Dead deadline

Roy Williams: Already looks good in blue and silver

The NFL trade deadline is today, 3 p.m. Dallas time. Another reason why it's the "No Fun League" (despite, apparently, not being able to celebrate a touchdown ... one of the more ridiculous crackdowns in recent sports history) is the fact that trades are rare.

In the salary cap world, draft picks are at a premium.

I mean, would you give up a second- or third-round pick for Tony Gonzalez? I wouldn't. I wouldn't give that up for a 23-year-old Gonzalez. Considering the great, cheap pieces you can find in the third round of the NFL draft, it's not worth it.

Nonetheless, as the Cowboys limp into their Week 7 game against St. Louis, I'm reminded of the pre-season discussion of bringing in a legit No. 2 receiver like Chad Johnson or Roy Williams. Considering the defense opponents are throwing at Terrell Owens and the inability of Pat Crayton and Miles Austin to make them pay, this seems like a debate worth taking up again.

A Williams or Johnson disallows teams from double or bringing safety help to Owens' side of the field because they are legit deep threats every time they touch the field.

The "if third receiver is the biggest problem on this team then we're looking pretty good" line of reasoning does not work. If having three good cornerbacks is a must in today's NFL, then having three good receivers is the same maxim.

Two other names out on the rumor mill are T.J. Housmandzedah and Torry Holt. According to ESPN, all four aforementioned names are probably going to have an asking price of a second- (Housmandzedah, Williams) or third-round pick (Holt, Johnson). One of any four would help this team.

But is GM Jerry Jones willing to start doling out draft picks for more ego-laden players? He may not have a choice if its another ring he wants.