Jean-Jacques Taylor

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I hope the pressure isn't getting to Roy Williams, but when he declares he might not talk to the media this season it makes you wonder.

Now, if he doesn't want to talk to the media because he doesn't want to be bothered answering questions, then he's really no different than Rocket Ismail, Charles Haley or Leon Lett.

Haley talked on game day; the others didn't talk at all.

Frankly, it was no big deal because all you want as a journalist is consistency. There's no law that says a guy has to talk, but it also means he has no right to question what you write since he doesn't want to answer your questions.

But if Williams doesn't want to talk because he doesn't like what he's reading. Or he thinks he's being criticized too harshly, then that's a warning sign that shouldn't be ignored.

Everybody can't play in Dallas for the Cowboys just like everybody can't play in New York for the Yankees.

A certain level of scrutiny accompanies every player who dons a Cowboys uniform. Those who can't handle it have no chance to thrive. They'll drown in a sea of newspaper clippings and sports talk radio commentaries.

I have no idea if Williams falls into that category, but we're about to find out.

There's no doubt Williams is under tremendous pressure to perform after the Cowboys signed him to a five-year, $45 million deal, traded first-round, third-round and sixth-round picks for him and released T.O. to ensure he thrives.

He's coming off an awful season, and there's no tangible statistical evidence to suggest he can produce the eye-popping numbers T.O. did. That doesn't mean he can't; it means he hasn't done it before.

He has to prove it before he gets the benefit of the doubt. If that bothers him, too bad.

Q: Roy Williams' best pro year came in 2006 with Jon Kitna at quarterback. As Roy and Tony Romo work on their chemistry, what role does Kitna play in that? Seems like he could provide some helpful notes about Roy from a quarterback's perspective. Shouldn't he be working on a summer-long lecture series: "How I led Roy E. Williams to a 1,300 yard season"?

Lemma Semret

TAYLOR: That's a good question, and I'm sure he has been doing that. There's no doubt Romo and Jason Garrett have spoken to Kitna about the routes Roy runs best and where he's most effective on the field and where he likes the ball thrown. That said, it's still up to Romo and Roy to find a rhythm.

Q: Do you know if the Cowboys have any more than whimsical inklings to try to obtain Kentucky DE Jeremy Jarmon in the upcoming supplemental draft? Is it possible that he could play OLB in the 3-4? I understand he was planning on staying at Kentucky another year and is not ready to start in the NFL, but seeing as a majority of the DE/OLB the Cowboys took in April's draft are also not projected starters, might it be worth spending a fourth- or fifth-round pick in the supplemental for him and adding him to the mix?

Atanna Essama

TAYLOR: I wouldn't think so. The Cowboys drafted linebackers with three of their first four picks. Two of them were defensive ends who will be moving to linebacker. At some point, you have enough developmental picks because they all require attention. Plus, teams are usually conservative with their draft picks. I know he's been a productive player, but it would surprise me if Dallas used a fourth- or fifth-round pick on him. We'll find out soon because the supplemental draft is Thursday.

Q: Do you think Greg Ellis should just shut up and move on?

Joe Davalt

TAYLOR: Well, that depends on your perspective. I guarantee you that Ellis isn't picking up the phone and calling radio stations, they're calling him. I think Ellis is simply speaking the truth as he perceives it to be. He's always been an honest guy who spoke his mind. There's no reason to think it will change now. It doesn't bother me, but I could see why it could get on the nerves of some folks.

Q: Can you get Jerry Jones to acquire Matt Jones, who just got off probation today? Since Jerry Jones is now in the restoration business, falling in love with Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson. Dallas needs another big-time receiver.

Henry Montgomery, Charm City, Md.

TAYLOR: I don't think anyone in the NFL has ever described Matt Jones as a big-time player. He had been more like a bust until last season, when he was having a good year until he was suspended for the last three games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. I thought for sure Jerry would've signed him. Maybe, though, the owner has learned from last year. You need more than talent to win. Perhaps, he's finally figured that out.

Q: I hear what everyone is saying about the players needing to perform better for the upcoming season. I agree with that, but don't you think it's time for the Cowboys coaching staff to be held accountable? I feel that coaching is a huge problem with this team.

Walter Woodard, Oklahoma City

TAYLOR: I'm not sure what you're talking about. Wade Phillips is probably on the hot seat more than any other coach in the league this year. The Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is on the hot seat, too. The coaches on this staff are under plenty of heat to get this team to perform this year as they should be. We'll see if they can get it done.

Q: Can Tony Romo repair the Cowboys locker room after the fiasco involving T.O.? Everyone knows he signed off on the T.O. deal and then defends it as if it was solely a management decision. He put up no effort to keep T.O. in Dallas and will sorely miss the man who made him famous.

Rick Hayes, Atlanta

TAYLOR: If Romo plays well and the Cowboys win 10-11 games and win a playoff game, then there won't be much said about his role in T.O.'s departure. If they struggle, then I think there will be a lot of underlying turmoil because T.O. was such a presence in the locker room. Bottom line: It's all about winning. It always is. Nothing changes that. Winning makes everything good.

Q: Who is the down-field threat for Dallas this year?

Shorty Pettit, Minot, N.D.

TAYLOR: It had better be Miles Austin. He's among the fastest players on the team and showed a propensity last season for making the big play. They need him to stretch the field because Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd are more possession receivers. Austin averaged 21.3 yards on 13 catches with three touchdowns. I think he'll have a breakout season, if he can stay healthy. That is something he failed to do last season.

Q: What have the Cowboys been doing, if anything, to decrease their penalties? That was such a major problem of 2008, yet I haven't read anything about it this off-season. Is it even possible to work on the issue during the off-season?

Mike Wheeler

TAYLOR: The way you improve penalties is through focus and concentration. While there are drills you can do during practice and training camp, none of them really simulate what it's like to play in a game. They're certainly working on their penalties, but I don't know that they can come up with a foolproof way to limit them. If they could, they would've done it already. Clearly, though, it's an area they must improve.

Q: What is your opinion of Stephen Jones and the influence he has within the Cowboys organization? If he disagrees with Jerry on a decision, does it cause Jerry to reconsider his position? My gut instinct is that Stephen Jones was heavily influenced by Bill Parcells in their time together in Dallas, and that Stephen will be a very good owner.

Timothy Stearns

TAYLOR: All you need to know about Stephen's influence is that he was the one who ultimately convinced Jerry to change his mind and release T.O. for the benefit of Tony Romo, Jason Garrett and Roy Williams. He does a terrific job with contracts, especially considering he can't always get Jerry to do the right thing, and he is respected throughout the league. He'll be a terrific owner one day, but it's not happening anytime soon.