One thought coming through loud and clear during Wade Phillips’ 30 minutes as a guest on my Sportsrap radio show Wednesday night on KLVI was how much of a boost he thinks Zach Thomas is going to be to the Cowboys defense. Phillips loves Thomas both as a guy with a nose for the football — he made over 100 tackles his first 11 seasons with Miami — and as a veteran leader other Dallas players have warmly embraced. Thomas, by the way, was one of the best draft choices Jimmy Johnson ever made. JJ, ignoring warnings that the Texas Tech star was too slow and too small, took him in the fifth round for Miami in 1996 and wound up with a seven time Pro Bowler . . . Many thanks to Port Arthuran Bob Kyler, an avid UH Cougar backer, for providing me some impressive background on Wade Phillips of which I was not aware. Shortly before Wade phoned Sportsrap, Kyler called to say that the PN-G ex still ranks No. 1 in two defensive categories at UH — fumbles recovered and assists on tackles. He’s also No. 9 on the all-time tackle chart. What makes those numbers all the more impressive is that Wade played at a time when college seasons consisted of 10 games and freshmen were ineligible. Phillips, incidentally, was the defensive leader on a Bill Yeoman team in 1967 than went into East Lansing, Mich., and routed then No. 1 Michigan State 37-7 in what still ranks as one of the landmark wins in program history.

Most impressive rookie from Southeast Texas in an NFL training camp this summer was Beaumont Central ex Anthony Collins. The 6-5, 317 pound Collins, who has strong Port Arthur family ties, entrenched himself as the backup at left offensive tackle to 7-year veteran Levi Jones. “This guy is well on his way,” says Bengals line coach Paul Alexander of the 2007 Outland Trophy finalist from Kansas. “He’s a big, powerful guy, who is solid and thick and pretty polished.” Collins, who was also a basketball star at Central, becomes the first James Gamble Award finalist to play in the NFL . . . Two other Port Arthurans — Atlanta’s Jonathan Babineaux and Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles — will be in action in today’s NFL season openers. Babineaux, in his fourth season, starts at defensive tackle for Atlanta. Charles is expected to replace starting tailback Larry Johnson, when Kansas City is in third down passing situations against New England . . . Babineaux’s brother Jordan, whose career highlight to date was a game-saving tackle on Dallas’ Tony Romo in a 2006 playoff game, will have to wait until week two before starting his fifth pro season. Babineaux, Seattle’s nickel back, is sitting out a one-game suspension today for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy . . . Yet another Port Arthuran — Memorial running back James Johnson — was a victim of the final cut in Cincinnati, but was later resigned to the Bengals practice squad. What that means is the Bengals think he can help at some point.

Kevin Everett, whose world turned upside down during the 2007 NFL season-opening weekend, will be back in Buffalo today to be officially presented the Pro Football Writers of America Halas Award at halftime of the Bills-Seahawks game. The Halas Award annually goes to the individual who overcame the most adversity to succeed. Later this month the former TJ All-Stater will be saluted in New York by the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at its annual Great Sports Legends Dinner. Everett will receive the Miami Project’s Inspiration Award . . . It’s not too often you see a professional athlete take a cut in pay, but that’s what happened with the Houston Texans Ahman Green recently. The Texans, after paying the oft-injured running back $8 million for only 70 carries last season (knee injury), then seeing him go down with a groin injury on the first play of the pre-season, told Green he could either take a salary reduction from $4.3 million to $1.8 million, or be waived. He agreed to take the lower salary, which would escalate to $3 million if he reaches certain incentives. Green is expected to start today in Pittsburgh . . . Somebody at ESPN radio has a sense of humor. Or maybe not. Ousted Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione has signed on as an analyst for ESPN’s college broadcasts. His first game was Alabama-Clemson. His second was Texas A&M-New Mexico. Franchione, of course, is detested by Alabama fans for the way he left for A&M, and is not exactly beloved by Aggie fans for overseeing a program that didn’t come close to realizing expectations.

Chris Stroud, who opted to play in the Nationwide Tour’s Utah Championship at the last minute, was part of a record-breaking run of holes in one during Thursday’s opening round. Stroud, on the way to a four-under-67, scored an ace with a 6-iron on the 203-yard, 2nd at Willow Creek Country Club. It was the second ace of the day and would be followed by two. Prior to Thursday, the most aces in one round on the Nationwide Tour had been three . . . When Astros ace Roy Oswalt throttled the Chicago Cubs last week, it was his 125th career victory against only 63 losses. What makes that noteworthy is that only three active pitchers — Pedro Martinez (125-56), Mike Mussina (125-60) and Tim Hudson (125-62) had fewer losses when they won their 125th game. Another Houston player with a feat worth mentioning was Ty Wiggington. Wigginton’s 12 homers in August tied Jeff Bagwell’s team record. Who could have seen that coming ? ? ? The Astros, by the way, amazingly are not out of the wild card race, especially when you take into consideration their schedule the rest of the way, and the fact Milwaukee shows all the signs of being a team capable of collapsing down the stretch. Of Houston’s final 19 games after today, 16 are against Pittsburgh (7), Cincinnati (3), Florida (3) and Atlanta (3). The other three are against a Cubs team they just swept in Chicago.

It amazes me to hear and read so many in the media sniping at Cowboys QB Tony Romo because “he’s never won a playoff game.” So how many QBs with less than two years as a starter have won a playoff game? The fact that Romo, in his first full season as a starter, threw for more yards (4,211) and more touchdowns (36) than Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach or anybody in Cowboys’ history speaks volumes about where he’s headed . . . Lamar University football coach Ray Woodard, who deserves two thumbs up for the six-man coaching staff he’s been able to assemble, took his first ever trip to New York City last week. The purpose was to attend a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, but his wife also talked him into a Broadway play. So what was the 6-6, 290 pound Woodard’s impression of NYC? “The size,” he said. “Man, it was so big it even made me feel small.” Now that’s big . . . Because of the time sequence surrounding Hurricane Gustav and the evacuation, formal services were not held for Lance Van Zandt last week. A memorial service is now scheduled for Saturday (Sept. 13) at 2 p.m. at Clayton-Thompson . . . And now for my NFL picks for 2008. The Cowboys will be a better team than they were last year, but won’t win 13 games in the regular season. I see 12-4, followed by two playoff victories and a trip to Tampa to face the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl. As for the Texans, it looks like a step back to 7-9. It doesn’t help that the Texans are in the AFC’s toughest division or that three of their first four games are on the road at Pittsburgh, at Tennessee and at Jacksonville, and the fifth is at home against the Colts. They could play well and start 1-4.

Sports editor Bob West can be e-mailed at rdwest@usa.net. His Sportsrap radio show airs Wednesdays at 8:05 p.m. on KLVI (560-AM).