Anthony Spencer and DeMarcus Ware are best OLB tandem in NFL

Was Marion Barber dinged up last year more than we knew?

Someone is not telling the truth here. If Barber was hurt as badly as running backs coach Skip Peete said, he should not have been on the field. Someone should be fired for using a one-legged back.

Given that no one has been fired, I think Peete was springing to the defense of his player, which is laudable, by embellishing the nature of the injury.

Has Alan Ball sealed up Free Safety or does Mike Hamlin still have a shot?

Hamlin has a shot, but Ball played well in mini-camps and OTAs. The concern about Ball is his size. He would rank among the smallest safeties in the league.

They'll go to camp with free safety open and Ball the leading contender. Hamlin could push him. This will be a learning year for Owusu-Ansah, the draft pick from Indiana, Pa. Keep an eye on him in 2011.

With the Hall of Fame Game, two road dates and two training camp sites, how can the Cowboys jerseys possibly get anything positive done?

Good point. If the Cowboys get off to a slow start, the unusual pre-season schedule will be to blame. It's part of Jerry Jones' plan to link marketing with preparation. It does not seem like a good idea to me. Teams should prepare as fighters do and go away to a remote spot.

How short will Roy Williams' leash be this year? If he picks up where he dropped off last year, how long before we see him riding the pine?

Depends on the progress of Ogletree and Bryant. They could push Williams out of the picture, if he stays at last season's level. Maybe I'm naive, but I believe Wade Phillips when he says the best players will play.

Do the Cowboys have faith in Anthony Spencer to build off last year and be a Pro-bowl jerseysplayer?

Yes. Spencer found his rhythm in the second half last season and was every bit as good as Ware in that time. Ware and Spencer are the best OLB tandem in the league.

Are the Cowboys as a favorite to advance in the playoffs and beat the Vikings and the Saints?

Minnesota drops with or without Favre. New Orleans drops because of the Super Bowl hangover. Has any Super Bowl winner partied longer or harder than the Saints? Plus, the vicodin issue will cause problems for the new Saints jerseys.

Cowboys-San Francisco in NFC title game.