Q&A: The 'Boys Blog

The Super Bowl's done and in the books. Yet, there's still a buzz around the NFL.

Free agency, the draft, combines and trades are coming. And a lot of decisions are looming over the Dallas Cowboys.

Thankfully, Rafael Vela and Raul Villaronga of The 'Boys Blog graciously answered some questions about the Cowboys off season.

Last week, David Halprin of Blogging the Boys answered some questions, too.

Identify the needs on the current Dallas Cowboys roster.
Raul: I think they need to keep Hamlin and Barber, determine who plays left tackle, then get cornerback and wide receiver.

Rafael: The team needs new blood at cornerback and at wide receiver. There is a lot of age at both positions. Dallas could also look for a young center/guard, a fullback and a safety.

How best do you think these needs can be addressed?
Raul: The re-signs are current players; left tackle must be between Adams and one of the youngsters (Free, Marten, McQuistan). I'd personally like to keep Adams and (address) the other positions through the draft.

Rafael: Dallas has a big decision to make on Flozell Adams. He's coming off a career year but he's a 10-year vet with suspect technique, and I wonder if a long term deal will earn Dallas its money's worth.

As far as the other positions, the corner position is wafer thin in free agency, unless Dallas wants to let Adams go and chase one of the three big free agents -- Nnamdi Asomugha, Marcus Trufant or Asante Samuel. At receiver, they may pursue a deep threat like Chicago's Bernard Berrian or maybe Donte Stallworth, who will be cut by New England later this month because he's due a $6 million roster bonus. Dallas needs more speed on offense, especially in its receiver corps.

What free agents do you think the Cowboys should look at? Who shouldn't they look?
Raul: I'd like to see a known commodity at wide receiver and one of the young up-and-coming defensive backs.

Do you think any current Cowboys will be traded? If so, who?
Raul: I don't think so, unless it's just too good to be true. Having said that, I think the Barber rumors to Miami are smoke.

Rafael: Unless Bill Parcells is willing to overpay for a guy like Jason Ferguson, I don't think any Cowboy will be traded.

What are the chances of Jerry Jones traded the two No. 1s to jump into the top 5 in the draft?
Raul: With Jerry you never know, but I don't think the two first rounders are enough to get into the top 5, so he'd have to add a player, and I don't see that happening.

Rafael: Zero. Jamarcus Russell got a $30 million signing bonus as the number one last year. Do you think Jerry Jones should spend that much on an unproven running back? Tony Romo is a Pro Bowl quarterback and his signing bonus on his new deal was only $11 million. Trading up to number one is a fantasy and a dumb one at that.

What guys do you think the team should look at for the draft?
Rafael: Their top three picks will go for the best corner, wide out and running back. Order will depend on who's available. The draft boards are very fluid and will undergo at least one more major shakeup after this month's combine, so I can't throw out any names with confidence.

Is Darren McFadden the next Adrian Peterson or Blair Thomas?
Raul: There's no way of telling, but history says to not bet the farm on a first round running back.

Rafael: I don't care. Dallas isn't getting Darren McFadden so he could just as well be the next Darren Stephens.

8. Is Marion Barber a 25-carry-a-game running back?
Raul: He may be or he may not be . The problem is that in the playoff loss to the Giants, he looked the part in the first half . But the offensive line broke down so many times in the 2nd half that I'm not sure his decline in that half was due to him running out of steam versus the O-line running out of steam.

Rafael: Marion Barber is not a 25-cary-per-game back. But then, nobody is. No back averages that much.

That said, Barber is the type of guy who LOOKS for impact. Emmitt Smith lasted forever because he AVOIDED the big hits. Barber will have a high ceiling and a very short peak because of his style. Running backs only have so many blows in their body. The fans saw how he slowed down in the 4th quarter against the Giants. Give him that work load for 16 weeks next year and he'll be one beaten up back come playoff time -- assuming he's healthy.

Dallas must find a second back with speed and the shake to get 10 carries a game. Barber will be the next Larry Brown if they don't -- a guy who had a couple of great years but then broke down.

Have you lost any confidence in Tony Romo in light of the playoff ouster?
Raul: Not at all. People must remember that he's had a little more than one and a half seasons of professional game experience. That's not a lot. He made huge strides from 2006 to 2007, and I know he'll continue working to continue those strides for 2008.

Rafael: No. Romo made more plays that game than Eli Manning, but he had critical drops of perfect throws that cost him points. If you switched the Cowboys and Giants receiver corps the Cowboys win that game going away. New York's guys made plays. T.O. aside, the Cowboys receivers didn't.

Seriously, Romo has one year under his belt. Who do you trade him for? Tom Brady or Peyton Manning? Sure, but they're in the last phases of their careers. Who else? Carson Palmer? Eli Manning? Good quarterbacks don't grow on trees and Dallas has one.

Jones has noted that he'll exercise Terrell Owens' option. Would you extend him? How long for how much? And would you do it now or allow Randy Moss' impending free agency set the market price?

Raul: I'd say it's going to be tough not to extend him. He's got a great rapport with Romo, has had two excellent seasons in Dallas and seems to have been the good citizen that most in the NFL didn't think was possible. As for Moss, I don't think that his venture into free agency would necessarily increase the ticket for Owens. TO may be on good behavior to show other suitors after Dallas that he won't be a distraction, but I just think that with everything going on in Dallas (Romo, offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, wide receiver coach Sherman, good young team), he'd be hard pressed to find a better situation than where he is right now.

Rafael: You pick up TO's option ASAP. I'd give him three more years. He's older but he takes great care of his body. And you did notice how the Cowboys passing game went kaput when he got injured, right?

And here's what else people need to realize -- TO loves it in Dallas. He's got a quarterback he trusts for the first time since Steve Young was throwing him balls. He feels respected by his coach and team. He won't find a better situation anywhere else and he knows it. I don't think this will be a difficult negotiation at all.