Jean-Jacques Taylor

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One of the most important plays in the preseason was a play that didn't even count.

Nick Folk drilled an apparent 49-yard field goal at the end of the Cowboys' first drive against the 49ers last Saturday, although it was nullified by a holding penalty.

Who cares?

Folk, who had off-season hip surgery, had missed a field goal attempt in each of his first two games. He needed that 49-yard kick for his own sanity.

Don't laugh.

Just a few years ago, we saw Mike Vanderjagt get the yips in a Cowboys' uniform.

Vanderjagt, who made 230 of 266 field goal attempts (86 percent) in his career, made 13 of 18 field goal attempts before the Cowboys released him.

Kicking is as mental as it is physical, so don't underestimate the importance of Folk making that first-quarter kick. He added another chip shot in the fourth quarter.

Folk had a tremendous rookie year, making 26 of 31 field goals. And he was even better last year, hitting 20 of 22 field goals.

More important, he's proved to be clutch. The Cowboys don't mind watching him trot on the field with the game on the line.

But Folk had been questioning himself a little because of the injury. He didn't have confidence in the leg, so he wasn't hitting the ball the way he's capable of doing it.

One kick changed all that.

Folk is back. The Cowboys are happy.

Q: Can't anyone see that when the Cowboys turned over the play-calling to Jason Garrett, that's when their problems began? I have not seen him make adjustments after halftime or have a play ready to call when needed in a tight spot after halftime.

Robert Cloud III

TAYLOR: I think you're a little over the top. Two years ago, the Cowboys had one of the NFL's top offenses. Last year, they weren't as productive, in part, because Garrett never found a rhythm. As I've said and written several times, he's a good coach who had a bad year in 2008. He's smart, so he'll learn from his mistakes and do a better job this year. The key will be getting the pass-run ratio closer to 50-50 instead of 60-40, because this team's strength is its running backs and tight ends.

Q: It is my understanding that if a thrown pass hits the video board at the new stadium it will be ruled a dead ball and the play will be a "do over," just like a punt. Does that mean that it would be possible for a quarterback that is about to be sacked to simply fling the ball up and hit the scoreboard to avoid the sack and get to have another play with no time off the clock?

Scott Carlile, Marshall, Texas

TAYLOR: Yes, that's possible. Is it probable? No. It would be extremely difficult to throw the ball 90 feet in the air with a couple of linemen or linebackers chasing you. I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Q: Tony Romo is just not that good. Have you ever heard Brett Favre or Tom Brady or Peyton Manning go on, game after game, explaining what they are learning from their failures? T.O. never was the problem.

Paul Munves

TAYLOR: Again, that's an over-the-top reaction. Favre has explained his mistakes away plenty of times. Other quarterbacks admit their mistakes. It's a preseason game. You can't overreact one way or the other. Let's wait and see what happens in the regular season. He's a terrific quarterback who needs to protect the ball better for Dallas to get where it wants to go. Actually, I was surprised he took responsibility for it instead of blaming it on a bad route by an undrafted free-agent rookie. Maybe, it's a sign of leadership.

Q: Marion Barber has such a punishing run style. However, he bounces outside way too much. Do the coaches preach to him to head up field?

John T. Gold, Salt Lake City

TAYLOR: Absolutely. He's at his best, when he's physical and running through defenders because it excites his teammates and the crowd. The problem with Marion bouncing outside is that he lacks the speed to consistently beat defenders to the perimeter, so he ends up getting dragged down and losing yardage. When he attacks defenders, he always falls forward for an extra yard.

Q: What happened to fourth-and-long winner Jesse Holley?

Larry Wyrick

TAYLOR: He's doing exactly what I thought he would do – nothing. He's been a nonfactor in training camp. To think some of y'all – and you know who you are – thought he could come to training camp and put on a star performance and beat out Sam Hurd or Miles Austin was truly absurd.

Q: I recall being amazed at Troy Aikman's accuracy. With very little effort, just a flick, his throws were always right on the money, between the numbers or right into the hands. Is Romo that kind of accurate or does he just have a knack for making things happen?

Todd Hawkins, Charlottesville, Va.

TAYLOR: Aikman's accuracy was uncanny. He's one of the most accurate passers to ever play, which is among the reasons you rarely saw his receivers diving to make catches. Romo is also accurate. He doesn't throw the ball as hard as Aikman, but watch the way he throws the back-shoulder fade or corner routes. You won't find too many guys with more touch.

Q: With Stephen McGee "injured" and out for the rest of the preseason, would it be possible for the Cowboys to place him on injured reserve before the season and open up a roster spot? I have to believe they would rather bring back Brooks Bollinger or sign a Trent Green or Rex Grossman before they would put McGee in a game this year. The "injury" also could allow them to keep an extra receiver.

Joe Love, Galveston

TAYLOR: You must not have seen Bollinger play last year. He was awful. Green is retired, and Grossman is in Houston. Any team, as we learned again last year, is in trouble if its third quarterback has to play. McGee will be back in a couple of weeks, though it's too bad he's going to miss all of the playing time he would've gotten this week in Minnesota. That said, Dallas isn't putting him on IR this season.

Q: We understand that Stephen McGee needs time to develop, but have the Cowboys totally ruled out selecting another project QB in next year's draft?

Shane Theriot, Inland Empire, Calif

TAYLOR: It's way too early to say. Let's see how McGee progresses with his work on the scout team and in the off-season before we decide if Dallas needs to add another quarterback.

Q: Are the Cowboys going to celebrate their 50th anniversary this season? Or did they forget about this historic milestone? Hopefully, they will at least have a patch, because if they don't, they will be the only team that is having their 50th that is not.

Don Armstrong

TAYLOR: I spoke to Rich Dalrymple, the Cowboys' PR director, and he said the club is celebrating its new stadium this year. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary next season, after it has completed 50 years of play.

Q: I think Tavaris Jackson is a bad quarterback. He's not starting-caliber in the NFL, but he has starting experience. Would you feel better about him or Stephen McGee getting into a game right now? I'd be willing to dump a seventh-round pick for a third-string QB who has playoff experience. Thoughts?

Russell Maybin

TAYLOR: Minnesota is not going to trade Jackson. He's had a pretty good camp, and they certainly aren't going to give him to a NFC rival.

Q: Do you think Tony Romo has taken some plays out of Staubach and Aikman's leadership manuals in order to guide this team to where he and Jerry Jones want to go?

CPT Wayne Stratton, Ft. Carson, Colo.

TAYLOR: Nope. Romo is just trying to be himself. He has been a little more vocal, but the key to leadership is authenticity. If you're fake, teammates can tell.