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IRVING, Texas -- In the early stages of the offseason, owner/general manager Jerry Jones thought if his team had beaten the New York Giants in the 2011 regular-season finale, the Cowboys might have produced a deep playoff run.

It didn't happen.

The Cowboys lost the finale and watched the NFL playoffs for the second consecutive season. But after nearly two months of free agency and then the NFL draft, which ended Saturday night, Jones said his team is better than last year.

"I think we're better," Jones said after the draft Saturday night. "And we're certainly better with what we did in free agency and certainly just all the way around. Yes, it wouldn't surprise me to see really again 30 percent new faces on this roster with what we've done by the time we finished here tonight."

The Cowboys released veteran starting cornerback Terence Newman and guard Kyle Kosier and didn't re-sign veterans Montrae Holland, Derrick Dockery, Bradie James, Keith Brooking and Abram Elam, who received significant playing time in 2011. The club also didn't re-sign Laurent Robinson, who led the Cowboys with 11 touchdown receptions, because it wasn't willing to pay him a five-year, $32.5 million deal like the Jacksonville Jaguars were.

In free agency, the Cowboys signed guards Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau to contracts worth a combined $30 million. They also signed cornerback Brandon Carr to a five-year, $50 million deal and added backup quarterback Kyle Orton. Safety Brodney Pool was brought in on a one-year deal and linebacker Dan Connor signed a two-year deal.

When the draft started Thursday night, the Cowboys made a bold move by moving from No. 14 to No. 6 and selecting the best cornerback in the draft, LSU's Morris Claiborne.

But over the last two days, the Cowboys didn't make any more trades, despite having an opportunity to move down in the middle rounds and gain some picks.

"I think overall, [Saturday] went really well," team executive vice president Stephen Jones said. "As you can see, we didn't do a lot of moving around and we went with our picks, and the biggest reasons was when we were ready to pick right there, there was a player there we really liked and really fit what we were trying to get accomplished for our team. We stayed right there. We had a chance to move down and around and up, but we felt really comfortable with our board."

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Cowboys' two trusted veteran inside linebackers, Bradie James and Keith Brooking, were both free agents following the 2011 season.

Each player knew the Cowboys might move on from them.

It seems with the free-agent signing of Dan Connor and now with coach Jason Garrett not giving an endorsement of their possible returns in 2012, it could be the ending of the two veterans' run in Dallas.

Not a surprise.

"We like those guys," Garrett said Wednesday morning, the final day of the NFL owners' meetings. "Those guys have done a lot of really good things for our football team and as the offseason unfolds and we go through the draft and continue to put our team together, we’ll continue to evaluate those situations."

The Cowboys could draft an inside linebacker or find someone in free agency at a cheaper rate.

Brooking has offered to play mainly on special teams and on spot duty on defense, but it doesn't appear the Cowboys are in favor of doing that.

Garrett is open to linebackers playing on special teams, something Sean Lee did last season, but you also want effective play on defense, too.

Age is another factor. James is 31 and Brooking turns 37 in October.

Bruce Carter is 24, Lee is 25 and Connor 26.

"What we’re trying to do is bring as many good players into our team that we can," Garrett said. "Dan Connor was a guy who we targeted from Carolina. Penn State linebacker, really a natural instinctive football player. He reads and recognizes things, makes a lot of plays. He’s the right kind of guy, a productive player. We had an opportunity to pursue him, we did that."

We're not sure what the Dallas Cowboys are going to do when the draft comes around in late April, but we've seen positive things in the first three days of free agency.

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It started with cornerback Brandon Carr and his five-year $50.1 million deal. Carr is an upgrade over Terence Newman, who struggled the last two months of the season.

Carr can play man-to-man, and the Cowboys believe he can make plays on the ball, something that was missing in the Cowboys' secondary last year.

You can say the Cowboys overpaid for Carr, but his contract is what the market pays.

An undervalued position is fullback and the team got the better player in signing Lawrence Vickers from the Houston Texans. There was much praise for Tony Fiammetta's work in 2011. But a hamstring and later an inner ear infection cost him games. The Cowboys want players who play, not players who sit in the trainers' room.

Vickers is a physical presence who the team will use 10-to-14 snaps a game. If DeMarco Murray and Felix Jones loved how Fiammetta blocked, wait until they see Vickers.

Jon Kitna was past his prime and his back issues forced him to retire. Stephen McGee just isn't a No. 2 quarterback in this league. So the Cowboys did the right thing by signing Kyle Orton, a player the team laid a claim on last season.

Orton has been a starter in the NFL, and Garrett said he's confident he can win games with him if Tony Romo gets injured.

Another solid pickup was inside linebacker Dan Connor. He replaces aging veterans Keith Brooking and Bradie James to back up Sean Lee. He's not going to start, Bruce Carter is the future, but one thing Garrett likes to have on his team is competition. If Connor challenges Carter for a starting job, then so be it.

The Cowboys also gained younger and more experienced players along the offensive line in signing Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau.

Depth along the offensive line is improved.

So all that's left in the draft is to find the best player available.

The Cowboys, despite signing Brodney Pool, could draft a safety and maybe a wide receiver in the first two days of the draft.

Things are looking up at Valley Ranch as the offseason moves get under way.

IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys needed to add a veteran inside linebacker, which is why they talked about the possibility of re-signing Keith Brooking.

Dan Connor is a good get for the Cowboys because, like the decision to give Anthony Spencer the franchise tag, adding Kyle Orton and Brodney Pool, it gives them protection.

The Cowboys can rave about the progress Bruce Carter made last year, but until they see him actually play defense on more than a handful of snaps in a game, they don’t really know what Carter is about. They think they know, but they don’t know.

So adding Connor, who has some starting experience, is football savvy and can play special teams, is a solid move.

It also keeps Carter hungry.

If the Cowboys did not address the inside linebacker spot, then Carter would have known he was the guy by default. And even if Brooking had returned, it would have been difficult to see him as a starter, so Carter would have won the job.

Jason Garrett endlessly talks about creating competition throughout the roster. This creates competition for Carter to show the coaches he’s ready, to work harder in the offseason and show skeptics he was worth the second-round pick the Cowboys used on him last spring.

IRVING, Texas – At 3:01 p.m. Tuesday, free agency begins.

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has promised to be aggressive in pursuit of upgrading a roster that has missed the playoffs the last two seasons and three of the last four.

In order to do so, the Cowboys will have to re-work some contracts to create enough room under the $120.6 million salary cap, but it is feasible the team can add two starters and a veteran backup quarterback and re-sign wide receiver Laurent Robinson.

As the shopping hour approaches, here are some quick questions and answers:

** What are the Cowboys biggest needs?

We’ve talked about this all offseason, but they need help in the secondary (cornerback and safety) and on the interior of the offensive line. They also need a backup quarterback with Jon Kitna’s retirement, and those don’t come too cheaply. They could use a difference maker at defensive end, but those players aren’t flying around free agency. While the Cowboys like Bruce Carter, there is no way to be sold he is their starting inside linebacker next to Sean Lee in 2012. Add inside linebacker to the list. Also add a backup tight end. The goal of free agency should be to fill enough holes to help make the draft process better so you don’t overvalue certain positions in April.

** What to make of the Mario Williams talk?

I just don’t see that happening. In order to sign Williams, the Cowboys would likely have to fork over in the neighborhood of $40 million guaranteed. In other words: DeMarcus Ware money. If they do that, then that would take them out of upgrades elsewhere. Plus, the team placed the franchise tag on Anthony Spencer. This isn’t to debate who is better, Spencer or Williams, but to say who’s the better fit at the price and the chance to fill needs elsewhere. Williams is more dynamic but is just too costly.

** What to do with Laurent Robinson?

The Cowboys have said Robinson is a priority. Robinson, who had 11 touchdowns last year, has said he would love to stay. Both sides want it to happen but if another team wants to blow away Robinson with an offer the Cowboys will not get into a bidding war. It would, however, create the need for a No. 3 receiver. Despite Jones’ talk about Andre Holmes, the Cowboys cannot bank on untested receivers like Holmes, Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris to pick up the slack.

** Will Jerry Jones make a splash?

In his tenure as owner and general manager, he has made three splashes in free agency in Deion Sanders, Terrell Owens and Leonard Davis. You can put La’Roi Glover in that mix to a degree if you want. That’s it. He had a big one-day signing spree in 2005 on Jason Ferguson, Anthony Henry and Marco Rivera but they weren’t stop-the-presses signings across the league. Jones’ most productive free-agent shopping might have come in 2003 when they added Richie Anderson, Dan Campbell, Toby Gowin and Al Singleton to the roster. Don’t hold your breath on a guy like Williams or New Orleans guard Carl Nicks.

** Will the Cowboys re-sign any of their free agents before the market opens?

Doubtful. League rules prevent them from re-signing Robinson before Tuesday. Mat McBriar’s recent surgery means the two-time Pro Bowl punter will hit the market. They have had some talks with the agent for Keith Brooking but nothing substantial. Abram Elam will be allowed to test the market too. Same with Montrae Holland, who did a nice job at left guard for 10 games.

IRVING, Texas -- As Keith Brooking hopes to be able to continue to play in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys' free-agent-to-be linebacker has been sued for nearly $2 million by Wells Fargo for two unpaid loans.

Through his agent, Pat Dye, Brooking has denied the bank's charges that he moved assets so the bank could not come after property as payment.

“These allegations are categorically false and unfounded,” Dye said.

According to the suit filed in Atlanta, in August of 2008 Brooking took out loans for more than $2 million, but as of January 2012, he still owed Wells Fargo more than $1.9 million. Brooking joined the Cowboys in 2009 on a three-year deal worth more than $6 million.

“There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support Wells Fargo’s allegations that Keith transferred properties to fraudulently conceal assets,” Dye said.

Earlier in the week, he expressed the desire to continue to play and said the Cowboys have expressed interest. Brooking saw his playing time decrease in 2011 but finished fifth on the team in tackles with 72, according to the coaches’ breakdown.

Monday night after a charity event at Highland Park High School, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett spent about 20 minutes meeting with the media about a variety of subjects.

One topic that came up was the status of veteran inside linebacker Keith Brooking and whether he will return.

The Cowboys held a brief discussion with Brooking's agent, Pat Dye, about him returning. Brooking called the talk about him returning in 2012 "speculative at this time."

So what about Garrett?

"We are certainly pleased [about] what Brooking has done for our football team since he's been here," Garrett said. "But we have a lot of decisions we have to make. We don’t have to make those specific decisions right now. As we go forward in the offseason, we’ll figure out how the rest of our team fits together, guys under contract and the free agents that were on our team last year. We'll just go through the process."

Brooking got reduced snaps last season because of the emergence of Sean Lee, and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan wanted to split snaps between Bradie James and Brooking.

Brooking turns 37 in October and there are questions about how effective he can still be. One would think the Cowboys want to start Bruce Carter alongside Lee at inside linebacker and give Orie Lemon a chance to make the team in 2012. Lemon spent 2011 on the practice squad. There's also a chance the Cowboys might draft an inside linebacker or sign one in free agency.

"We've talked a lot about it and a lot of different decisions have to be made along the way, and we’ll see how the pieces to the puzzle fit together," Garrett said. "I have great admiration for Keith Brooking though."

Keith Brooking told ESPN Dallas that talk about him returning to the Cowboys in 2012 is "all speculative at this time."

Brooking told CBS 11 the Cowboys have reached out about him possibly coming back to backup at inside linebacker or maybe start alongside Sean Lee.

The Cowboys have spoken with Brooking's agent, Pat Dye, about that happening but the talks should be deemed nothing serious.

From a financial standpoint, it might not cost much. Brooking, who earned a base salary of $2.5 million last season, most likely will take a pay cut. The minimum salary for a veteran of 10-plus years is $925,000. Brooking, should he make the 53-man roster in 2012, will have 15 years of NFL experience.

Now is it worth keeping Brooking, 36, around for at least $925,000 to provide veteran leadership on and off the field? Maybe. It's interesting to note the Cowboys will have Bruce Carter ready to take over the other starting spot next to Lee.

The Cowboys had a first-round grade on Carter last spring but his recovery from ACL surgery lowered his stock in the NFL Draft. Carter has speed and the athletic ability to play inside linebacker.

Keeping Brooking around is insurance.

At what cost?

Does keeping Brooking around mean fewer snaps for Orie Lemon, who spent 2011 on the practice squad?

The Cowboys can also sign a younger version of Brooking in free agency. It's not going to happen in the beginning of the free agency period, but once everything settles a veteran inside linebacker could be available.

Don’t count out Keith Brooking’s return to the Cowboys.

The 36-year-old linebacker said on CBS 11’s The Score that the Cowboys have expressed interest in re-signing him.

“I don’t think Jerry Jones is a liar,” Brooking joked. “I know Jason Garrett is not, but they could have said that just to make my agent feel better.”

The interest is mutual. Brooking believes he can still contribute to an NFL team and wants to finish his career with a contender. He believes the Cowboys are in that category despite missing the playoffs the last two seasons.

“I would love to [re-sign with Dallas],” Brooking said. “I feel like this team, I feel like we’re really close.”

The roles of Brooking and longtime starter Bradie James were greatly reduced with Sean Lee’s emergence last season. Brooking finished fifth on the team with 72 tackles, according to the coaches’ count off of film.

Jones told reporters that Brooking and James, who are both free agents, shouldn’t be lumped together as far as their potential futures with the teams. It appears that was a hint that the Cowboys were interested in bringing back Brooking, who embraces the mentor role.

Lee no longer needs a mentor, but 2011 second-round pick Bruce Carter does. The Cowboys also need an insurance policy if Carter, who barely played last season because of his recovery from a college knee injury, isn’t ready to be an every-down linebacker.

IRVING, Texas – Back by popular demand (or not) is our weekly in-season feature, 5 Wonders, for its first offseason installment. After five days at the NFL scouting combine I’m wondering about things other than Jerry Jones’ comment that the Cowboys have the talent to compete for the Super Bowl.

** When the Cowboys hired Bill Callahan as offensive line coach, I wondered if that would help them in terms landing free agent guard Carl Nicks, whom Callahan coached at Nebraska. I don’t wonder that anymore. From reading between lines on comments made by Jerry Jones, I don’t see the Cowboys making a huge play on Nicks when free agency begins March 13. Maybe more of that factor is that I don’t believe the Saints will let Nicks hit the market but the word around the combine was that the Cowboys weren’t as heavy on Nicks as many would think. We’ll see how that plays out and it could all be a smokescreen but if you’re wondering where the Cowboys will spend money in free agency I’d say on the secondary.

** I wondered back in October whether the Cowboys would use the franchise tag on Anthony Spencer and wavered when the season was over, but now I’m more than wondering about it. I’d put a wager down that the Cowboys will put the $8.8 million tag on the outside linebacker. We’ve debated the topic for awhile but after talking to several scouts and coaches from other teams Spencer has a more positive view league-wide than he does locally. Yes, you want more sacks, but if you look at tackles and forced fumbles then he is near the top of the list on the outside backer board. Remember when the New York Giants paid defensive end Chris Canty $7 million a year as a free agent? I believe Spencer would get about that same average if not more from another team in free agency. One thing to keep in mind about the tag is that it can be rescinded at any time as long as Spencer does not sign. I wonder if the Cowboys believe “overpaying” Spencer for one year is better than doing it as part of a multi-year deal.

** Speaking of outside linebackers for a 3-4, I wonder if the top two candidates in the draft, Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw and South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram, look the part. When you think about those types of players, you’re thinking guys 6-4, 255-260 pounds. DeMarcus Ware types. Upshaw came in at 6-1, 272 pounds. Ingram came in at 6-1, 264 pounds. Pittsburgh’s James Harrison isn’t the prototype either, but these guys just looked thicker in the middle than what you’re used to regarding 3-4 outside linebackers. That being said, they produced on the field and I’m not quibbling with that. I’m just wondering if they fit the mold you’re used to.

** When Jason Garrett broke into the coaching business after his playing career he worked for Nick Saban in Miami. Garrett has said he learned a ton from Saban. I wonder if Garrett’s connection to Saban will help during the draft process. The Tide has at least three first-round defensive players, in my opinion, in Upshaw, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and safety Mark Barron. Garrett should be able to get the inside skinny from Saban about what makes these guys tick. And remember this too: one of the players the Cowboys attempted to trade back into the first round last year to get was Alabama running back Mark Ingram.

** One thing Jerry Jones said Friday on his bus to reporters was to not lump Bradie James and Keith Brooking together as far as their potential futures with the Cowboys. Both will be free agents, and I wonder if Brooking could return. Is it a lot to ask Bruce Carter to come in and be the starter from opening day of the offseason program alongside Sean Lee? Could be. Carter had about seven padded practices last year after coming off the physically unable to perform list because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He missed all of camp and the lockout prevented him from being around the team after the draft. Some will make the comparison to how Lee made the jump from his rookie to second year. It’s not the same. Lee was on the field from Day One even if he dealt with nagging issues as a rookie. Here’s why I said Brooking, who turns 37 in October: he was still fifth on the defense in tackles last year with 72, according to the coaches’ breakdown. He also had a tackle for loss and three QB pressures and two pass deflections. I’m not saying it will happen, but I’m just wondering if it could happen.

The scouting combine has finished its weekend of work. We have some thoughts heading into the backstretch.

1. Jerry Jones believes the Cowboys has the talent to contend for a Super Bowl. Really?!?!?!?!?!

2. The offensive linemen have stood out at the combine and the Cowboys who are trying to upgrade the talent in the interior need to take a close look at taking one in the first round.

Here's what Scouts Inc. had to say about Stanford guard David DeCastro: "As for DeCastro, he was by far the most impressive interior offensive lineman during drills. He was smooth and quick, posting the best 3-cone time (7.3) since 2008, as well as the third-best short shuttle (4.56) and fifth-best broad jump (8-foot-2) among 2012 linemen. His 29½-inch vertical jump was also well above the average for guards (26½) over the past four combines."

Guard Cordy Glenn from Georgia has also impressed: "Glenn stood out as most consistent offensive lineman on either team during Senior Bowl week, while facing first-round prospects Quinton Coples (North Carolina), Melvin Ingram (South Carolina) and Courtney Upshaw (Alabama) every day in practice. That momentum has carried over to Indianapolis."

3. There is some confusion regarding some comments made by Jones over the weekend about cornerback Terence Newman. The Cowboys save money, yes, save money, by cutting the veteran corner, as much as $6 million. Jones said nothing has been decided. Here's the deal: Newman played well at the start of the 2011 season, but lost his confidence in the final two months and teams knew it by targeting him numerous times. Newman didn't do himself any favors by taking himself out of the game against the New York Giants on a third down for Alan Ball. I think Jones was just being nice about saying you have to find a replacement for Newman before cutting him. Jones most likely will do it, but we wonder if the front office is confident in the abilities of Orlando Scandrick to replace Newman. It seems Jones might find a corner in the second or third rounds of the draft.

4. Bradie James and Keith Brooking were two warriors who were great leaders for the Cowboys. It's time to move on. Too many times this franchise stays with veteran players before sending them home for good. It's time to part ways with Newman and James. Both are unrestricted free agents and it appears they will not return. Stephen Jones, the executive vice president, said nothing is decided. The Cowboys had a first round grade on Bruce Carter, who was a second round pick last year. Carter will get his chance to play in 2012 alongside Sean Lee at inside linebacker.

5. We love how Jones talked about Andre Holmes, a young receiver with tremendous potential, as a possible replacement for Laurent Robinson, if he leaves this spring in free agency. Holmes is fast and runs good routes. But he's never had an offensive snap in a NFL regular season game. The Cowboys like Holmes, but there's too much uncertainty about him to move him up the depth chart if the Cowboys lose Robinson. The Cowboys will have to spend a little bit of money to keep Robinson, maybe $6 million to $8 million guaranteed to keep him. If the Cowboys lose Robinson, they have trouble a wide receiver.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Cowboys selected Bruce Carter in the second round of last year’s draft despite knowing the inside linebacker would need something of a redshirt year in 2011 because of a serious knee injury.

With the possible departures of Bradie James and Keith Brooking in free agency, the Cowboys would appear to need Carter to jump up into the starting spot next to Sean Lee in 2012.

Coach Jason Garrett said nobody is “penciled in as a starter,” while admitting guys like Tony Romo and DeMarcus Ware are but liked Carter’s progress. Carter had one defensive tackle and a pass deflection in limited snaps and also tied for seventh in special teams tackles with eight in 10 games.

"The game plan for Carter is exactly what we thought it would be,” Garrett said. “He had ACL surgery late in the year last year, so we knew what we were getting at that point with him. It was going to be a long road back for him. We anticipated that on draft day. He’d probably start the season on [the physically unable to perform list] and we’ll see where he goes from there. We were optimistic he could be a special teams contributor by the end of the year, which is exactly what he was. So, he misses training camp and he doesn’t practice for the team until the middle of the season and he comes in and contributes on teams. We still like him a lot. He came back from the injury as well as can be expected. Typically, coming back from those injuries is a year-and-a-half to two years. Ask anybody who has had an ACL surgery and they say, ‘I didn’t feel quite right in Year One. I felt a lot better in Year Two.’ He’s coming up on Year Two. We’re excited about getting him in the offseason program, getting him with Mike Woicik and making sure he is physically ready and stable and ready to roll. We’re to see how he progress into OTAs and training camp.”

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, in Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine, said by phone Wednesday morning that the team hasn't made any final decisions regarding the futures of veteran inside linebackers Keith Brooking and Bradie James, who are both unrestricted free agents.

But it doesn't appear either player will return due to younger players on the roster.

Last season, second-year linebacker Sean Lee emerged as a starter and finished with a team-leading 105 tackles, along with seven pass breakups and four interceptions.

James, a valued member of the defense and considered one of the leaders on the team, finished with 44 tackles, his lowest output since his rookie year of 2003, when he had just 12. It was also the first time James finished a season without 100 tackles since 2005.

Brooking also lost valuable playing time and, along with James, offered to play more on special teams and did. Brooking had 50 tackles, his lowest output since 2000.

If the Cowboys bring back either veteran, it will be at a reduced salary.

While Brooking and James are considered leaders in the locker room, the team would like Bruce Carter, last year's second-round pick, to get significant playing time at inside linebacker in 2012.

I've gone back and forth on the comments made by Jason Hatcher about a lack of leaders in the Cowboys locker room.

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Hatcher said the Cowboys need more Ray Lewis-type leaders. Lewis commands the Baltimore Ravens locker room.

He's the pulse of the team. When he speaks people listen. Reporters seek him out for what goes right and wrong. He doesn't hide.

After Baltimore's Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yard field goal against New England in the AFC Championship game, Lewis gave an inspiring speech in the locker room after the loss.

Lewis told his teammates not to worry, life will go on. He didn't blame Cundiff for the loss.

It was a wonderful message.

Not everybody can do that.

Prior to Hatcher's comments, Lewis was at the Pro Bowl speaking about a conversation he had with nose tackle Jay Ratliff and outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware about leadership.

Apparently, Ratliff and Ware wanted to know how Lewis does it.

The Cowboys don't need any of their players to be Ray Lewis. If Ware and Ratliff try to act like Lewis, they come off as phonies.

Ware and Ratliff should continue to act accordingly.

Do the Cowboys have a leadership issue?

It depends on how you define it.

Tony Romo led the offseason workouts last summer. He sent out a mass e-mail to teammates telling them get to an area high school to workout.

Early in the 2011 season, Romo had to basically tell Dez Bryant what to do in the huddle. Romo never mentioned it. He just kept doing it until Bryant grew more comfortable with the offensive playbook.

Bryant even noted how Laurent Robinson's and Jason Witten's professionalism helped him on the field.

Tony Fiammetta's play at fullback showed rookie running back DeMarco Murray about how to play the game as well.

Felix Jones kept his cool and praised Murray when he took over the starting running back spot from him after he got hurt.

When Bradie James and Keith Brooking lost playing time both veterans asked for special teams snaps to help the team.

Mike Jenkins played with a dislocated shoulder for the bulk of the season. It was so bad, Jenkins couldn't lift his shoulder above his head. Gerald Sensabaugh took a pain injection to play every game, but didn't for practice and worked out in pain. Kyle Kosier played with a foot problem that he walked around the locker room like Fred Sanford.

Let's not talk about what Romo played through, fractured rib, punctured lung and swollen hand, in 2011.

Not everybody can yell and scream and tell inspiring stories and quote bible scriptures like Ray Lewis.

Leadership comes in different ways.

One thing this Cowboys team must do is win. It can't allow the New York Giants to continue winning in Cowboys Stadium. The Giants have never lost there.

When the team goes though tough times, it can't hide from reporters in the locker room each week and rely on the same old players to speak about the issues.

Every player needs to be accountable.

The Cowboys need to finish off opponents. Too many times in the 2011 season they didn't finish teams off.

Is that because of leadership?

I don't know.

Maybe they don't know to finish or lead and that's why Hatcher said what he said. He was being honest and you can't get mad at a man for being honest.

Leadership is also about honestly and maybe in his own subtle way, Hatcher was showing that by telling the truth about his team.

It's something the Cowboys need to address this summer.

MOBILE, Ala. -- We're leaving the Senior Bowl after three days of nice, cool weather, and here's some notes:

1. The Cowboys are doing their due diligence regarding the quarterback position. I don't believe the Cowboys will draft one, but they did interview Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden on Sunday. Jerry Jones said if the team picks up a quarterback, it has to be a veteran who can move quickly in the offense. Weeden's age, 28, means he's a little more mature than some rookie quarterbacks and he picked up the Washington Redskins offensive terminology pretty quickly during practices here.

2. Finding a cornerback is a must for the Cowboys. When Jones says there will be new faces on the roster at that position, he's telling the truth. Alan Ball, Frank Walker, Terence Newman and quite possibly Abram Elam might be gone from the 2011 roster. The Cowboys interviewed troubled corner Janoris Jenkins, but one corner to watch is Georgia's Brandon Boykin. He's 5-9 1/4 and 183 pounds. He plays physical and can play the slot and outside. Boykin can also return kicks and punts.

3. It seems Keith Brooking wants to continue playing, according to his agent Pat Dye Jr. Brooking is open to playing a reduced role with the Cowboys. You could say he played a reduced role in 2011, but that was only after the team felt confident enough in Sean Lee's development in training camp to pair him up with Bradie James. The Cowboys want a younger team, especially on defense, but if Brooking is willing to play 10 defensive snaps with some special team duties per game, it might be worth keeping him around.

4. It's pretty interesting the Cowboys are downplaying Dez Bryant's confrontation in Miami last week. Jerry Jones has not spoken to Bryant, but someone in the organization did, according to Jason Garrett. Bryant's behavior away from the field should concern the Cowboys and if they don't get a handle on it, it could go bad quickly.

5. Brooking is coming here to be inducted into the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame along with Donovan McNabb and Dan Reeves. ... If the Cowboys sign a veteran quarterback, why not get David Garrard? The former Jacksonville quarterback's back should be 100 percent by the end of March. ... Garrett went to only one Pro Day last year, USC's to check out Tyron Smith. Garrett didn't say if that number will increase. He expects it to be a case-by-case basis. ... DE Marcus Spears is expected to return along with fellow DE Jason Hatcher. As good as Spears and Hatcher were, Kenyon Coleman struggled down the stretch.