Reg

By Raphael Vela

Marion Barber’s new deal means the Cowboys can maintain the status quo. I believe Barber will get more playing time, based on his ‘07 breakout and his Pro Bowl invite.

That said, why should the Cowboys make a radical change in the way they use Barber? They’ve just made a huge investment in him. The strongest argument against paying Barber big money is his “blood and guts” running style, as SI Senior writer Paul Zimmerman terms it. Barber does not eschew contact. In fact, he seeks it out.

For this reason, it’s easy to see him going the way of Larry Brown, Earl Campbell, Eddie George and other power backs whose bodies wore down under NFL punishment.

Pardoxically, the best way for Dallas to protect and maximize its investment is to not go overboard and suddenly use him as a “feature back” in the Emmitt Smith style -giving him 80 to 90% of the running backs touches. What Barber can’t suddenly do is get selfish, demanding such a workload. He’s got his money. The focus now should be all about winning.

Dallas also invested a first round pick in a complement for him. Felix Jones looks like he could be an upgrade over his predecessor Jones. One source said he was drafted to be a “matchup headache” for defenses. He’s got value. By giving Jones his share, OC Jason Garrett will ensure that Barber gives his team — and himself — the greatest value for the full length of the deal.

In other words, don’t expect too much to change.

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