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IRVING, Texas -- There is a long-held perception among many outside Valley Ranch that character means little to the Cowboys when it comes to the evaluation process.

Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has selected some questionable characters (Quincy Carter comes to mind) but he also passed on Randy Moss in 1998. During Wednesday’s pre-draft press conference the term "makeup" was thrown around a lot by Jones, coach Jason Garrett and assistant director of player personnel Tom Ciskowski.

For Garrett, makeup means a lot. The Cowboys’ draft last year was filled with serious-minded players who were either captains or leaders of their teams, such as Tyron Smith, Bruce Carter, DeMarco Murray and Dwayne Harris.

"Guys that have the right kind of motor at early levels, the right kind of motor, the right kind of track records of competes, the right kind of track of work ethic, you can go down through those top picks you might find there is 20 percent of them that have outstanding makeup," Jones said.

"It’s not something that is easily attained for a player and that is factored in. We have that factored in with the grade; the fact that he practices like [Jay] Ratliff or he plays like Ratliff. To me that would be where we want to watch for and not get enamored with some of the other things that might make him impressive and stick to the fact that within a week he has to be out here and he has to hit the ground with the kind of work ethic he has never seen before and we want him to be in step with those guys. That is a plus. That is an ideal situation."

"Obviously if we could get the fastest strongest biggest with the greatest makeup of Jason Witten or frankly [Marc] Colombo, you could bottle that up or get that in a player with a lot of skill you have really done something.”

But there is a sliding scale involved if a talented player remains in later rounds, according to Garrett.

"When certain players have a great, great physical ability do you still want guys who have great make up?," Garrett said. "My experience and I think all of our experience has been the makeup part of a player is a big key to their success.

"Having said that, you’re more willing to look at a player who has more ability. You see it around the league every year on every football team with rookie players and with veteran players. So you’re always evaluating the player. You have to figure out what makeup quality they have that is fatal. In no way are we going to take this guy for this reason, I don’t care how great a player he is. Then you have to say, 'OK, what are his makeup issues? What are his character issues? Are they fatal? Is there something we can help them with?' And then you kind of work your way through that."

Garrett continued: "How good a player is he? Is he worth it? Where are we taking him? You like to say there is a hard and fast rule, you like to make it black and white, but that’s not the reality of it. You have to talk it through. You have to have a philosophy that you stick with consistently and then you have to weigh the risks of when we take that particular player."

IRVING, Texas -- A couple of notes from two days of news conferences at Valley Ranch.

* There are no new talks involving the team and outside linebacker Anthony Spencer. He signed his $8.8 million franchise tag Monday and reported to the voluntary workouts at Valley Ranch. However, team executive vice president Stephen Jones did say of any contract talks, " No, but they can happen fast."

* Running back DeMarco Murray (ankle) and wide receiver Raymond Radway (leg) are progressing in their recovery from surgeries. Coach Jason Garrett said he expects to see Murray and Radway work out with the team for the veteran minicamps in June, though it hasn't been determined if those two players will be limited in any way.

* In the last two drafts, the Cowboys picked up starters from the first round in Dez Bryant (2010) and Tyron Smith (2011). Sean Lee (second-round pick in 2010) moved into the starting lineup last season and Bruce Carter (2011 second rounder) is expected to compete for a starting role this year. Can it happen again? "But your expectations are certainly first-and second-round players are starters for you sooner rather than later," Garrett said.

* Nice retirement ceremony for tackle Marc Colombo on Wednesday. He rarely spoke with reporters but was polite and always had time to talk Red Sox and Celtics. "He's inspirational," Garrett said, adding later, "A damn good football player." You hope a similar thing can be done for former center Andre Gurode and inside linebacker Bradie James whenever they decide to retire, if they want to retire as Cowboys, which was the case for Colombo.

* Tom Ciskowski, assistant director of player personnel, said the Cowboys don't have any holes and when asked to expound on it said, "Well, I look at our team and what we’re hopefully going to draft over the next three days to upgrade, like I mentioned earlier. But we’ve got some depth at some positions and I just think even we’re not drafting today we can go play tomorrow. And I think Jerry [Jones] alluded to that that we’re just going to try and find the best football players that we can regardless of the position to help us."

IRVING, Texas – As the Cowboys have worked through the draft process, more than once coaches and scouts have asked, “Is this guy a Colombo?”

Maybe it was fitting that the team officially announced Colombo’s retirement on Wednesday, a day before the NFL draft begins.

"I've had the pleasure of being around a lot of people in this game," head coach Jason Garrett said. "But Marc is in the front of the class. That's the ultimate compliment I can give him. You get inspired by Marc Colombo every day you're around him. There are certain guys that give those tingles down your spine. Marc Colombo is one of those guys."

Colombo started every game he played for the Cowboys from 2006-2010 after joining the team in 2005. He played last year with Miami following his release from the Cowboys. Before the 2011 season finale, Colombo said he called former Cowboys coach Bill Parcells to let him know it was his final game and received a warm message back from Parcells.

When he made it official, he called owner and general manager Jerry Jones asking if he could retire as a Cowboy.

“I don't know when we've ever had a player that played in a position of a unit that would impact the ethos and attitude of what we were on the offensive line any more than Marc,” Jones said.

Said Colombo, "I felt like this is the first thing I wanted to do when my time was up – come back here to the Dallas Cowboys organization and remember what we did here. I'm excited about this football team for the future. For you guys to take an average, hard-working guy like me and make a big deal like this, it's greatly appreciated."

IRVING, Texas – For most of his career as the Cowboys’ starting quarterback, Tony Romo knew he would see Flozell Adams, Kyle Kosier, Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo in front of him on the offensive line.

Over the last three seasons, all of them have departed.

Adams was the first following the 2009 season. Gurode, Davis and Colombo were gone entering the 2011 season. Kosier was released earlier this offseason.

Romo’s 2011 tackles – Doug Free and Tyron Smith – will switch sides in 2012 and there could be a change at center depending on how the Cowboys work the upcoming draft.

In March, the Cowboys signed guards Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings to free-agent contracts.

“I think the coaching staff likes a couple of these guys,” Romo said. “Some of the guys I was with for a long run we had some great football and played in some great football games together and I’ll always be appreciative of Kyle and all those boys. And it’s kind of slowly the start of a new set of people up front.”

Earlier this offseason, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he made a mistake in changing the guard of the line so quickly and moving to a smaller, inexperienced interior. He felt that played with Romo’s thoughts about pressure up the middle.

“I just think you’re comfortable when you have a nice protected pocket,” Romo said. “At times you have that and you’re just always trying to get it to where that part of it feels good all of the time.”

As for the Free-Smith switch, Romo joked, “As long as people don’t touch you I don’t think it matters at all.”

IRVING, Texas – Marc Colombo will retire a Cowboy.

Colombo signed a ceremonial one-year contract with the Cowboys on Friday to make sure his NFL career came to a close with the team in which he had the most success. The move will be official Monday.

“My time here was the majority of my career,” said Colombo, who joined the team in 2005 and was the starting right tackle from 2006-10. “I feel like this place made me the football player I always wanted to be. It’s just an amazing place with an unbelievable owner. To be able to play at other places you realize there’s nothing like being a Cowboy.”

In 2005, the Cowboys took a chance on Colombo, a first-round pick by Chicago in 2002 after the Bears released him in part because of a serious knee injury. The gamble paid off in 2006 and he started every game (72) in which he was healthy. He missed seven games in 2009 with an ankle injury and one game in 2010 with a knee injury.

The Cowboys released Colombo after the lockout ended in 2011 to give the starting job to Tyron Smith. Colombo, 33, signed with Miami and played every snap for the Dolphins last season.

“It’s really good to be able to come back here,” said Colombo, who owns a number of Smashburger franchises with ex-teammate Leonard Davis and calls the area home. “I think getting away for a year was a good thing because it made me realize how fortunate I was to play as long as I did with the Cowboys. To come back in and meet with Mr. Jones, it was really humbling. He’s a great owner and I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. He’s always treated me well. I just think being able to retire as a Dallas Cowboy is something I always envisioned after I’d been here for a few years. We’re living here now. The fan support has been great and I’d just like to thank everybody.”

IRVING, Texas – When the Dallas Cowboys drafted Tyron Smith, David Arkin and Bill Nagy last year, in addition to adding Kevin Kowalski as an undrafted free agent, it appeared as if they were preparing for a youth movement on the offensive line.

After all, they cut Andre Gurode, Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo, too.

But with the team’s additions of Mackenzy Bernadeau and Nate Livings over the last three days that not no longer appears to be the case. It’s not that the Cowboys got old -- though Livings turned 30 today -- but they definitely got new.

Bernadeau and Livings received starter’s money from the Cowboys.

They also add size to the interior of the line, which was a problem last year.

Nagy started the year and checked in at 303 pounds. Costa is listed at 314 pounds. Kosier is listed at 305 pounds. Montrae Holland and Derrick Dockery, who replaced Nagy after the rookie suffered a broken ankle, checked in at 340 and 325 pounds, respectively.

Too many times the pressure up the middle bothered Tony Romo.

Carolina listed the 6-foot-4 Bernadeau at 308 pounds. Cincinnati listed the 6-foot-5 Livings as 332 pounds.

At first guess the line in 2012 projects to be, from left to right: Tyron Smith, Nate Livings, Phil Costa/Kyle Kosier, Mackenzy Bernadeau and Doug Free.

Now that’s quite an overhaul in a short amount of time.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The conventional wisdom regarding the switch of tackles Tyron Smith and Doug Free, which was announced Thursday by coach Jason Garrett, is that the Cowboys are disappointed in Free.

Free was credited with allowing 10 sacks in 2011 after signing a four-year, $32 million extension in August, but owner and general Jerry Jones is not down on Free.

“I think we’re too tough on Free,” Jones said. “Although he had 10 sacks against him I think in all of our criticism of that position, it’s going to be like cornerback and it’s going to get some of the best. But I think we’re too tough on him. He will get better.”

The Cowboys drafted Smith with the No. 9 overall pick last year with the idea he could move to left tackle eventually. Free broke into the lineup in 2009 at right tackle and performed well there after Marc Colombo suffered a fractured ankle. Free moved to the left side in 2010 when the club decided to part ways with Flozell Adams.

“I’m not at all dismayed by Free,” Jones said, “but we certainly want him to do better and let that sack total against him go down.”

MOBILE, Ala. -- ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper went back in history and redrafted the 2006 class for every team.

That year the Cowboys drafted linebacker Bobby Carpenter from Ohio State. Carpenter's claim to fame might have been that NFC wild-card playoff loss at Seattle where he played out of his mind.

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Carpenter was a disappointment overall.

Kiper now says the Cowboys should have taken South Carolina cornerback Johnathan Joseph with the 18th pick. Kiper also says Houston should have bypassed Mario Williams with the top pick and selected Haloti Ngata, the defensive tackle from Oregon.

Here's a link to Kiper's selections (you need to be an ESPN Insider to view it).

We look at the Cowboys' draft picks that year:

Bobby Carpenter, first round, LB: The Cowboys could never find a role for Carpenter, whether it was at inside linebacker or outside linebacker. He just wasn't physical enough and always seemed overmatched. The best thing about Carpenter is he became one of Tony Romo's closest friends. After the Cowboys moved on from Carpenter, with a trade to St. Louis for tackle Alex Barron, he switched teams again. Carpenter played for Detroit in 2011 and picked off a Romo pass in the second half as part of the Lions' dramatic rally to overcome a 24-3 deficit.

Anthony Fasano, second round, TE: A physical tight end that just never took his game to the next level. He wasn't going to compete on Jason Witten's level, but he wasn't athletic enough, like Martellus Bennett was, to warrant more playing time. Cowboys eventually traded him to the Miami Dolphins. Fasano has been pretty good in Miami, catching 18 touchdowns in four seasons while Bennett has just four in four seasons.

Jason Hatcher, third round, DE: It took some time but Hatcher finally emerged as the pass-rushing end the Cowboys thought they had when they selected him from Grambling. Hatcher eventually took a starting role at end this season from Marcus Spears, a former first-round pick. Hatcher finished the season with a career-high 4.5 sacks. He will probably start at end in 2012. Hatcher is the only player from this draft class still on the team.

Skyler Green, fourth round, WR: Bill Parcells had plans for this man. The problem was that the plans were a mess. A returner, a wide receiver and a running back eventually, Green couldn't find any playing time. The Cowboys should have passed on him unless they had a defined role for him, and they didn't.

Patrick Watkins, fifth round, S: He started nine games his rookie season, picking off three passes and knocking down seven more. But Watkins wasn't physical enough for the defensive coaches and while a free safety had trouble making plays on the ball. He didn't play in the NFL last season after spending 2010 in San Diego. He was long and lean, very athletic, but just couldn't find consistency.

Montavious Stanley, sixth round, DT: He's bounced around among five NFL teams, including two stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stanley just wasn't a fit with the Cowboys. He had the size to play inside (6-2, 302 pounds), but like most late round picks, he didn't play with the needed consistency.

Pat McQuistan, seventh round, T: He might have been a nice find to possibly replace either Flozell Adams or Marc Colombo at one of the tackle spots, but he never developed into what the Cowboys hoped. He played mainly on special teams before going to Miami in 2010. He did start eight games for the Dolphins and in 2011 he played 10 games for the New Orleans Saints.

E.J. Whitley, seventh round, G: The Texas Tech alum was the 224th player selected that year. He didn't do enough to warrant a roster spot.

IRVING, Texas -- As we continue our Fixing the Cowboys series this week, plenty of free-agent options are dancing in fans’ heads as they dream and scheme of ways to spend Jerry Jones’ money.

As executive vice president Stephen Jones said late last season, the Cowboys will be able to do whatever it is they want to do when free agency begins in March.

According to league figures, the Cowboys have $12.6 million in salary-cap room based off the 2011 cap of $120.375 million, and that includes the $28 million (or so) in dead money related to guys like Roy Williams, Leonard Davis, Marc Colombo, Marion Barber, Andre Gurode and Igor Olshansky who were cut in 2011.

The 2012 cap is expected to remain flat or go up slightly.

The $12.6 million figure does not take into account the tender amounts the Cowboys have for their exclusive rights and restricted free agents or the space needed for their draft picks, but that will not significantly impair their ability to sign players.

The Cowboys can create more room against the cap by releasing cornerback Terence Newman and saving either $4 million or $6 million depending on whether they would want to count him as a post-June 1 cut.

They have triggers in the deals of left tackle (or right tackle) Doug Free and cornerback Orlando Scandrick that would lower their base salaries to the league minimum, turn the difference into signing bonus and save them about $8.6 million. Re-working DeMarcus Ware’s contract would open up about $3.3 million

All told, the Cowboys could have in the neighborhood of $20 million or so to spend when free agency begins.

That’s not a bad place to be.

This is the second installment in ESPN Dallas' five-part series on things that went right for the Dallas Cowboys in 2011.

4. Tyron Smith takes over at right tackle

When the Cowboys drafted Tyron Smith, ninth overall, the goal was to make him a right tackle with the potential to move him to left tackle in the future.

There was some concern he could do it, but when the team released veteran Marc Colombo, it forced the Cowboys to view Smith as the starting right tackle. Colombo performed badly in 2009 and the Cowboys needed to upgrade this position.

Smith emerged as a force along an offensive line that struggled during the 2010 season. Yes, Smith was penalized eight times, but he had two stretches of four and five weeks where he didn't get flagged.

He improved as the season went on, especially when defending twists, spin and power moves. Smith used his long arms and quick feet to hold off pass rushers. The Cowboys were not afraid to run off the tackles with DeMarco Murray and Felix Jones, and as the season progressed right guard Kyle Kosier didn't help Smith as much with communication.

The big picture has Smith moving to the left tackle spot over Doug Free, who was inconsistent in 2011. Smith has the athletic ability to play left tackle because he took on elite pass rushers on a regular basis last year.

Hudson Houck, the Cowboys offensive line coach, said Smith improved throughout the season but wouldn't say if the rookie would move to left tackle. But it appears things are headed that way.

With the season over, Smith, after getting some rest, will work out with agent and former offensive line coach Joe Panos on his techniques and gain strength. He doesn't need to pick up weight (307), but if he gets stronger, he has a strong chance to remain a force along the offensive line.

IRVING, Texas -- If you regularly come back to the thought that, 'Man, the Cowboys sure come up with some inventive ways to lose games,' you're right.

Since 2005, I have come up with 13 head-scratching losses that seem to define this franchise. And that does not include the humiliating 44-6 defeat at Philadelphia to close the 2008 season, which knocked the Cowboys out of a playoff spot.

Three of those losses have come this year. Three came last year. Two each in ’09, ’08 and ’06, and the one that kicked it off came on Sept. 19, 2005 (against Washington), when the Triplets – Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith - were inducted into the Ring of Honor.

It has been quite a roller-coaster ride, but without the fun part.

Sept. 19, 2005 – Washington, 14-13.

The Cowboys lead, 13-0, with 6:01 to play, and the 65,207 in attendance, the largest crowd at Texas Stadium at the time following the 1985 renovations, was enjoying the moment. The Triplets were inducted into the Ring of Honor. The defense was dominating.

Then Santana Moss happened.

Moss caught touchdown passes of 39 and 70 yards in the final 3:46, bringing to light Roy Williams’ deficiencies in coverage. The second touchdown came with 2:35 to play. Oh, by the way, the Cowboys missed the playoffs by a game that year.

Nov. 5, 2006 – Washington, 22-19

Tony Romo’s second start was about to end with a fourth-quarter drive for a game-winning field goal, but Troy Vincent blocked Mike Vanderjagt’s 35-yard try. Sean Taylor scooped up the loose ball and returned it 30 yards. Another 15 yards was added because of a Kyle Kosier facemask penalty.

With no time on the clock, Nick Novak kicked a 47-yarder to beat the Cowboys.

Jan. 6, 2007 – Seattle, 21-20

This one was the most heartbreaking because it was in the wild-card round of the playoffs. It was also Bill Parcells’ final game as a head coach. The Cowboys maintain to this day that had they won that game, they could have gone to the Super Bowl.

Instead L.P. LaDouceur’s snap for a 19-yard field goal try slipped through Romo’s hands. Conspiracy theorists point to the slippery "K-ball" that was put in play before the snap. Others point to a Jason Witten first down that was overturned by the replay official, which negated the possibility to run the clock out or score a touchdown.

Oct. 12, 2008 – Arizona, 30-24 (OT)

The Cowboys somehow tied this game at the end of regulation on a 52-yard field goal by Nick Folk, but on the opening series of overtime, they lost Tony Romo to a broken pinky finger and punter Mat McBriar to a broken foot. On the play in which McBriar broke his foot, Sean Morey blocked his punt and Monty Beisel fell on the ball for a touchdown. The game started with a special teams touchdown (a 93-yard kick return) for the Cardinals, and ended with one.

Dec. 20, 2008 – Baltimore, 33-24

In what was a struggle for the offense for most of the game, twice the Cowboys pulled to within two points of the Ravens. Terrell Owens made the score 19-17 by scoring with 3:50 to play. Baltimore answered with a 77-yard touchdown run by Willis McGahee. Jason Witten cut the gap again with a TD grab with 1:36 to play. Le'Ron McClain answered with an 80-yard touchdown run.

It was not the way Jerry Jones wanted to see Texas Stadium close.

Sept. 20, 2009 – NY Giants, 33-31

If Jones didn’t want to see Texas Stadium close that way, he didn’t want to see Cowboys Stadium open this way. Felix Jones gave the Cowboys a 31-30 lead with a touchdown run with 3:40 to play.

Then Eli Manning happened.

Manning completed 7-of-9 passes for 64 yards, helping the Giants overcome a 1st-and-20 situation from their 15 and leading to a 37-yard game-winning field goal by Lawrence Tynes with no time left.

Oct. 4, 2009 – Denver, 17-10

The Cowboys blew a 10-0 lead when Broncos wide receiver caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Orton with 1:46 to play. However, Romo had the Cowboys in position to tie the game after a 53-yard completion to Sam Hurd.

At the Denver 2-yard line with nine seconds to play, Romo went to Hurd (unsuccessfully) on back-to-back plays while the wideout was defended by Pro Bowler Champ Bailey.

Cowboys Pro Bowler Jason Witten did not even run a route.

Sept. 12, 2010 – Washington, 13-7

The Cowboys dominated defensively, but were done in by Jason Garrett’s decision to call a play with four seconds left in the first half and a mile away from the Redskins’ end zone. Romo flipped the ball to Tashard Choice, who fumbled while fighting for extra yards. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall scooped up the loose ball and ran it back for a 32-yard touchdown. It was the Redskins' only touchdown of the game.

In position to win the game, Alex Barron happened.

With three seconds left, Romo hit Roy Williams for an apparent game-tying touchdown with the point-after attempt being the difference in a win. Not so fast. Barron, starting in place of an injured Marc Colombo, was called for holding Brian Orakpo on the touchdown pass, wiping out the comeback.

Nov. 25, 2010 – New Orleans, 30-27

The Cowboys were not in the playoff chase, but they were fighting under Garrett, who took over for Wade Phillips as the interim coach. They led 27-23 and were in position to salt the game away as Roy Williams raced down the field toward the Saints end zone. As he switched the ball to his left hand away from a New Orleans defender, he allowed Michael Jenkins to strip it away for the turnover.

Five plays and 89 yards later, Drew Brees hit Lance Moore with the game-winning touchdown pass.

Dec. 25, 2010 – Arizona, 27-26

Stephen McGee was shaping up as the hero, filling in for an injured Jon Kitna. He hit Miles Austin with a 37-yard touchdown pass with 1:41 to play to give the Cowboys the lead. Unfortunately David Buehler missed the PAT, giving Arizona hope.

John Skelton converted a 4th-and-15 with a 26-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald, and Jay Feely won the game with a 48-yard field goal.

Sept. 11, 2011 – NY Jets, 27-24

The Cowboys led, 24-10, two plays into the fourth quarter following a Felix Jones touchdown. They were in position to answer a Jets touchdown with at least a field goal when Romo fumbled while diving to the New York goal line for his first of two fourth-quarter turnovers.

On the Cowboys’ next series, Joe McKnight blocked McBriar’s punt and Isaiah Trufant returned it 18 yards for the tying touchdown.

Late in regulation, Romo was intercepted by Darrelle Revis on a poor throw to Dez Bryant. That was turned into a game-winning field goal by former Cowboy Nick Folk.

Dec. 4, 2011 – Arizona, 19-13 (OT)

Sensing a trend with Arizona here?

Tied at 13-13, Romo put the Cowboys in position to win the game with another Dan Bailey field goal. His 15-yard completion to Bryant had the Cowboys at the Cardinals' 31-yard line. Yet with two timeouts and roughly 25 seconds to go, the Cowboys did not stop the clock until Romo spiked the ball with seven seconds to play.

As Bailey lined up for the game-winner, Garrett called a timeout because the play clock was running out. Bailey’s second attempt fell short, and in overtime the Cowboys would never get the ball.

LaRod Stephens-Howling raced 52 yards on a short flip from Kevin Kolb for the game-winner.

Dec. 11, 2011 – NY Giants, 37-34

Bryant’s 50-yard touchdown pass gave the Cowboys a 34-22 lead with 5:41 to play. All seemed well with the world.

Then Eli Manning happened. Again.

He shredded the Dallas defense on an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended in a Jake Ballard touchdown catch and then directed New York on a six-play, 56-yard drive that ended in a Brandon Jacobs touchdown. The subsequent two-point conversion gave the Giants a three-point cushion.

During the second drive, Garrett let crucial seconds go off the clock again by failing to call a timeout until 1:00 remained.

Despite all that, two Romo-to-Miles Austin completions had the Cowboys at the New York 29-yard line with six seconds to play.

Before Bailey went in for the game-tying 47-yard try, Giants coach Tom Coughlin called a timeout, negating what turned out to be a good kick. Bailey’s second attempt wasn't close to going through the uprights.

Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul pushed between LaDouceur and Montrae Holland and deflected Bailey’s kick.

IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys finished 6-10 in 2010, and owner Jerry Jones fired coach Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start.

There was a belief the 2011 season would be a rebuilding one at Valley Ranch after the release of highly priced veterans Roy Williams, Marion Barber, Marc Colombo and Andre Gurode.

But the Cowboys have forged a 7-4 record and a one-game lead over the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East with five games to play in the season.

The Cowboys have an opportunity to win the division and at worst get a No. 4 seed for the playoffs.

"We've played well enough to be in the hunt," Jones said Thursday. "That was my wish, that we could play that well. It looks like we're improving and I feel like we're improving and I can see that we've got the potential to be better than we've been."

Over the next five weeks, the Cowboys play three division games -- the Giants twice and the Eagles -- and visit Arizona this Sunday and Tampa Bay on Dec. 17.

This team has endured bad finishes in the past, like a 1-3 finish in 2008, but a 2-2 close to the 2010 season gave Jones more faith that Jason Garrett is the right man to lead the Cowboys.

Jones said he doesn't believe this group is thinking the season is over and a playoff berth is guaranteed.

"I think it's just too fresh and it was too impactful to have the disappointment that we had last year," Jones said. "I know on a personal basis and I know for many members of our team's leadership that last year was one of the biggest disappointments that we've had and biggest surprises. I think that's too fresh on our memories."

The Dallas Cowboys ended November with a 4-0 record and the 18th career win for Tony Romo in the month since he took over as the starting quarterback for the Cowboys.

As impressive as that stat is, fans care more about what you do in December, January and now February. You have heard me mention many times before how difficult it is to win in the National Football League. You fully appreciate how hard it really is and how grateful you are when it happens after being in offices around the league.

The 2011 Cowboys have done a nice job of playing their best football at the right times. There are too many times that we get caught up in what the opposing team’s record is, using that as a base for how we think the Cowboys will play on a weekly basis.

In the tradition of things to be thankful for, I am grateful that I get the opportunity to break these games down for you, trying to give you a clear idea of why and how with this Dallas Cowboys squad.

Romo overcomes mistakes to save Cowboys

For the second week in a row, Romo won this game for the Cowboys with the way that he managed the quarterback position despite some early mistakes with the interceptions.

The first interception, which was intended for Martellus Bennett, was clearly Romo’s fault with the lack of depth as he tried to fit the ball to Bennett up the sideline. Romo threw the ball too much on the line instead of putting air under it. Cornerback Vontae Davis was able to adjust his coverage on the route because he was really not threatened by Bennett’s vertical route. The safety was not a factor in the coverage coming over, and Romo was not pressured at all to have to make that throw much like others that he had to make under duress.

Laurent Robinson took the blame for the second interception. At pre-snap, Jason Witten and Robinson flip spots on the line. Witten moves to the slot and Robinson outside. At the snap, Robinson tries an outside release against Sean Smith, who doesn’t lose position in the route. Robinson really doesn’t buy himself much space.

Smith is in great position and Romo throws the ball to the curl with Smith standing in front of Robinson. Romo threw the ball in tight coverage, evidence of the confidence that Romo has in Robinson and that receiver is going to run the right route.

Romo-to-Robinson connection clicking

Speaking of Robinson’s route running, his first touchdown was perfectly executed. This play in the red zone now has a chance because the way that DeMarco Murray has been running the ball the last several weeks. Without the threat of a running game, you don’t get this type of bite on a play-action.

On the play, Robinson is the only receiver on the field and lined up wide left. At the snap of the ball, the line blocks full flow going to their right, Murray starts to stretch right, and Romo fakes to Murray while moving right to draw the Dolphins’ defense up and to that side. Robinson holds one count like he is going to block, then explodes to the inside, leaving his man.

Romo’s eyes now find Robinson in the middle of the field uncovered with the linebackers moving forward. Romo throws the ball to an area, and Robinson is able to adjust and make the catch for the touchdown.

One more example of Robinson and Romo clicking was on the second touchdown throw.

With the Cowboys down 16-10 at the start of the fourth quarter and the ball on the Dolphins’ 18-yard line, Garrett goes with three wide receivers, one tight end and one running back. Dez Bryant is lined up wide left, Witten is on the line to the right, and Kevin Ogletree is in the slot to the right with Robinson outside of him.

At the snap, Witten starts vertical, working the middle of the field between the hashes. Bryant drives hard inside to cross the path of Witten. Ogletree works outside then up like he is running a wheel route. Robinson clears Ogletree going vertical. The protection is able to hold up to a point while all of this is developing down the field. Romo then flushes to his left, with his eyes down the field. Romo is able to square his shoulders and finds Robinson running along the backside of the end zone.

Robinson has a step on Smith and safety Yeremiah Bell doesn’t react well enough to Robinson, who crosses behind him. Romo throws the ball in a manner that allows Robinson to adjust to the pass by extending his body to make his catch, then drag his toes. Smith dives to try and defend the pass, but the ball is so well thrown that he has no chance to make the play.

Big-time throw, big-time catch.

Dolphins' Marshall gets best of Newman

Coming into this game, there were going to be several players on the Dolphins that were going to present problems for the Dallas defense.

Brandon Marshall is an outstanding wide receiver. In studying him, you could see that Terence Newman and Orlando Scandrick were going to have their hands full because of his physical style and the way he likes to use his hands to push off in route. Scandrick learned this firsthand on a play-action pass down the field. Marshall shoved Scandrick off the line to get separation. It was clearly pass interference, but it was not called, which resulted in a big gain for the Dolphins.

Marshall also took advantage of Newman on a touchdown pass. Newman had been playing well in his press coverage, but in this case, he missed with his hands on the jam and allowed Marshall to get up the field. Safety Abram Elam played shallow to try to help Sean Lee with tight end Anthony Fasano. Elam is trying his best to do two jobs but is unable to really help Newman fully. Anthony Spencer is applying late pressure on quarterback Matt Moore, but it’s not enough and he is able to deliver the ball down the field to Marshall, who makes the catch with Newman around his neck. The coverage really broke down for Newman when he missed with his hands on the jam.

Cowboys' Ware vindicates himself

The position that played well for the Cowboys in this game was their outside linebackers. I had been very critical of DeMarcus Ware in the Redskins game for his lack of production on the final drive as the game was in the balance. In this Dolphins game, Ware was outstanding not only as a pressure player but in coverage as well.

One of the plays that I wanted to point out was when Ware carried Reggie Bush up the field in the red zone. We all know what an outstanding rusher Ware is, but in this play, you see what an aware football player he really is.

On the play, Ware is lined up as an inside linebacker in the middle of the defense. At the snap, Lee is trying to cover Bush by banging him at the line. Lee loses contact with Bush as he escapes through the middle of the defense. Ware sees that Bush is clear of Lee and adjusts to play him in coverage. Moore sees Bush clear Lee but has to try to float the ball over Ware, who is in outstanding shape on Bush. Moore would have to make a perfect throw to get the ball to Bush with Ware on coverage and he is unable to do that.

It was a nice, heads-up play by Ware that saved a touchdown.

Cowboys' Spencer stellar on goal-line stand

Anthony Spencer also played one of his better games of the season. Spencer was all over the field, whether it was in the running game, pressuring Moore or in coverage.

One of the key series of the game was in the fourth quarter when the Dolphins managed to get the ball to the Cowboys’ 3. Spencer played a key role in holding the Dolphins to a field goal.

On first-and-goal, the Dolphins try to run the ball on the edge, but Ryan slants his defensive line inside toward the center and Spencer is able to shoot the gap and make a tackle for a loss of two yards.

On second-and-goal, Moore tries a play-action pass. Spencer is now outside of tackle Marc Colombo and takes a sharp angle down inside off the edge. Colombo tries to work down then back to the outside but is too late to take care of Spencer, who is now in the path of Moore’s arm and is able to slap the ball out of his hand for an incomplete.

On third-and-goal, Ryan decides that he wants to bring two rushers from the same side. Ware and Spencer both are lined up together off the Dolphins’ right side. At the snap, Newman gets beat inside by Brian Hartline. Spencer rushes hard inside against Colombo again. Moore has to flush to his right to avoid the rush, and Elam turns in the middle of the field as he sees Newman struggling with Hartline in the back of the end zone. Elam is able to keep himself between Moore and Hartline. Moore, throwing the ball on the move, throws it too high and to the right of Hartline with Elam in position. Elam defends the pass, and instead of coming away with six points, the Dolphins have to settle for three.

The entire Dolphins drive was affected by Spencer, who at times shows the ability to make those types of plays.

IRVING, Texas -- For almost six years, DeMarcus Ware practiced against Marc Colombo. On Thursday, the Cowboys’ outside linebacker gets to go against Colombo, Miami’s right tackle, for the first time in a game.

“It’s going to be a little more intense than in practice,” Ware said. “In practice you know when to lay off and when not to lay off. Now you’re in a full game and it’s your job. You have to do what you have to do to be effective. It’s going to be a lot different going against him. He’s going to be a little bit of a mauler type guy. I’ve seen him on tape. He’ll throw a guy down, lay on a guy. I know what type of guy he is.”

Ware said the work against Colombo in practice helped him through the years because Colombo did not give up on a play.

“He’s probably one of the craftiest players I know,” Ware said. “He’ll knock your hands down. He’ll cut you when he doesn’t have to jut to get you mad.”

The Cowboys decided to cut Colombo after the lockout. They never offered him a re-worked contract because they wanted to go with first-round pick Tyron Smith. He was quickly reunited with Tony Sparano in Miami.

“He’s going to be 110 percent more juiced for this game,” Ware said. “He knows me. He knows how I play and I know how he plays. It’s going to be one of those battles. We’re going to go at it, especially with [Anthony] Spencer on the other side and the other guys, Spears and Ratliff, who he used to play with. He’s going to try to leave an image in our minds that, ‘Hey, I’m a force to be reckoned with.’”

In the NFL, short weeks of game preparation are never easy. It’s even more difficult having to play a physical divisional game on the road before an opponent that you see once every four years.

There will be nothing easy about this game against the Dolphins. It’s a team that has quality players on both sides of the ball. We should not be fooled by the Dolphins’ 3-7 record, because in the games I have studied, this could have very well been a team on a five-game winning streak going into this game.

The Dolphins will give the Cowboys trouble in this game in two areas offensively, wide receiver and running back.

Be wary of Dolphins' Marshall, Bess, Bush, Clay

Wide receiver Brandon Marshall can be a physical beast when it comes to having to defend him up the field. He is not afraid of using his body to create separation with the defensive backs. Have seen Marshall get into his route, then take both of his hands and push the defensive back away. Marshall will use his body on the slant to protect the ball.

Matt Moore likes to try and get him the ball on the move whether that’s up the field or on the quick screen. Hard man to bring down when on the move with the ball in his hands. Primary target in the red zone on jump balls or back-shoulder throws. Terence Newman and Orlando Scandrick will have to be ready for an all-day physical game with Marshall on the outside.

Davone Bess will play the slot with quickness and the ability to adjust to the ball wherever it is thrown. Bess will need to be watched on third downs because he has a real feel for how to work inside routes and take advantage of coverage that might not be tight.

Running back Reggie Bush has proven that he can handle the workload as an every-down back. Bush makes this play-action game go for the Dolphins. Like the way that offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has taken advantage of his skill set with screens and plays on the edge in the passing game.

Bush can run the ball between the tackles, but he is most dangerous when he gets in space. The Cowboys defense has to be careful to not allow Bush to make to loose plays in space. Tackling on Bush will be key this week.

There is one other weapon I want to bring your attention to: fullback Charles Clay. We all understand now how important Tony Fiammetta is to the Cowboys running the ball. Clay is the same type of player, but he can really hurt you with his ability to get down the field and catch the ball. Clay is a converted tight end that is very athletic. He is a lot like Bess in that you don’t cover him, he will make a big play down the field.

Cowboys should target riight side of Dolphins O-line

On the offensive line, the Dolphins have some nice pieces in left tackle Jake Long and center Mike Pouncey. The weakness of this line is on the right side with tackle Marc Colombo and guard Vernon Carey. I fully expect Rob Ryan to try and put as much pressure on these two with anything scheme-wise that makes them have to move and adjust. Neither Colombo or Carey move that well, and the more you make them have to do that, the better the chance for successful pressure.

Don't sleep on Dolphins' defensive front, linebackers

I really came away impressed with what the Dolphins’ defense is doing scheme-wise and how physical the overall unit plays.

It really starts up front with guys like ends Randy Starks and Jared Odrick. These are powerful players and they are always working their way up the field, not only defeating single blocks. but handling double teams as well. Nose man Paul Soliai is difficult to move, much like what the Cowboys faced with the Jets and 49ers.

But the real strength of this defense is in its linebackers. Koa Misi, Carlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett and Cameron Wake are all outstanding. Misi and Wake are true pressure players. Misi is better against the run, but Wake will be a handful because of his ability to explode off the edge. Misi can get the edge too, but he will fight you more on the rush. Wake will slap, rip all while working his way up the field.

Wake will make Doug Free and Tyron Smith have to adjust on the move and reset their hands several times. They will need to find a way to anchor down on him.

On the inside, Dansby and Burnett will make plays in the running game. Last week against the Redskins, the Cowboys didn’t do a good enough job of handling the linebackers on the second level. If the line has the same kind of problems this week, running the ball will be difficult again.

The Dolphins linebackers run to the ball and they are sure tacklers. If the Cowboys struggle running the ball it will be because these linebackers are going unblocked.

In the games that I was able to study, the Dolphins’ front seven make their secondary better. Pressure has really helped this group make plays like they did last week against the Bills.

Safety Yeremiah Bell is a hitter. Cornerback Will Allen throws his body around. Cornerback Sean Smith is a much better cover man than tackler, and corner Nolan Carroll will force the run. There will be plays to be made against this secondary if -- and only if -- the Cowboys protection can hold up again Wake, Misi and the veteran Jason Taylor.

It’s a defense that has found its way since the loss to the Giants and coming off a short week will be a difficult test for the Cowboys.