Cowboys report: Running back Barber offers a cutting edge
By Paul Willis, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 14, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.
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Photo by David Zalubowski/Associated Press
Marion Barber is expected to be the Cowboys’ primary ballcarrier this season, but when push comes to shove, he prefers not to rest on his laurels.
"Hey, 53, you wouldn't have a chance to tackle me."
The Cowboys' Adam Jones, after being bumped during punt drills by Denver's Niko Koutouvides.
"I've been tackling you. You're old news."
Koutouvides' response to Jones.
Dallas running back Marion Barber certainly looks like he would be a good fit in Denver's system, a powerful north-south runner with a dose of breakaway speed.
The Broncos, along with 30 other NFL teams, could have selected Barber in the 2005 NFL draft, where he now looks like a fourth-round steal by the one that did get him.
That was the same year the Broncos used the last pick of the third round to select troubled Maurice Clarett, who was cut in training camp and never played a down for the team.
With Julius Jones' departure, Barber could be in line in 2008 for his first career 250-carry season. He finished with 204 carries last season for 975 yards. And he has scored 29 rushing touchdowns in his three seasons in the league.
"He's a very strong runner," Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams said. "His speed is deceptive. He's a lot faster than people give him credit for."
While the Cowboys did use a first-round pick on running back Felix Jones in the April draft, Barber is expected to be the team's primary ballcarrier this season.
"It's going all right," Barber said. "Right now, I've got to keep proving it, keep coming out here every day like I'm a rookie."
New day, new messages
The sparring between Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones and Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall continued Thursday.
Jones, whose nickname is Pacman, said Wednesday that Marshall "ain't no T.O." when asked to compare Marshall and Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens. Jones went on to say Owens was "10 times" faster and stronger than Marshall."
In practice Wednesday afternoon, Marshall wore a sign on his back that said "21's no Champ," in reference to Jones' number and Broncos eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey.
On Thursday morning, Marshall wore a sign bearing the words "Adam is no" followed by a yellow Pacman character from the video game.
"I already tore it up," Jones said after practice. "I put the Pacman part on his helmet. But me and 'B' (are) cool, man. It's just something to get us through so we can compete and have fun."
Marshall had another message in the afternoon practice, when he wore a sign proclaiming "Game over."
The Broncos-Cowboys preseason game isn't until Saturday night (7, CBS 4), but the second practice Thursday marked the end of the teams' joint workouts.
Giving credit
Rod Smith credits Cowboys coach Wade Phillips for signing him as an undrafted free agent during Phillips' tenure as Denver's head coach (1993-94).
"It does mean a lot to me that he thinks that, but somebody would have found him anyway," Phillips said of Smith, who officially announced his retirement July 24.
Etc.
* Cowboys linebacker Kevin Burnett was sent back to Dallas for arthroscopic knee surgery, believed to be his fifth operation since joining the team. Phillips classified it as a "clean-out." Burnett's absence means Bobby Carpenter, a first-round pick in 2006, will play more.
* Phillips said he hadn't yet decided on how the playing time will be distributed Saturday night.
* The Cowboys will practice this afternoon at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Staff writer Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.
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August 15, 2008
12:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
stewie_08 writes:
I never knew Denver could have had him instead of lousy Maurice Clarett. Imagine him in the Bronco backfield. Barber is freakin' sweet. I'm going to draft him in fantasy.
August 15, 2008
8:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
jvill writes:
Seriously?
Wow, I really wish Denver had some ability to pick unheralded running backs in later rounds and turn them into stars just like the Cowboys did with Barber.
Oh wait, they've been doing it for 13 years.
Next column: Cowboys sign undrafted WR, think he'll be awesome -- aren't the Broncos jealous?
August 15, 2008
11 a.m.
Suggest removal
stewie_08 writes:
Get over it jvill. Terrell Davis was the last true example of what you're saying. I know Bronco fans like to live in the past, but although guys like Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary did well as lower-rounders, they weren't bigtime stars like Barber is now and is going to be. Anderson and Gary were products of the system, because when they went elsewhere, they fizzled. And don't bring up Portis, because he was a 2nd rounder.
August 15, 2008
12:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
Meter6 writes:
How is Barber such a big time star? He has done nothing that Anderson didn't do. Not to mention Anderson was the NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2000 and that's more than Barber has ever done in this league in terms of star power. Yes Anderson ended up going elsewhere and not playing as well, but so what? That doesn't mean that he wasn't an outstanding late round pick for Denver. The only thing that makes Barber seem to be a big time star now is playing in Dallas under the spotlight of the national media.
August 15, 2008
12:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
Meter6 writes:
It's funny how some people try to talk about The Broncos ability to consistantly churn out great running performances like it's a bad thing.
August 15, 2008
8:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Brain writes:
Barber is solid and not much more. Dallas must agree because they used a 1st round draft choice on Felix Jones. Certainly Barber has proven to be much better than Clarret and probably would have done well with the Broncos best rushing offense in the NFL.