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Matt Mosley, DallasNews.com's Cowboys beat writer, answered your questions on Friday, July 7.
From e-mail: What are the chances that contract extensions for Witten, Williams and James are done deals before the regular season starts? Gary Hafemann in Wisconsin
Matt Mosley: Folks, welcome to today's chat. Home base is White Rock Coffee in beautiful Lake Highlands. Let's go to Gary on a laptop in Wisconsin. I think the Cowboys would like to make some headway with these guys, but they're not in a rush at this point. You see some of these deals happen during the season. Witten and Bill Parcells share the same agent, Jimmy Sexton. That sometimes makes it easier to get things done. My first priority would be signing Witten to a long-term deal. Then you move onto Williams and James. That may surprise some of you, but it shouldn't.
From e-mail: Are you looking forward to covering Terrell Owens this season? The Cowboys haven't had a superstar player and personality since the glory days so does T.O.'s presence in Dallas make your job potentially a little more interesting and juicy? The Cowboys are always a big story nationally, but I am guessing you will have more national media members trying to hone in on your territory with T.O. in town. Jason
Matt Mosley: Jason, my "territory" is so far out there, that I'm not overly worried. Yes, the first week of training camp will be a little nuts, but we're used to seeing big-namers like my golfing pal Ed Werder roll through camp. Is my job a little more interesting with T.O. in town? You bet it is. By the way, I'm pretty sure I'm the only local reporter to read his new book cover to cover, although it wasn't a tremendous feat. Chapters 6-9 are still a blur at this point.
From e-mail: Can I have your copy of TO's book? I have a tree that looks kind of sickly and I thought it would make good fertilizer. Lyndon Bozeman
Matt Mosley: I'm pretty sure the author of this question is one of the most prominent citizens of Allen, Texas. A man who witnessed one of the best rounds of golf I've played. The book's in the mail, Lyndon.
From e-mail: What kind of playing time do expect Crayton and Barber to see? Will Crayton get a chance to show if he showed flashes of or will Bill go with two WR and two TE formations? If so the how often will Barber get the ball? Julio in Dallas
Matt Mosley: Good afternoon, Julio. Nice of you to stop by. I see Marion Barber getting 10-15 carries per game. He's added some muscle and I've been told that he's gained some speed. Lots of Patrick Crayton questions lately. I think he'll challenge for the third-receiver spot, but he has to show more consistency. The good news is that he's completely overcome that ankle injury that was holding him back.
From e-mail: I consider Rick Gosselin to be the foremost authority on pro football. Does it worry you as much as it does me that he ranks the Cowboys as only the 14th best team in the NFL? Anonymous
Matt Mosley: I wouldn't be worried if Rick had the Cowboys at No. 31. He's basing his rankings on a number of things, including free agency and the recent draft. You never know how that stuff's going to play out. Does No. 14 sound a little low? Probably, but I'm not ready to pencil them in the Super Bowl either. Rick and I share an office, which prevents us from criticizing each other in a public forum!
From e-mail: What do you think is T.O.'s objective with his book? Chuck in Allen, Texas
Matt Mosley: Chuck, I wouldn't dare try to get inside T.O.'s mind. Not that I have anything against delusional superstars, but it's just not a safe place to be. If I had to guess, I would say that T.O. correctly assumed he could make a few bucks on the book, and that it would give him an opportunity to respond to what Donovan McNabb said before the last Super Bowl. The truth is that the book is only interesting if you live in Philadelphia. And even that's a stretch. The problem with tell-all books is that athletes usually end up telling us the stuff we don't care about. I've read it. It's written by his agent's little brother. Enough said.
BoysFanInMO: Where is Quincy Carter and what is he doing now that he's been cut from the CFL?
Matt Mosley: I haven't heard from Quincy since he left the Alouettes behind in March. He still has a place here in Dallas. Who knows. Some team might give him one more chance, but I have my doubts. When a guy just vanishes on you, it doesn't make him an attractive option. Bill Parcells didn't rule out the possibility of Carter returning to the Cowboys when he was asked about two years ago. Now, I'm pretty certain he's ruled it out.
From e-mail: Does Terrell Owens care about anyone but himself? I mean, the man needs a P.R. person in the worse way, and he goes to the worst P.R. person in that clown Drew Rosenhaus. What gives? Bart in Springfield
Matt Mosley: Bart, welcome to the show. We now have hundreds of folks lining up, so I'm going to start doing some rapid-fire responses. Owens has a publicist named Kim Etheredge who watches over things pretty closely. Drew Rosenhaus is one of the biggest self-promoters in the history of sports, so these guys belong together. That said, Rosenhaus is extremely successful at what he does. A P.R. person can only do so much.
QB fan: Little question in my mind that Bill Parcells has tired of Drew Henson. Not sure I understand his reasons. I thought Drew played well in NFL Europe and made solid proress. Not sure I understand the love affair with Romo? I have never seen much out of his play during preseason. What gives?
Matt Mosley: I'm not sure Parcells has "tired" of Henson. In my mind, he was never really on board with bringing him on in the first place. "Love affair" is a little strong when it comes to Parcells and Romo. Bill thinks Romo's a highly intelligent kid who might be a good leader. Henson appears to have all the tools, and I agree that he had a pretty solid performance in Europe. But Parcells may be looking at something else. We tried to pin him down on this thing, but he said he didn't know what was missing from Henson's game. He just knows he didn't see what he was looking for.
From e-mail: It's nice to see your columns in the newspaper now. Congrads on the promotion! Which NFL team do you see as having made the most improvement since last season? Lynda in Sherman, Texas
Matt Mosley: Lynda, thanks for the kind words, but I haven't received word of any promotion at this point. But it definitely sounds like a good idea on your part. I think the Cowboys and Redskins both made significant improvements in the off-season. But for some reason, the Chiefs are the team I have my eye on. Larry Johnson is ready to explode. Well, he sort of already has. But I'm talking about somewhere in the 2,000-yard range. Keep your eye on these guys.
COWBOY: What do you think the Cowboys record will be?
Matt Mosley: Right now I have them slipping in the playoffs at 10-6. This could change several times before the season begins. Owens might take the offense to a different level, but the most important topic is still that offensive line. You need significant improvement there before you start talking about a playoff run.
skhan: Love your column. Please comment on the LB core and offensive line.
Matt Mosley: You guys are too kind! The OL should look better with Flozell Adams coming back at left tackle. The coaches are pretty excited about what they've seen from Kyle Kozier at left guard, and just when you guys were ready to dismiss him, here comes Rob Petitti at right tackle. He's having a tremendous off-season, but I realize that doesn't mean anything if he keeps giving up sacks when the season starts. You have to think Marco Rivera's going to be better after struggling with injuries last year, and Al Johnson has added 17 pounds of muscle at center. All you folks who keep telling me Andre Gurode is going to beat him out are wrong!
skhan: How is Kevin Burnett coming along? Will he contribute this year?
Matt Mosley: Burnett's coming along fine and should be ready for training camp. He won't be counted on to start, but he can be a valuable member of the special teams. He's had some bad luck with injuries dating back to college. He needs a full season under his belt.
From e-mail: Who do you think is due for a breakout season in the NFL? Karen in Weatherford, Texas
Matt Mosley: Karen from the land of the Roos: Keep your eye on Landon Trusty. If that doesn't work out, I expect Jason Witten to have somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 catches and eight touchdowns.
TxCowgirl: How do you perceive the fans' reception of Terrell Owens?
Matt Mosley: Just like in Philadelphia, this guy will be the toast of the town after he has that first three-touchdown game in September.
Bme: How do you think the Cowboys offensive line will perform this season, particularly without Larry Allen?
Matt Mosley: I think the offensive line will be better. Honestly, it couldn't get much worse than last season. When Flozell Adams is motivated, he's an effective player. I think being away from football for a while has helped him gain some of hunger back. Kozier should be a capable replacement for Allen and Petitti's going to be better at right tacke. Now, at some point we need to talk about the depth of this offensive line.
From e-mail: Which QB that changed teams this season (and this includes guys signed as backups) will have the biggest impact on his new team? Mark in Swift Creek, N.C.
Matt Mosley: Love hearing from our Swift Creek audience! Mark, I think a healthy Daunte Culpepper could make a huge difference in Miami. The scary thing for the Dolphins is that his backup is Joey Harrington. I've finally given up on this guy.
dcboysfan: As somewhat of a realist, I don't see why so many columnists and sports writers are so high on the Cowboys this season. One of the main ingredients of a championship team is the offensive line, yet Dallas has numerous questions on that front. The only "sure thing" they have is Flozell Adams, and he's coming back from rehab!
Matt Mosley: I think the national media has hopped on this bandwagon, but I haven't sensed it from the local folks. Love or hate him, Terrell Owens is the "sure thing" when he's on the field. I also think the defense should be in a lot better shape with more experience in the 3-4. Another question we need to be asking is whether Julius Jones can make it through an entire season without getting hurt. We have no reason to believe he can at this point.
leyvacj: Do you know if the Cowboys have done anything towards satisfying Greg Ellis' needs?
Matt Mosley: We're in the middle of a dead period in the NFL. I could be wrong, but I would highly doubt that something's going to happen before training camp.
housefan: Looked like the Mavericks learned the Cowboys method of grabbing defeat from the arms of victory. Do you think the current Cowboys will be better at winning close games?
Matt Mosley: That's why they spent all that money on proven kicker. You can make the argument that a solid kicker would have helped them win as many as three more games last season. They've now tried to eliminate that excuse. And if this team goes as far as the Mavericks, it will been a huge success.
QB fan: I was wonder what Henson did to find his way into Bill's doghouse? Not sure why the love affair with Romo either? I thought Drew played pretty well in NFL Europe.
Matt Mosley: Henson didn't do anything to end up in the "doghouse." For whatever reason, Parcells doesn't have any confidence in him. Henson has done every single thing the club has asked about him. For Parcells to basically dismiss all the time he spent in NFL Europe was a crushing blow for Henson. But he's a remarkably positive guy, and still thinks he's got a shot at this thing.
jlust22: Matt, you are a pretty funny guy! Your days of working at The Ticket must have rubbed off on you. Anyway, is this the year Julius Jones establishes himself as a true featured back or does he continue to flash the occasional monster game mixed in with a lot of mediocre games and some injuries as well?
Matt Mosley: Please stop reminding people of my time at The Ticket. In the history of that highly successful radio station, no one has ever had a lower position! And I don't ever see Jones being a 25-carry guy as long as Parcells is here. He takes personal responsibility for ruining Joe Morris' career, and he won't make the same mistake with Jones. But I do recall a few 30-carry games in that 2004 season. Jones will be the feature back, but not like Larry Johnson's a feature back.
From e-mail: What Dallas player do you expect to suprise everyone the most with their improvement in the offseason? Duane Quinn
Matt Mosley: Duane, the name I keep throwing out there is Rob Petitti. Folks are raving about his improvement. Also look for Jason Witten to have an unbelievable training camp. This Terrell Owens thing might benefit him more than anything.
dcboysfan: Matt, if this is Parcells' last season with the Cowboys, as some have asserted, where does that leave them for the future at the QB position? Bledsoe could be on the downside of his career, and we haven't seen anything from the backups because of the coach's disdain for untested players at the position. Do you think the coach even care what happens after he leaves?
Matt Mosley: I do believe that Bill Parcells will retire to the stables after this season. Does he care about the future? I think he does to a certain extent. He talks about not wanting to throw Romo or Henson to "the wolves." But if we're going to determine whether either of those guys can play, you have to see them at some point. Remember that the Cowboys haven't had a quarterback suffer a serious injury since Parcells has been here. It's bound to happen sometime, although I'm not trying to create bad karma.
jlust22: You seem to have a fairly tight relationship with Drew Henson so does he have regrets about coming to Dallas to play for Parcells. I wonder if he is counting down the days to when Parcells decides to hang 'em up since Parcells clearly is not a fan of his.
Matt Mosley: Henson would never admit to "counting down the days," but you have to know that he is. He needs to try to improve during the season and then hope Jerry doesn't decide to kick in another million or so to keep Parcells around.
Folks, our time together has come to an end. As always, you've been a wonderful audience. Please enjoy my vacation!
Matt Mosley, DallasNews.com's Cowboys beat writer, answered your questions on Friday, July 7.
From e-mail: What are the chances that contract extensions for Witten, Williams and James are done deals before the regular season starts? Gary Hafemann in Wisconsin
Matt Mosley: Folks, welcome to today's chat. Home base is White Rock Coffee in beautiful Lake Highlands. Let's go to Gary on a laptop in Wisconsin. I think the Cowboys would like to make some headway with these guys, but they're not in a rush at this point. You see some of these deals happen during the season. Witten and Bill Parcells share the same agent, Jimmy Sexton. That sometimes makes it easier to get things done. My first priority would be signing Witten to a long-term deal. Then you move onto Williams and James. That may surprise some of you, but it shouldn't.
From e-mail: Are you looking forward to covering Terrell Owens this season? The Cowboys haven't had a superstar player and personality since the glory days so does T.O.'s presence in Dallas make your job potentially a little more interesting and juicy? The Cowboys are always a big story nationally, but I am guessing you will have more national media members trying to hone in on your territory with T.O. in town. Jason
Matt Mosley: Jason, my "territory" is so far out there, that I'm not overly worried. Yes, the first week of training camp will be a little nuts, but we're used to seeing big-namers like my golfing pal Ed Werder roll through camp. Is my job a little more interesting with T.O. in town? You bet it is. By the way, I'm pretty sure I'm the only local reporter to read his new book cover to cover, although it wasn't a tremendous feat. Chapters 6-9 are still a blur at this point.
From e-mail: Can I have your copy of TO's book? I have a tree that looks kind of sickly and I thought it would make good fertilizer. Lyndon Bozeman
Matt Mosley: I'm pretty sure the author of this question is one of the most prominent citizens of Allen, Texas. A man who witnessed one of the best rounds of golf I've played. The book's in the mail, Lyndon.
From e-mail: What kind of playing time do expect Crayton and Barber to see? Will Crayton get a chance to show if he showed flashes of or will Bill go with two WR and two TE formations? If so the how often will Barber get the ball? Julio in Dallas
Matt Mosley: Good afternoon, Julio. Nice of you to stop by. I see Marion Barber getting 10-15 carries per game. He's added some muscle and I've been told that he's gained some speed. Lots of Patrick Crayton questions lately. I think he'll challenge for the third-receiver spot, but he has to show more consistency. The good news is that he's completely overcome that ankle injury that was holding him back.
From e-mail: I consider Rick Gosselin to be the foremost authority on pro football. Does it worry you as much as it does me that he ranks the Cowboys as only the 14th best team in the NFL? Anonymous
Matt Mosley: I wouldn't be worried if Rick had the Cowboys at No. 31. He's basing his rankings on a number of things, including free agency and the recent draft. You never know how that stuff's going to play out. Does No. 14 sound a little low? Probably, but I'm not ready to pencil them in the Super Bowl either. Rick and I share an office, which prevents us from criticizing each other in a public forum!
From e-mail: What do you think is T.O.'s objective with his book? Chuck in Allen, Texas
Matt Mosley: Chuck, I wouldn't dare try to get inside T.O.'s mind. Not that I have anything against delusional superstars, but it's just not a safe place to be. If I had to guess, I would say that T.O. correctly assumed he could make a few bucks on the book, and that it would give him an opportunity to respond to what Donovan McNabb said before the last Super Bowl. The truth is that the book is only interesting if you live in Philadelphia. And even that's a stretch. The problem with tell-all books is that athletes usually end up telling us the stuff we don't care about. I've read it. It's written by his agent's little brother. Enough said.
BoysFanInMO: Where is Quincy Carter and what is he doing now that he's been cut from the CFL?
Matt Mosley: I haven't heard from Quincy since he left the Alouettes behind in March. He still has a place here in Dallas. Who knows. Some team might give him one more chance, but I have my doubts. When a guy just vanishes on you, it doesn't make him an attractive option. Bill Parcells didn't rule out the possibility of Carter returning to the Cowboys when he was asked about two years ago. Now, I'm pretty certain he's ruled it out.
From e-mail: Does Terrell Owens care about anyone but himself? I mean, the man needs a P.R. person in the worse way, and he goes to the worst P.R. person in that clown Drew Rosenhaus. What gives? Bart in Springfield
Matt Mosley: Bart, welcome to the show. We now have hundreds of folks lining up, so I'm going to start doing some rapid-fire responses. Owens has a publicist named Kim Etheredge who watches over things pretty closely. Drew Rosenhaus is one of the biggest self-promoters in the history of sports, so these guys belong together. That said, Rosenhaus is extremely successful at what he does. A P.R. person can only do so much.
QB fan: Little question in my mind that Bill Parcells has tired of Drew Henson. Not sure I understand his reasons. I thought Drew played well in NFL Europe and made solid proress. Not sure I understand the love affair with Romo? I have never seen much out of his play during preseason. What gives?
Matt Mosley: I'm not sure Parcells has "tired" of Henson. In my mind, he was never really on board with bringing him on in the first place. "Love affair" is a little strong when it comes to Parcells and Romo. Bill thinks Romo's a highly intelligent kid who might be a good leader. Henson appears to have all the tools, and I agree that he had a pretty solid performance in Europe. But Parcells may be looking at something else. We tried to pin him down on this thing, but he said he didn't know what was missing from Henson's game. He just knows he didn't see what he was looking for.
From e-mail: It's nice to see your columns in the newspaper now. Congrads on the promotion! Which NFL team do you see as having made the most improvement since last season? Lynda in Sherman, Texas
Matt Mosley: Lynda, thanks for the kind words, but I haven't received word of any promotion at this point. But it definitely sounds like a good idea on your part. I think the Cowboys and Redskins both made significant improvements in the off-season. But for some reason, the Chiefs are the team I have my eye on. Larry Johnson is ready to explode. Well, he sort of already has. But I'm talking about somewhere in the 2,000-yard range. Keep your eye on these guys.
COWBOY: What do you think the Cowboys record will be?
Matt Mosley: Right now I have them slipping in the playoffs at 10-6. This could change several times before the season begins. Owens might take the offense to a different level, but the most important topic is still that offensive line. You need significant improvement there before you start talking about a playoff run.
skhan: Love your column. Please comment on the LB core and offensive line.
Matt Mosley: You guys are too kind! The OL should look better with Flozell Adams coming back at left tackle. The coaches are pretty excited about what they've seen from Kyle Kozier at left guard, and just when you guys were ready to dismiss him, here comes Rob Petitti at right tackle. He's having a tremendous off-season, but I realize that doesn't mean anything if he keeps giving up sacks when the season starts. You have to think Marco Rivera's going to be better after struggling with injuries last year, and Al Johnson has added 17 pounds of muscle at center. All you folks who keep telling me Andre Gurode is going to beat him out are wrong!
skhan: How is Kevin Burnett coming along? Will he contribute this year?
Matt Mosley: Burnett's coming along fine and should be ready for training camp. He won't be counted on to start, but he can be a valuable member of the special teams. He's had some bad luck with injuries dating back to college. He needs a full season under his belt.
From e-mail: Who do you think is due for a breakout season in the NFL? Karen in Weatherford, Texas
Matt Mosley: Karen from the land of the Roos: Keep your eye on Landon Trusty. If that doesn't work out, I expect Jason Witten to have somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 catches and eight touchdowns.
TxCowgirl: How do you perceive the fans' reception of Terrell Owens?
Matt Mosley: Just like in Philadelphia, this guy will be the toast of the town after he has that first three-touchdown game in September.
Bme: How do you think the Cowboys offensive line will perform this season, particularly without Larry Allen?
Matt Mosley: I think the offensive line will be better. Honestly, it couldn't get much worse than last season. When Flozell Adams is motivated, he's an effective player. I think being away from football for a while has helped him gain some of hunger back. Kozier should be a capable replacement for Allen and Petitti's going to be better at right tacke. Now, at some point we need to talk about the depth of this offensive line.
From e-mail: Which QB that changed teams this season (and this includes guys signed as backups) will have the biggest impact on his new team? Mark in Swift Creek, N.C.
Matt Mosley: Love hearing from our Swift Creek audience! Mark, I think a healthy Daunte Culpepper could make a huge difference in Miami. The scary thing for the Dolphins is that his backup is Joey Harrington. I've finally given up on this guy.
dcboysfan: As somewhat of a realist, I don't see why so many columnists and sports writers are so high on the Cowboys this season. One of the main ingredients of a championship team is the offensive line, yet Dallas has numerous questions on that front. The only "sure thing" they have is Flozell Adams, and he's coming back from rehab!
Matt Mosley: I think the national media has hopped on this bandwagon, but I haven't sensed it from the local folks. Love or hate him, Terrell Owens is the "sure thing" when he's on the field. I also think the defense should be in a lot better shape with more experience in the 3-4. Another question we need to be asking is whether Julius Jones can make it through an entire season without getting hurt. We have no reason to believe he can at this point.
leyvacj: Do you know if the Cowboys have done anything towards satisfying Greg Ellis' needs?
Matt Mosley: We're in the middle of a dead period in the NFL. I could be wrong, but I would highly doubt that something's going to happen before training camp.
housefan: Looked like the Mavericks learned the Cowboys method of grabbing defeat from the arms of victory. Do you think the current Cowboys will be better at winning close games?
Matt Mosley: That's why they spent all that money on proven kicker. You can make the argument that a solid kicker would have helped them win as many as three more games last season. They've now tried to eliminate that excuse. And if this team goes as far as the Mavericks, it will been a huge success.
QB fan: I was wonder what Henson did to find his way into Bill's doghouse? Not sure why the love affair with Romo either? I thought Drew played pretty well in NFL Europe.
Matt Mosley: Henson didn't do anything to end up in the "doghouse." For whatever reason, Parcells doesn't have any confidence in him. Henson has done every single thing the club has asked about him. For Parcells to basically dismiss all the time he spent in NFL Europe was a crushing blow for Henson. But he's a remarkably positive guy, and still thinks he's got a shot at this thing.
jlust22: Matt, you are a pretty funny guy! Your days of working at The Ticket must have rubbed off on you. Anyway, is this the year Julius Jones establishes himself as a true featured back or does he continue to flash the occasional monster game mixed in with a lot of mediocre games and some injuries as well?
Matt Mosley: Please stop reminding people of my time at The Ticket. In the history of that highly successful radio station, no one has ever had a lower position! And I don't ever see Jones being a 25-carry guy as long as Parcells is here. He takes personal responsibility for ruining Joe Morris' career, and he won't make the same mistake with Jones. But I do recall a few 30-carry games in that 2004 season. Jones will be the feature back, but not like Larry Johnson's a feature back.
From e-mail: What Dallas player do you expect to suprise everyone the most with their improvement in the offseason? Duane Quinn
Matt Mosley: Duane, the name I keep throwing out there is Rob Petitti. Folks are raving about his improvement. Also look for Jason Witten to have an unbelievable training camp. This Terrell Owens thing might benefit him more than anything.
dcboysfan: Matt, if this is Parcells' last season with the Cowboys, as some have asserted, where does that leave them for the future at the QB position? Bledsoe could be on the downside of his career, and we haven't seen anything from the backups because of the coach's disdain for untested players at the position. Do you think the coach even care what happens after he leaves?
Matt Mosley: I do believe that Bill Parcells will retire to the stables after this season. Does he care about the future? I think he does to a certain extent. He talks about not wanting to throw Romo or Henson to "the wolves." But if we're going to determine whether either of those guys can play, you have to see them at some point. Remember that the Cowboys haven't had a quarterback suffer a serious injury since Parcells has been here. It's bound to happen sometime, although I'm not trying to create bad karma.
jlust22: You seem to have a fairly tight relationship with Drew Henson so does he have regrets about coming to Dallas to play for Parcells. I wonder if he is counting down the days to when Parcells decides to hang 'em up since Parcells clearly is not a fan of his.
Matt Mosley: Henson would never admit to "counting down the days," but you have to know that he is. He needs to try to improve during the season and then hope Jerry doesn't decide to kick in another million or so to keep Parcells around.
Folks, our time together has come to an end. As always, you've been a wonderful audience. Please enjoy my vacation!
