Jerry Jones Shoots Down Marion Barber Trade for 15th Time

When I speculated that Marion Barber might be trade bait for the Dallas Cowboys to move up in this upcoming draft to select Darren McFadden, I never said it WOULD happen. I never said I wanted it to happen. But that post fueled rumors and columnists went nuts on the possibility. Some even reported it as fact. Well, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, according to an article from Nick Eatman, once again shot down the possibility. Now, we know this means nothing because owners lie and deny things all the time to protect their secret wheeling and dealings. Here’s a snippet from the article:

When asked about the possibility of a deal involving Barber and draft picks for the chance to draft the Arkansas running back, Jones told a respected Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist, “No. Let me be very clear – no. I read (the rumor) and laughed. Marion at running back, we feel, is one of our strengths, and we want to keep it that way.”  

So there you have it. Most of you guys who have hit the Marion Barber panic button over the last few days should be able to breathe again.  

There we go, Marion Barber is staying in Dallas. It’s over. Stop talking about the possibility. The problem is, no one will. Not until Barber is signed to a long-term deal will Cowboys fans and anti-Cowboys trolls stop talking about it. Let’s use Eatman as an example here because he’s writing article after article about McFadden. He writes:

For certain, Barber isn’t going anywhere here in February. Probably not in March either.  

But let’s not completely knock this thing off the table just yet.  

I’m sorry, but the Cowboys aren’t doing their job if they simply rule the whole thing out. Just like the Dolphins aren’t doing their job if they don’t explore every opportunity to get better. And when you go 1-15, you need much more than just one really good football player.  

If you go 13-3, have 13 Pro Bowlers but still need something to get over that hump, maybe a really good football player with the potential to be great is exactly what you need.  

Therefore, if I wore that general manager hat, I think I’d be listening to the deal a little closer than everyone else seems to be.  

If Jones wants to kill this rumor, then sign Barber. It’s really that simple. But if he continues tap dancing around it with quick denials, he does little to calm the tempest from McFadden lovers Mclovin’ on this kid’s talent. The Landry Hat isn’t sitting on any fence with this one. I want the Cowboys to keep their two first-round picks and draft either a  corner, receiver or running back. The running back talent in this draft is the best I can remember and possibly the best ever. It might be a good idea if the Cowboys look at a corner and wide receiver with those two picks and seek a running back such as Ray Rice, Steve Slaton or Mike Hart in the second round. I personally like Mike Hart. And wouldn’t it be nifty if the Cowboys drafted Mario Manningham, too?