Because it's May and there's not much else going on, something as innocuous as a player missing a weight-lifting session can suddenly become a front-page scandal. Perhaps that's a little too breathless, but you get the point. Cowboys running back Marion Barber is looking for a long-term deal, and as a result, he has yet to sign his one-year, $2.6 million restricted free agent tender offer. He's also not participating in the team's offseason workouts, which, depending on your perspective, is potentially a big deal. Owner Jerry Jones, is unconcerned, and he doesn't think it'll have any bearing on Barber's performance once the season starts. You know, because it's May:
Although Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is disappointed with running back Marion Barber electing not to work out with the team thus far this off-season, he doesn't feel it [it's an issue]. ...I think that's right. Players are primarily working out this time of year, and whether it's in Dallas or somewhere else, I don't think it much matters, especially since Barber's familiar with the Cowboys' offense.
"I don't see that it will have a negative impact in his playing this year," Jones said Wednesday during the Cowboys' annual golf tournament for some of its corporate partners.
The team is hoping to sign both Barber and safety Ken Hamlin prior to training camp, and you have to think they feel pretty good about their chances. There was some grumblings from the Dallas-area media that the team should've taken Rashard Mendenhall over Felix Jones with the 22nd pick, but if the Cowboys consider Barber a part of the immediate future, Jones makes more sense. Now all that's left to do is to give Barber a bunch of money.
Fantasy FanHouse will be chiming in throughout the NFL draft with
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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted to add an Arkansas running back, and even if this isn't the Arkansas running back who would have been his first choice,
Whatever you say ... number two!
With each pick of the
Sometimes you have to wonder if NFL coaches go on all these pre-draft visits because of genuine interest in the players, as a smokescreen to occlude their real plans or because they're looking to load up on frequent flier miles to take their wives to Tahiti. 


It's generally a common perception that when a player leaves college early to join the NFL, he's doing it for the money. After all, for a few select juniors it's not like sticking around for a senior season is going to help your draft position.
