Should the Cowboys trade Felix Jones?

October, 29, 2012
10/29/12
12:30
PM CT
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday and it might be time for the Cowboys to take some calls regarding running back Felix Jones.

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If any calls are coming in.

Jones participated on 62 offensive snaps on Sunday, and carried the ball 13 times for 19 yards in the Cowboys loss to the New York Giants.

Jones carried the ball just five times during the second-half comeback where the Cowboys rallied from 23 points down to take a 24-23 lead, only to eventually lose it.

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While Jason Garrett is being questioned for not running the ball enough in the game, 17 runs total, it's his lack of trust in Jones that speaks volumes.

Late in the game, faced with a second-and-one from the Giants 19, Garrett called a pass play, an incompletion from Tony Romo to Jason Witten.

On third-and-one Romo fired an incomplete pass to Kevin Ogletree in the end zone.

Fourth down, Romo scrambled out of the pocket and threw an interception with 1:03 to play.

Three short down-and-distance situations and the Cowboys former first-round pick in Jones, didn't get any carries. He was on the field for those plays running routes underneath. Now he does have a bruised knee and was listed as questionable on the injury report last week. He started and wasn't a presence the Cowboys needed in the run game.

Jones' fumble with 6:40 left as his team trailed 26-24, was the fifth turnover of the day and the last run of the day for the Cowboys.

That fumble might have given Garrett pause to call Jones' name again to get a carry.

After what we've seen from Jones this year, inconsistent play and trouble with his conditioning, it might be time to move on from him.

If starting running back DeMarco Murray can return this week from a foot sprain, the Cowboys should elevate Phillip Tanner and Lance Dunbar over Jones.

Trading Jones won't be easy. He's coming off shoulder surgery, and while it hasn't been a problem, his health has been in the past. The good news for the Cowboys is Jones is in the final year of his contract and it's doubtful the team wants to extend him long-term. Jones has shown flashes of speed and that ability to make defenders miss, but inconsistency is attached to that.

But if Sunday told us anything, Jones' days with the Cowboys are coming to an end, sooner than expected.
Calvin Watkins joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He's covered the Cowboys since 2006 and also has covered colleges, boxing and high school sports.

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