The Cowboys coaching staff wouldn’t rule out Marion Barber on Thursday, but said he needed to practice to play. Owner Jerry Jones ruled out Barber for them, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Some reports have suggested Barber will miss two weeks, which could be a blessing in disguise for the Cowboys offense. Tashard Choice should be on the field more. Barber is averaging only 3.1 yards-per-carry and 4.5 yards-per-catch this season. The explosion is gone.
Barber is under contract for $4.25 million next year. He’s only 27 years old, but his rugged running style seems to have prematurely aged him. Most Cowboys observers don’t expect Barber back with the team, but old habits die hard for Jones.
“I know certainly he’s got critics but I wouldn’t go that far in any way to say his time is done with the Cowboys,” Jones said via ESPNDallas.com.
Running back is a relatively fungible position. If the Cowboys don’t trust Choice for some reason, they should find a cheaper option through the draft. Barber just isn’t worth the money at this point.
