
BEARS GIVE BABICH NOD: The Chicago Bears promoted Bob Babich from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator Tuesday, one day after the team announced it would not retain Ron Rivera.
Babich, in his fourth year with the Bears, also coached with Lovie Smith in St. Louis and at the University of Tulsa. He was the Rams' linebackers coach when Smith was defensive coordinator. At Tulsa, he coached the tight ends while Smith worked with linebackers.
"It was so long ago. We were just young coaches trying to come up through the ranks," Babich said.
"We were on different staffs for many years and we stayed in contact. We've always talked about being the best that we could be, but we've never talked about being on the same staff with one of us being the head coach and the other a coordinator."
PHILLIPS GETS EXTENSION: Outside linebacker Shaun Phillips signed a six-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on Tuesday.
The deal keeps Phillips from becoming a restricted free agent. Phillips became a starter after Steve Foley was shot by an off-duty police officer eight days before the season opener.
Phillips had a career-high 11 1/2 sacks, contributing to the Chargers' NFL-high of 61. He was second among NFL linebackers, behind only teammate Shawne Merriman, who led the NFL with 17.
RHODES DUI: Indianapolis Colts running back Dominic Rhodes faces a drunken driving charge after state troopers arrested him Tuesday.
Rhodes, 28, was pulled over about 3 a.m. driving a GMC truck 81 mph in a 55-mph zone on Interstate 65 in Indianapolis' far northwest side, Indiana State Police spokesman 1st Sgt. Dave Bursten said.
"It was a normal, run-of-the-mill drunk driving arrest," Bursten said.
Rhodes was cooperative with the state troopers who arrested him, police said. He was held overnight and released on his own recognizance after an initial hearing Tuesday afternoon.