One of the biggest mistakes of the 2010 season, Wade Phillips' last as head coach of the Cowboys, was his belief that converted cornerback Alan Ball could make it as a starting safety.
With Ball blamed most often for the secondary's failure, the Cowboys allowed 4,151 yards and 33 touchdowns passing, in arguably the franchise's worst year ever, defensively.
Phillips doesn't hold a grudge, however. Now the defensive coordinator in Houston, he certainly offered his stamp of approval when the Texans signed Ball this weekend.
A seventh-round pick in the 2007 draft, Ball, 27, becomes the second ex-Cowboy to join Phillips this offseason, following linebacker Bradie James.
Moved back to cornerback in 2011, Ball wasn't as exposed, but still gave up his share of plays while splitting time with veteran Frank Walker. The Cowboys made no attempt to re-sign him after he became an unrestricted free agent in March.
