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IRVING, Texas – Among the reasons why Brian Urlacher decided to retire was the fact that he could say he played for the Chicago Bears and for the Chicago Bears only.

In this salary-cap age, that is a difficult thing to do. Emmitt Smith's playing career ended in Arizona. Jerry Rice's ended in Seattle.

Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin were able to be “one jersey” players, in part because of injuries. Aikman wrestled with the idea of returning not long after he stepped away but decided against it.

Jason Witten and Tony Romo are entering their 11th seasons with the Cowboys. Romo, who just turned 33, is signed through 2019. Witten is signed through 2017. So is DeMarcus Ware, who is entering his ninth season.

Of the long-term players on the Cowboys’ roster, these guys figure to be the “one jersey” types.

Witten is already the franchise’s all-time receptions leader. Only Bob Lilly, Larry Allen, Mel Renfro and Randy White have played in more Pro Bowls as Cowboys than Witten, who has eight. He is coming off a 110-catch season, the most in NFL history by a tight end. He turned 31 earlier this month.

Romo is the Cowboys’ all-time leader in touchdown passes and could surpass Aikman in passing yards in 2015. He has more 100-plus passer rating games in his career than Aikman. Romo’s 55 multi-touchdown pass games are the most in team history. His four four-touchdown games are second-most in history to Danny White.

Ware is the franchise’s official all-time sack leader with 111 for his career and needs four this season to break Harvey Martin’s unofficial sack record. He has had seven straight seasons with at least 10 sacks, and only Reggie White (nine) and John Randle (eight) have more since sacks became an official stat in 1982.

If the Cowboys win a Super Bowl in the next few years, then the chances of these guys playing for another team in the future would be slim.

If the Cowboys don’t win a Super Bowl and they become salary-cap casualties later, do they chase a championship and not play for the Cowboys and the Cowboys only?

IRVING, Texas – Since taking over as the Cowboys’ starting quarterback in 2006, Tony Romo has had two voices calling him the plays: Tony Sparano for a year and Jason Garrett for the last six seasons.

Who will call the plays for the Cowboys has been a major topic since owner and general manager Jerry Jones opened up the possibility of Garrett not doing it in 2013.

During the rookie minicamp and in Tuesday’s organized team activity it appeared that offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Bill Callahan was calling the plays into the quarterbacks as Garrett took a broader view of the offense.

Does it matter to Romo who calls the plays?

“Yeah, that’s a big topic for you guys,” Romo said. “I’m sure you’ll wear that one out until … I mean, I’m just the quarterback, and I’m just trying to continue to get better and improve and help this team.”

Garrett and Callahan continue to say they are working through the mechanics of who will call the plays this season, whatever that means.

With Romo’s larger involvement in the game-planning this season, it might not matter who is calling the plays anyway.

While attending the NFL owners meetings in Boston, Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones told USA Today that Tony Romo's surgery to remove a cyst was minor.

"Do you want to call it a toothache?" Jones said Wednesday morning.

The Cowboys have downplayed the significance of the surgery and Romo hinted he might return for the veteran minicamp June 11-13.

Romo said the cyst wasn't cancerous and he didn't know the size of it.

"I feel a lot better," Romo said. "It was something that was there a little bit, kind of annoying. I'd rather feel 100 percent here. Hopefully I'll be back for minicamp and be ready to go, but we're just being smart now for the next couple of weeks."

Romo had the surgery last month and is expected to miss a total of three weeks.

IRVING, Texas – Tight end Gavin Escobar sat at his locker scrolling through his iPad playbook on Monday and the pages never seemed to stop.

“Luckily, with the rookie camp I got a feel for some of the offense, but there’s still a lot to learn,” Escobar said.

It did not take long for him figure out to watch Jason Witten, an eight-time Pro Bowler and the Cowboys’ all-time leading receiver.

“During individual drills I’d try and look at his feet and his footwork,” said Escobar, the Cowboys' second round pick. “He’s one of the best. I’m just trying to learn from him.”

Tony Romo took some time to help Escobar too.

“It was little things, just running routes on air that he thinks will be helpful,” Escobar said. “Kind of more like the next jump up in level, there are little things that you’re not even conscious about or aware of and he’s telling me about them.”

IRVING, Texas – Day 2 of the Cowboys' organized team activities is today, but it is closed to the media. Here some observations from Day 1:

What did Tony Romo actually do on the field? He was coach-like, especially with the receivers, tight ends and running backs. He also worked with the younger quarterbacks on footwork on handoffs.

CB Morris Claiborne was busy in team drills. On the first play of team exercises, he was late to react to a stop route by WR Dez Bryant. The good news? On the next play he broke up a slant to Bryant.

QB Kyle Orton wasn’t as sharp as normal with the full reps. He was late and low to TE Jason Witten during team throws.

DE Ben Bass did a nice job of disengaging from a blocker on a screen pass to eat up RB Lance Dunbar in the flat. RB Phillip Tanner was able to break through an earlier screen after getting sprung by LG Nate Livings and C Travis Frederick.

LB Brandon Magee dropped TE Andre Smith with a hit across the middle that drew some anger from coaches and players in the non-contact drills. After a quiet rookie minicamp, it was at least good to see Magee break up a pass, even if he was a little too exuberant.

Tanner missed a block of DE Anthony Spencer that allowed a sack of Orton in the final round of 11-on-11 drills.

After making a number of nice plays in the rookie camp, WR Jared Green continued to perform Monday with three more catches in team and seven-on-seven drills.

WR Terrance Williams had a drop on a high throw from Dalton Williams near the sideline. While the throw was off, it was a catch Williams should have made.

RT Jermey Parnell missed a block on a bubble screen to WR Miles Austin that negated what could have been a big play.

IRVING, Texas -- Newly signed defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove missed the 2012 season because of his role in Bountygate.

While Hargrove's status with the NFL is settled, he still has a pending injury lawsuit against the NFL. According to Pro Football Talk, the lawsuit, filed in a New York federal court, says Hargrove suffered "from permanent injuries, including, but not limited to, severe headaches, memory loss, depression, isolation, mental anguish and diminished self-esteem" from playing football.

There were rumblings that Hargrove wouldn't get signed by a NFL team because of the lawsuit.

"Can't comment on that," he said. "It is what it is. I'm here to play ball and I'm going to try and do my best and not let anything outside of that hinder me getting on this field and playing."

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett didn't have a problem signing Hargrove, citing his ability to play all three defensive line spots.

Hargrove didn't work out during the first day of organized team activities Tuesday because the goal is to get him in condition first. But Hargrove is confident he'll make some plays for defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin once he returns to the field.

"I think very highly of him," Hargrove said. "They play a style of defense that I was born into in this National Football League, so I’m excited to be a part of it. He doesn’t want us to think too much, just play fast, and that works best for me."

On Tuesday, two NFL quarterbacks -- one with two Super Bowl rings and another with none -- spoke about changes regarding their team's offense.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo danced around questions regarding changes to the offense and refused to answer who will call plays, saying only: "I'm just the quarterback and I'm trying to get better and help this team."

Romo didn't answer if he asked for more input with the game plan.

"The older you get, you develop that a little bit as a quarterback," Romo said. "If you do some good things in the past, then that allows you to show that you can have a little more of that. That's part of the growth that takes shape."

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger also talked to reporters about changes to the Steelers' offense.

"There's been some changes this offseason in some of the offensive philosophies, playbook and some things that I think are good," Roethlisberger said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "It's some compromise from all the different position coaches, the running back coaches, the line, and quarterback coaches. I think we've taken a little bit of everything and made it a lot better."

When asked if he requested the changes, Roethlisberger laughed.

"There were some things," he said.

Romo had a chance to take a similar stand Tuesday regarding his role with the team. Romo has always had input with the offense. After all, he's the quarterback. But Jerry Jones put him in a bind by talking about his increased role as if he never had one before.

I've always thought Jones was trying to justify Romo's new $108 million contract by adding these "duties" to Romo's responsibilities. The quarterback's time at Valley Ranch and his input with the offense might increase a little bit, but not much more than it's been in the past.

Romo had a chance to say this Tuesday. He didn't.

IRVING, Texas -- Something noticeable on the first day of the OTAs on Tuesday was the rotation at right tackle between Doug Free and Jermey Parnell.

PODCAST
Todd Archer joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Tony Romo news and what he will be watching for in OTAs. Listen

Free and Parnell each worked with the first team, similar to the arrangement they had toward the end of the 2012 season.

Offensive line coach Bill Callahan said Free's mindset is good, despite the fact that Free accepted a 50 percent pay cut in his base salary and is competing with Parnell.

"He knows that I love him and I want him here and I care about him," Callahan said of Free. "There is no aftereffect that needs to be said because we were working here all along. I think there will be really good competition between both tackles."

Speaking about Parnell, Callahan said, "I see a lot of growth. I see a lot of maturation relative to his understanding of the game. His techniques are improving. I'd like to see him continue that progress and be a more consistent player down in and down out."

There were numerous pairings with the interior of the offensive line Tuesday, but when it came to the first-team tackles, Tyron Smith was the left tackle and Free and Parnell shared time on the right side.

IRVING, Texas – When defensive coordinator Rob Ryan was shown the door after last season, it seemed much of the team's swagger and boasting went with him.

PODCAST
Todd Archer joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Tony Romo news and what he will be watching for in OTAs. Listen

But as the Cowboys kicked off OTAs on Tuesday at Valley Ranch, safety Barry Church would not shy away from expectations.

“If we can remain healthy through the whole season, the sky’s the limit for this defense,” Church said. “I mean, we’ve got stars at every level and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be the No. 1 defense in the league.”

Given that it’s May and the defense has had one day of work against the offense, the hyperbole might be understood, but Church’s point about the health of the unit is valued.

He played in only parts of three games last year before tearing his Achilles. Linebackers Sean Lee and Bruce Carter ended up on injured reserve with toe and elbow injuries. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff missed 10 games with groin and ankle injuries. Defensive end Kenyon Coleman (triceps) and cornerback Orlando Scandrick (wrist) also ended the year on injured reserve. Pro Bowler DeMarcus Ware was limited by a shoulder injury that required postseason surgery.

Monte Kiffin took over for Ryan and has brought in his 4-3 scheme. Church likes what he sees.

“He’s a fiery guy,” Church said of the 73-year-old Kiffin. “He’s bringing a lot of energy to this defense. He’s teaching us a lot of discipline to this defense. We’re out there running to the ball every snap. Nobody’s loafing. We’re trying to strip the ball every play. He’s bringing that turnover mentality to this defense, and that’s what you need.”

IRVING, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys are in the process of finding out ways to help people in Oklahoma affected by tornadoes this week, but for kicker Dan Bailey, the issue hits closer to home.

Bailey grew up in Mustang, Okla., a 10-minute drive from Moore, which was decimated Monday by an EF-5 tornado.

“As of right now, I haven’t really had a chance to touch base with everybody and see what we can do,” Bailey said. “Definitely in the days moving forward, I’m going to see if maybe I can spearhead something and see what we can do to help out in any way we can. Anything they need, I’d be glad to do whatever I can to help out.”

Members of the St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs helped victims of a devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo., in 2011, clearing debris and helping people salvage belongings.

Dez Bryant, who attended Oklahoma State, also wants to do what he can.

“I wish the best, I hope for the best,” Bryant said. “I’ll keep that in my prayers. I really hope they get through it. Anything I can do or any fellow Oklahoma player in here can help, I’m pretty sure we’ll do it.”

Bailey said a friend’s home suffered damage from the tornado, but all of his friends and loved ones have been accounted for. Growing up he had to deal with several tornadoes, however, none as big as what was experienced Monday.

“It breaks your heart because there’s just nothing you can do,” Bailey said. “All the people who are there, all they can do is sit there and watch. It’s out of everybody’s hands. Like I said, unfortunately, they’ve been through it before, so they know kind of how to deal with it. They’re going to do the best they can and I’m going to see what I can do to help them out.”

IRVING, Texas -- Coach Jason Garrett said the Cowboys are still working on the mechanics of who'll call the offensive plays during the 2013 season.

PODCAST
Todd Archer joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Tony Romo news and what he will be watching for in OTAs. Listen

It's an interesting discussion given how this has turned into a bigger deal than it should be. Garrett has called plays since arriving here from the Miami Dolphins in 2007.

After last season, owner/general manager Jerry Jones said changes were needed to the offensive structure and he was leaving those decisions to Garrett.

Garrett was asked Tuesday to explain why it still hasn't been finalized.

"I think we have a pretty good plan, and we'll execute it as the offseason progresses," Garrett said.

Offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Bill Callahan seems like the perfect candidate because of his experience, but it seems nobody is saying the job is his. Quarterback Tony Romo has also been given more input and, while it's not expected he'll call plays himself, his influence will be felt.

The wild card is quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson, who has a strong relationship with Garrett and Romo. Wilson could be telling Romo the plays through his headset on game days.

But who actually calls the plays themselves? That's another story.

"Whatever coach wants me to do, whatever role he wants me to fill, I'm more than happy to do that," Callahan said. "We're working through a lot of things right now. ...

"When that play goes in, they're all types of options that we build into the play itself. They can be checks with me, they can be packaged with another run, run-to-run, pass-to-pass. A lot of that (goes) on when the play goes in. You have to, from the people that I've spoken with around the NFL. There's a lot of teams that use that mechanism, use that procedure. That's one way of doing it."

IRVING, Texas -- Peyton Manning-time has replaced Romo-friendly in the Cowboys’ lexicon this offseason thanks to owner and general manager Jerry Jones, so what does Tony Romo have to say about the supposed changes to his off- and in-season input?

PODCAST
Todd Archer joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Tony Romo news and what he will be watching for in OTAs. Listen

“Well, I think just through experience the older you get as a football player and a quarterback, I think you gain a little bit of an understanding about the game and how you can almost develop through experience over time,” Romo said. “For me, I believe in some things that I think can help us win football games. You have great communication with the coaches. We all talk about things and we go from there. Everyone is just trying to help the football team win.”

Romo has always had involvement in the game-planning process, but he acknowledged he will be around Mondays and Tuesdays with the coaches during the season.

How does Romo define Manning time?

“I think it’s just for (Jones) that was more along the lines of probably talking about the fact that (Manning) works directly with the coaches,” Romo said. “I don’t think most quarterbacks, myself included in the past, you’re commanded and the stuff is given to you and you go over it and you do those things instead of working on Monday and Tuesday necessarily in that process. Me just having the communication with the coaches, it’s valuable for us, and I’ve always had that. That’s been an important aspect of any relationship with offensive coordinator and quarterback. I’ve got a great relationship with Jason (Garrett). He’s got a great mind for football.

"The older you get you develop that a little bit as a quarterback. If you do some good things in the past, then that allows you to show that you can have a little more of that. That’s part of the growth that takes shape. I know the difference in the quotes sometimes get misconstrued in the sense that Jerry just knows that I’ll be in there doing some of the things that I don’t think you would do normally.”

IRVING, Texas -- The last time Tony Romo directed the Cowboys to the playoffs was in 2009. Since then, he has a 17-21 record.

PODCAST
Todd Archer joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Tony Romo news and what he will be watching for in OTAs. Listen

Romo enters his seventh full season as the Cowboys’ starting quarterback in 2013. His focus is on ending the team’s mediocre run.

“We were 8-8 the last couple of years, that doesn’t sit well with me,” Romo said. “I don’t think I’m an 8-8 quarterback. I don’t think this organization is comfortable being 8-8. We’re going to do everything we can as coaches, players and in this building to change that. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen again. That just sits there and eats at you. We make choices to do everything that we can to change that.

“That’s the approach you take in an offseason. Really every offseason, but it’s there, staring us in the face right now. We’re going to exhaust everything to make sure this football team gets better to take the next step.”

Romo signed a six-year contract extension with the Cowboys in March worth $108 million that included $55 million guaranteed.

Romo could have opted to play out the final year of his contract and become a free agent in 2014, but the thought never crossed his mind.

“For me, I wanted to end my career here with the Dallas Cowboys and achieve what we started,” Romo said. “Now it’s obviously been some good times and some times that we’ve had some rough spots, obviously. In a lot of ways I know that this team is continuing to get better, and using those experiences to be better, and it’s going to be good.”

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys began the three-week organized team activities period minus starting running back DeMarco Murray and projected No. 2 back, fifth-round pick Joseph Randle.

PODCAST
Todd Archer joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Tony Romo news and what he will be watching for in OTAs. Listen

Murray missed Tuesday's session because of a tweaked hamstring and Randle was expected to miss the OTAs while he recovers from thumb surgery.

Murray and Randle did some rehab work with the strength and conditioning staff.

Coach Jason Garrett said Murray should return for the second week of OTAs.

"A very conservative approach with all these guys, he has a little hamstring tweak," Garrett said about Murray. "It's been bothering him for the last week or so, we don't want to put any of those guys in a situation where they're going to take a backward step. You want them all out there going 100 miles per hour, but we got to understand it is May 21, this is OTA 1 and we have a long way to go."

With Murray and Randle out, the Cowboys used Lance Dunbar, Phillip Tanner and Kendial Lawrence as the main running backs.

Of course, one of the big stories this offseason has been Murray's durability (or lack thereof), which prompted the team to draft Randle. Murray missing the first OTA isn't a big deal, but it doesn't silence the discussion about his health issues.

IRVING, Texas -- At some point during the 1 p.m. hour, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is scheduled to speak with reporters for the first time this offseason.

Here's what we're looking to talk about with Romo:

PODCAST
Todd Archer joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the latest Tony Romo news and what he will be watching for in OTAs. Listen

The contract. What does Romo feel about signing a $108 million deal? Does he feel more pressure to bring a Super Bowl title to North Texas?

More power with the front office. After Romo signed the contract, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones said his quarterback will spend more time at Valley Ranch and have more of a say with the play calling and the game planning. Does this matter to Romo? Has he always been that involved in the game planning? The Cowboys even provided Romo with some game film of prospective draft picks. Is that fair to the rest of the team? Does Romo feel he should be put in this position?

Health. Romo isn't participating in the OTA after he underwent surgery last month to have a cyst removed from his back. The cyst has limited Romo's ability to participate in the offseason programs and develop chemistry with the young receivers and continue to work with veterans such as Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Dwayne Harris. When did the cyst develop? The media has been told it's not serious. But it's serious enough that after having surgery last month he can't participate for three weeks.

What about you? What do you think reporters should be asking Romo today? If you have any questions, let us know. Maybe we'll ask him.