Jean-Jacques Taylor

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For the first time in a long time, Tony Romo's quotes should make you feel better about him as a quarterback.

When he talks about the importance of protecting the ball, it's an indication that he at least realizes that 21 turnovers – seven lost fumbles and 14 interceptions – is a sure way to extend the Cowboys' awful streak without a playoff win another year.

When he talks about winning games without flashy plays, you should take that as another indication that he's finally starting to get it.

We all know that hasn't always been the case.

Romo has immense talent. No one has ever doubted that.

But for the Cowboys to win in December, when the games are more important, and in the playoffs, when legacies are created, he must play better.

It's that simple.

Words alone won't get it done. We know that.

Still, it's a step in the right direction. The way you fix a problem is by admitting you have one.

This is Romo's team. The Cowboys will go only as far as he takes them.

It sounds like he understands that now, but we won't know for sure until the season begins.

Q: If you were GM of the Cowboys, would you add Matt Jones to the roster?

Ami Heda, Maplewood, N.J.

TAYLOR: No! No! No! A thousand times no. I don't like players you can't trust – no matter how much talent they possess. That's why I never would've signed Adam Jones or Tank Johnson. I like guys you can trust to show up on Sundays. Anybody else is a problem waiting to happen.

Q: I've spent most of my life in Africa. What is an OTA?

Jo Scales

TAYLOR: It's an Organized Team Activity, which really means it's a formal off-season practice. Teams are permitted to conduct up to 14 OTA sessions as part of their off-season workout programs. Clubs may also conduct one mandatory veteran minicamp. Teams that hired a new head coach may hold two additional voluntary minicamps. Hope that clears it up for you.

Q: How do you see the RB rotation shaking out? I say give Barber the ball for the first three series, Choice gets a series in the second quarter and the start of the fourth quarter. Jones serves as the third-down/Wildcat back, while Barber finishes the game?

WE Bolden Jr.

TAYLOR: I understand your point, but you're way too rigid with your rotation. You have to have some give and take, because you don't know how field position or effectiveness or the score will affect your offensive approach. That said, I would probably use Barber as my starter and finisher and Choice as the guy who spells him in the middle of the game. I would use Jones as a specialty player who gets five to 10 touches a game in space where he has a chance to make a big play.

Q: I've heard your input on Cowboys, and I totally disagree with you. They won't finish third in the NFC East because they got rid of all the hot air.

Jeff Ford

TAYLOR: As a fan, it's your right to think that every decision the Cowboys made in the off-season will turn out positive. We don't know yet. None of us do. As I wrote in January, Jerry Jones had to either pick Jason Garrett or T.O., because they could no longer co-exist. Many of you were thrilled when Dallas released T.O., and that's fine. You talk about the passes he dropped, the poor routes and games without production, which are all good points. But if you think it's easy to find receivers who can score 38 touchdowns in three seasons and average more than 1,100 yards, you're wrong.

Q: While I'm sure Jerry Jones isn't making as much money as he thought he would, I wonder if there isn't a better potential answer to his financial decisions you document in your most recent Insider column:

1. He is trying to change the culture on the team (which everyone was calling for, including you)

2. The possibility of an uncapped year has some implications that you and others haven't discussed.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure what those implications are: you and your colleagues haven't written much about that. What do you think the financial implications of an uncapped season will be for owners?

J. David Green

TAYLOR: That's a good question. I don't have a good answer for you, in part, because I don't think it will come to that. I find it hard to believe the players and owners can't find a way to divide a trillion-dollar golden goose. Until the uncapped year becomes much more of a possibility, I'm not going to spend much time delving into it.

Q: I saw Tashard Choice's game against Pittsburgh, and the guy seems flashy. Do you think he could be a guy who plays all game and gains 1,200 yards a year for a span of 10 years or is he just an illusion?

Alejandro Pérez Mexico City

TAYLOR: I really like Tashard. He was an impressive performer last December, and that performance against Pittsburgh was superb. But until he gets an opportunity to play full time, we won't know. As we found out with Marion Barber last year, there's a big difference between the way teams prepare for a backup and the way they prepare for a starter. Let's see what he does this season, when teams give him a little more attention in the film room and on the field.

Q: The charge that Dallas' offense was predictable last season, reminded me that similar statements were made toward the end of Michael Irvin's career. The response at the time was the same as Jason Garrett's more recent ones – failure was a lack of execution by the players. I wonder now if perhaps the offense has become predictable and that without perfect execution and dominant players, the "system" is not going to work. Then I read often about how New England's game plan or "system" is never the same – on a game-by-game basis nothing is ever the same. Is that sort of unpredictability something Dallas should strive for, or is that sort of genius just really hard to come by? Or does the answer really lie with better execution by the players?

Raymon Hedges, Jefferson, TX

TAYLOR: Coaches will tell you players must execute better because their scheme is flawless Players will tell you the scheme must be better because they're unstoppable when used properly. The answer lies somewhere in the middle. This much I do know: It's OK if an offense is predictable as long as the players are performing to their ability. That didn't happen last year.

Q: We've got arguably the best RB trio in the league. We've got an all-world TE. We've got one solid possession WR. A good burner at the other WR. Doesn't that leave Roy Williams with some wiggle room. He doesn't have to put up insane numbers, he just needs to be a factor and get 1,000 yards and 10 TDs. Thoughts?

E. Erik Moncayo, Southern California

TAYLOR: You're wrong. First, you act like getting 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns is not a big deal. Do you realize Williams has never, ever accomplished those things in one season during his career? He's only had one 1,000-yard season, and he's never had a season with 10 touchdowns. He must be a difference-maker, a player defensive coordinators stay up late trying to stop or this offense is going to struggle.

Q: Should the Cowboys be concerned about former defensive starters and a coordinator playing for division rivals? Those guys have to know the schemes that Wade Phillips uses.

Bernard Henry

TAYLOR: Nope. That's the most overrated thing in the NFL. Teams watch so much film there are no secrets. Teams are used to changing their hand signals and audibles, so there's no edge there. Every now and then, you hear about a coach really providing an edge like Jon Gruden did for Tampa in its blowout Super Bowl win over Oakland, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

Q: Is Ellis the last malcontent to go or is there somebody else that needs to go from a "chemistry" perspective?

Craig Henson, Los Angeles

TAYLOR: First, I don't think he was a malcontent. Second, I don't think there are any more players who will be released because of distractions or money. Dallas released Ellis because it didn't want to pay him $5 million this year – not because he was unhappy.