Choice to get carries despite Barber
By Matt Mosley, ESPN.com

Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber is listed as probable for Sunday’s game in Denver, but that doesn’t mean he will assume his normal role in the offense.

Second-year running back Tashard Choice will get the majority of the work at tailback Sunday, according to a source.

Barber made the trip to Denver and is expected to be active for the game, but there’s still some uncertainty about how effective he can be with the left quadriceps injury. The Cowboys believe they can lean on Choice, based on how he performed in 2008. He had 62 carries for 325 yards and two touchdowns during a four-game stretch against the Steelers, Giants, Ravens and Eagles to end the season.

The Cowboys signed running back Chauncey Washington off their practice squad Saturday afternoon and released safety Marvin White to make room for him. With Felix Jones likely out with a knee injury for another game, there’s a good chance Washington will remain on the 53-man roster until after next Sunday’s game in Kansas City.

Barber was able to make it through full practices Thursday and Friday, but the Cowboys still wanted to protect themselves against the Broncos.

Matt Mosley covers the NFC East for ESPN.com.

Jones expects Barber to play
By Calvin Watkins, ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas — Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said starting running back Marion Barber should play Sunday at Denver.

Barber missed last week’s game against Carolina with a strained left quad injury. Barber felt good enough to play last week against the Panthers, but the trainers elected to keep him out for at least one more week.

“[Barber] did more [Wednesday] than we thought and he will have expectations, I would like to reserve that to after practice, but I bet he’s pretty aggressive out here in practice, listening to how he responded [Wednesday] and listening to these trainers,” Jones said.

Jones said backup running back Felix Jones (knee) will miss Sunday’s game and will be evaluated next week. Felix Jones is less sore than he was on Wednesday and will miss practice today.

Also, starting left tackle Flozell Adams missed practice with a shoulder injury, though its not deemed serious.

Calvin Watkins covers the Cowboys for ESPNDallas.com.

As we head into Sunday’s practices, I started jotting down some names that have stood out to me since training camp started in San Antonio.

I’m not going to list the obvious playmakers like Ware, Ratliff, James, Witten, Romo and others…those guys must play well.

Here are five players or groups that have caught my attention—knowing as I’ve said before, you have to be very careful not to “reach” with an opinion about a player during training camp or even the pre-season.

(In no particular order)

1) Martellus Bennett, the Cowboys are lining up in what appears to be more double tight end formations, whether one tight end and an H-Back, but Witten and Bennett are a difficult twosome to handle and the Cowboys need to find ways to keep a constant double-team off Witten. Of course, the running game and wide receivers will have something to say about that too.

2) Orlando Scandrick/Mike Jenkins, there’s a lot of talk about who will be the other starting cornerback opposite Terence Newman. Well, these two are going to make that a difficult decision, but—all three will be on the field a lot. I think the coaches would like to see Jenkins win the battle for the second corner for obvious reasons, including Jenkins being a first-round pick and the money invested. But Scandrick is just a player with a constant chip on his shoulder.

3) RB by committee, I know Barber has been to a pro bowl, and Felix Jones is the people’s choice with his speed, but Tashard Choice just makes plays and is going 100% against other players or against air. Jones is so cat quick and there’s one specific play that he always seem to make big yardage, a counter to the right side with most all movement to the left. It’s like he’s 5-yards downfield before anyone can react. If he remains healthy, I think he’ll score on that play a couple of times. Barber is lighter, quicker, and probably healthier. He took a beating last season, and I’m sure he wants a bounce back season as much as anyone else. Those two, along with Choice gives the Cowboys a three-headed running back monster. It’s a position that will takes bumps and bruises, so you can never have too many good one’s.

4) Gerald Sensabaugh: There appears to be a confidence in the back part of the secondary that hasn’t been there in quite some time. I always thought OU-Roy took the bad rap too many times—but Sensabaugh seems to flow to the ball when it’s in the air…he’s fluid when the ball is in the air and should solidify an obvious concern in the Cowboys secondary. He’s also physical enough to play against the run when necessary.

5) Personality. I’ve been asked about this many times this week, but there is something different about this team. I don’t know if it leads to more or less wins, but other than the regular 2-3 “diva’s,” this team has a bunch of guys who just want to practice and play the game.

Again, I don’t think this team is as talented as in the past year or two, but we saw what that did in December.

The Cowboys rid themselves of those who talked more than they played, and I can’t help but think that’s a good thing.

I don’t know of one question I’ve asked or others have asked that’s been about something other than football.

Well, unless you had to listen to Jerry’s 28-minute barrage on the “party-pass” promotion.

David Smoak