Gosselin: Forget McFadden: Cowboys plans are all about Romo

[OnTheWarpath15]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...n.2eb4023.html

12:01 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 1, 2008

PALM BEACH, Fla. – This off-season for the Dallas Cowboys isn't about Darren McFadden. It's about Tony Romo.

If it were about McFadden, the Cowboys would trade up to the top five of the NFL draft to land the all-time leading rusher at Arkansas, Jerry Jones' alma mater.

If Jones wants to bring one of greatest Hogs of all to Dallas, he can. But don't count on it.

"The [Arkansas] games are played on Saturday," Jones said during a break at the annual NFL spring meeting. "So I can get all of the pigs I want at a lot less cost by running up there Saturday than by screwing up my plan here trying to put a Razorback on the Cowboys. I'm not sitting here having cravings for the red."

Mixed into that quote were two key words – my plan.

The first two steps of the plan have already been implemented. Jones re-signed Pro Bowl left tackle Flozell Adams to protect Romo's blind side. Jones also made offensive coordinator Jason Garrett one of the NFL's highest-paid assistants so that he can continue molding Romo into a Super Bowl quarterback.

Jones has no doubts that's Romo's destiny.

"The perception of Tony – his competitiveness, his splash, the whole picture of him as a quarterback – fits what is ideal from my perspective as the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys," Jones said. "I like it all."

Jones would like Romo's persona even more with an offensive cast like the one Tom Brady enjoyed in New England last season. The Cowboys already have their Randy Moss in Terrell Owens. What the Cowboys need is a Wes Welker – that second attractive downfield option.

If the Cowboys traded away their two first-round picks for McFadden, they would lose all leverage in acquiring that second elite receiver.

If McFadden became a Cowboy, Jones would be giving Romo a part-time running back. McFadden would split the carries with Pro Bowl halfback Marion Barber.

By keeping his two first-rounders, Jones probably would still land an elite running back with the 22nd overall pick, either Jonathan Stewart of Oregon or Felix Jones of Arkansas. With the 28th overall pick, the Cowboys might have a choice of wide receivers Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma or DeSean Jackson of Cal.

But the Cowboys may have even better options.

"There might be great value for our team with some of that collateral we have with those [first-round] picks," Jones said. "What if someone wants to give us a hell of a player that really fit and improved our offense? That's the kind of universe I can conjure up.

"We could set up here and get a premium receiver on the other side of Terrell and have a tandem."

How would Chad Johnson look on the other side of Owens? Or Anquan Boldin? Or Roy Williams? All are Pro Bowl wide receivers. Johnson is 30, Boldin 27 and Williams 26. All might be available when the Cowboys go on the clock at 28.

A first-round draft pick straight up for a Williams or a Boldin might look far more attractive to the Bengals or Lions when they're on the clock than it does today.

"If there's a premier player out there, you have to ask what does he do to make Romo – and in the process, our offense – better?" Jones said. "The No. 1 thing I'm looking for is what can I do to make Romo better."

[DaKCMan AP]

Somehow I think if they acquired an earlier 2nd round pick Andre Caldwell would fit in very well in Dallas.

[Chiefnj2]

Tony G for Dallas' 28 and 2nd round pick.

[Brock]

They have a tight end.

[OnTheWarpath15]

Originally Posted by Brock

They have a tight end.

One phenomenal, one pretty solid.

Witten and Fasano are a pretty damn good pair, IMO.

[JBucc]

Is AZ shopping Boldin? Hadn't heard that.