Todd Archer

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IRVING - This was going to be a story about how the Cowboys are succeeding this season, in part, because players are accepting their roles.

But then this Roy Williams thing happened. And by thing I mean not a big deal but it's the Cowboys and the perception becomes a team in turmoil.

If there was/is turmoil, I must have missed it.

I went in and out of Williams' interview a few times Wednesday and didn't conclude he was being overly dramatic. He called himself the No. 1 receiver. So what? He said the passes to him are off. Well, they are.

At times he's run bad routes. At times Tony Romo's passes have been off. Unfortunately for them, the times when Romo throws a good ball and Williams runs a good route haven't occurred at the same time often enough.

But who cares? The Cowboys have the NFL's second-ranked offense. They're putting up 411 yards a game without Williams doing much of anything. They're averaging 28 points per game without him getting in the end zone much.

Will there come a time they need Williams and Romo to connect? Sure there will. And maybe they will get together more now that Miles Austin will get more attention from defenses.

Because of what the Cowboys gave up for Williams and because of what they paid him, he will be the target of criticism. It's part of the business. The numbers are not good right now. They should be better. Maybe they will be better, but it is not hurting the Cowboys right now: his comments – if you took them as a slap against Romo – or his on-field work.

"You know, we've been through this before with people trying to intersect and divide us as a football team," Romo said. "This team is too strong from the core."

On Monday, head coach Wade Phillips talked about players accepting their roles and performing well. It's what all good teams need.

Patrick Crayton was upset at his two-job demotion at wide receiver and punt returner. But he has scored three touchdowns in the last two games. Stephen Bowen has been a dependable and productive player in the substitute defenses. Orlando Scandrick did not sulk when Mike Jenkins was named the full-time starter at left cornerback.

Running backs Marion Barber, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice want more carries but are not complaining about a lack of touches. Even Williams wasn't complaining about how many throws have gone his way.

"I got seven opportunities in the ballgame," Williams said. "All I said was that, when it comes to me, it's not there. The percentages that you just said back my case. I'm not saying it can't be fixed, because that's what we do every day."

I think John Wooden said it first, but it's part of the team-building lexicon now – "It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares about who gets the credit." That's what the Cowboys have started to do.

"They have a part that they play, and they're starting to get better and better at it," Phillips said. "and that makes a difference for all of us."