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Marion Barber (left) gained 51 yards on 11 carries in the second half and scored twice - on this 1-yard run and on a 17-yard pass.

We learned a few things Monday night about Marion Barber, columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in this week's Inside the Dallas Cowboys. We found out he stays determined when things don't start well. We learned he has excellent hands. And we learned he's going to be just fine as a starter.
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Nick Folk has been impressive in training camp and the preseason.

You might take him for granted, but the Cowboys understand the importance of kicker Nick Folk to their offense. His ability to consistenly hit from inside 50 yards gives the offense more confidence and makes it more dangerous, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in this week's installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys.

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You can expect to see much more of Tony Romo and the Cowboys' starters in Friday's preseason game against Houston, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes.

The Dallas Cowboys' starters know they have yet to put together a complete performance. They do have pride - even in the preseason. That's why you'll get the best they have to offer against the Houston Texans, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys.
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Cowboys running back Felix Jones averaged 5.3 yards per carry in his preseason debut against the San Diego Chargers.

After one preseason game, it seems most of you think Felix Jones is going to the Hall of Fame and Martellus Bennett should be cut. Chill out, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys. Nothing is concrete after one preseason game.
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Cowboys linebacker Bobby Carpenter hopes to prove he's over the pinched nerve that hobbled him for half of last season.

Bobby Carpenter finally bears some resemblance to the player the Dallas Cowboys thought they were getting when they picked him with the 18th selection of the first round two seasons ago, writes columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys.
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Sam Hurd (17) caught 19 passes for 314 yards last season.

Without a No. 2 receiver, the Dallas Cowboys must be content with Sam Hurd, Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton. Not to worry, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in Inside the Dallas Cowboys. Last season, Dallas had one of the league's most prolific offenses without a big-time No. 2 receiver.
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Wide receiver Terry Glenn has balked at signing an injury waiver with the Cowboys.

It's time for Terry Glenn and Jerry Jones to set aside their egos and compromise on contract terms for this season, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in Inside the Dallas Cowboys. The two need each other too much to let their dispute go on for much longer.
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One of two things will happen with the coaching situation this year, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in Inside the Dallas Cowboys. Either Wade Phillips will take this talent-laden team, win the Super Bowl and ride off into the sunset. Or the Cowboys will fall short, and Jerry Jones will give him a golden parachute so he can promote Jason Garrett.
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Brian Stewart (left), shown here in 2007, hosted the retreat to give coaches the kind of advice he wished he had received early in his coaching career.

As an inexperienced assistant, Brian Stewart had many unanswered questions. That's why the Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator hosted a three-day retreat at Valley Ranch for about 50 minority college and NFL coaches. Stewart wants other coaches to get their answers, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in Inside the Dallas Cowboys.
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Jason Witten, shown here at a football camp, attends many fundraisers in the offseason, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is evolving into one of the NFL's elite players, one reason Jerry Jones gave him a $29 million contract. Witten, though, also is devoted to helping others through his foundation, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys. It's another reason Jerry didn't mind writing such a big check.
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If Pacman Jones gets his way, he will be in a Dallas Cowboys uniform soon.

Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor saw Pacman Jones at three different functions over the weekend – a party, a barbecue and an informal workout at SMU – and came away with the impression that he has a chance to succeed in Dallas.
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Patrick Crayton had 50 catches and seven touchdowns for the Cowboys last season.

Patrick Crayton came under fire at times last season, especially after his playoff performance against the Giants. However, if the Cowboys are going to make it to the Super Bowl, they'll need Crayton to at least duplicate his 2007 numbers, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in this week's Inside the Dallas Cowboys.
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Don't worry about HBO's Hard Knocks being a training-camp distraction, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys.
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If Jean-Jacques Taylor had his way, the Cowboys would have drafted Illinois' running back Rashard Mendenhall (above) instead of Felix Jones.

Time will judge the Dallas Cowboys' 2008 draft class. But in selecting running back Felix Jones over Rashard Mendenhall with their first pick, the Cowboys passed on a player who is better, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys.
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Dallas has affixed a value – a fourth- or fifth-round pick – to cornerback Pacman Jones (left).

Pacman Jones will be a Dallas Cowboy, unless some other team decides it can't live without the troubled cornerback. If that happens, so be it, Jean-Jacques Taylor writes in the latest installment of Inside the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas doesn't need Pacman to win the Super Bowl.
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Pacman Jones told his side of the story on Michael Irvin's radio show.

Even after Pacman Jones appeared on the Michael Irvin Show to plead his case, all the embattled cornerback did was show why he wouldn't be a good fit for the Dallas Cowboys, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in this week's Inside Valley Ranch.
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The Cowboys took care of their own this off-season, re-signing safety Ken Hamlin (left) and tackle Flozell Adams.

The Dallas Cowboys have not gone on a spending spree during free agency. And that's the right approach for a team that sent a record number of players to the Pro Bowl – and has two first-round picks in next month's draft – writes Jean-Jacques Taylor in this week's Inside Valley Ranch.
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