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Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones spoke to the team's season-ticket holders and sponsors via a conference call Wednesday.

Jones spoke for an hour and according to the voice of the Cowboys Brad Sham, there were nearly 1,000 questions though he didn't answer all of them.

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ESPN NFL expert John Clayton joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about Jerry Jones' conference call, the Cowboys' draft picks and much more. Listen

Here's some highlights:

On Valley Ranch being a country club atmosphere: "I don’t think that we do have a country club atmosphere around here. There’s too much competition. These players recognize how fortunate they are to be in the NFL, to have these opportunities. We’ve got as good or better leadership than my experience in 24 years with the Cowboys has seen."

On the safety position, whish has veteran Will Allen and young players in Matt Johnson, Barry Church, Danny McCray and draft pick J.J. Wilcox: "I think we’re in good shape at safety." Jones later added, "I don’t know when I’ve ever seen a player impress our staff without having played in a ballgame any more than Matt Johnson." Jones was asked about naming starters and didn't, instead praising each player.

Defensive end Anthony Spencer is signed for this season at $10.6 million, but he's been franchised the last two seasons. There is some concern if the Cowboys will lock Spencer up long-term: "We'd like to have him under a long-term agreement. He knows that."

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On his conference call, Jerry Jones talked about leadership. Nate Newton joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss the leadership experience he had with the Cowboys. Listen

On Tim Tebow, who was released by the New York Jets and why the Cowboys don't want a third-string quarterback: "We really feel good about Kyle Orton and that's where it all starts and stops right there. He will be used differently to some degree than we use (Tony) Romo, but he's capable of winning big games and we know how important that backup slot is, especially if it's temporary if you don't have Romo. We're pretty set at quarterback there. We wish Tim all the luck and the best in the world."

On the defense: "The defense should be the strength of our team arguably, the defensive line can be the strength of the team." Later Jones said, "Our defense will fit Monte Kiffin's scheme. It actually will be a simpler defense for this group to get. The adjustment from where we were in the 3-4 to the 4-3 will not be as significant as it might appear."

On the health of Jay Ratliff: We don't think Jay Ratliff is injury prone. He had possibly three different injuries last year. He is further down the road in his career than he was a few years ago. But we think of all that he's very sound physically and we think he'll flourish in this defensive scheme. He's a natural three technique."

On the draft board: Jones said the Cowboys had center Travis Frederick ranked ahead of LSU safety Eric Reid. The Cowboys moved down in the NFL draft, switching from No. 18 to No. 31 after a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. Frederick was projected as a second-day pick and said he was surprised the Cowboys grabbed him in the first round. Jones also indicated there were two to three safeties ranked ahead of Wilcox on the draft board. Wilcox was a third-round pick.

Jones on losing to the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium (The Cowboys open the 2013 season at Cowboys Stadium against the New York Giants. The Cowboys are 0-4 against the Giants at home): "It is a pain."

The Dallas Cowboys lost both games to the Washington Redskins in 2012, and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III let his fans know about it during an after party for the White House correspondence dinner that was attended by Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz on Saturday.

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Did Jerry Jones call out Tony Romo? Fitzsimmons & Durrett react to exclusive audio of Jones talking about the quarterback's increased role, who will be calling plays for the Cowboys and the Peyton Manning-like time he anticipates Romo putting in. Listen

"We made Cowboys Stadium our home," he told the crowd, according to Associated Press. "And that's what we want to continue to do. ... Rehab's going great. We're having a great draft right now, and I'm all in for Week 1 -- just like you guys are."

In the first meeting between the teams, Griffin threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-31 victory on Thanksgiving Day.

Griffin is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and played with a brace in the regular season finale against the Cowboys at FedEx Field.

During the rally Griffin ran in place and did some jumping jacks.

"I'm good. You guys saw me jumping. I mean, I can run a little bit," he said, running in place some more. "I'll be good. No worries. I'll take it slow, but at the same time, I'll be ready to go."

ESPN Dallas' Calvin Watkins and ESPN New York's Ohm Youngmisuk discuss what to expect from the Giants in the NFL draft.

Click here to listen.

Finally, after a delay and weeks of wondering, the NFL schedule will be released at 7 p.m. CT today.

Here's a primer for the Cowboys:

Who they play: The home games are against the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders. The road games are against the NFC East and Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.

Reunion games: The Cowboys will face former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, now in New Orleans. Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli takes on the Lions, whom he was the head coach for from 2006-08, at Ford Field and the Bears, where he was an assistant/defensive coordinator the last three seasons, at Soldier Field. Of course, Tony Romo faces his favorite team growing up, the Packers.

The strength of schedule: Cowboys' opponents had a .475 winning percentage last season. There are four teams on the schedule -- Washington, Green Bay, Minnesota and Denver -- who reached the postseason last year.

Who plays on Thanksgiving? The Cowboys have alternated NFC-AFC opponents on Thanksgiving Day, with the Redskins (NFC team) visiting Cowboys Stadium last season. Possible opponents this season could be Denver and Oakland. The Cowboys faced the Raiders on Thanksgiving in 2009, so the Broncos appear the favorite for 2013.

Late season schedule: The Cowboys posted a 3-2 mark in December last season and it still wasn't good enough to reach the postseason. The Cowboys were a combined 5-7 from 2009-11 in December. A late-season road game in New Orleans or Chicago could have playoff implications, if that's what the schedule reads.

Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett inked a four-year $20 million deal with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday afternoon. The Texas A&M alum has come a long way since his rookie year with the Cowboys.

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Calvin Watkins joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to talk about Martellus Bennett's progression since he left the Cowboys, the definition of a Tony Romo apologist and the Cowboys' salary cap situation. Listen

Bennett endured four difficult years in Dallas, especially at the start when he was chastised by then-tight ends coach John Garrett for making a joke with reporters regarding a former girlfriend of quarterback Tony Romo.

He was fined an undisclosed sum for making a rap song and a YouTube video that some deemed offensive.

Oh yeah, on the field, Bennett caught four touchdown passes his rookie year but didn't score the next three seasons.

Bennett voiced his frustration about his role in Dallas and when he became a free agent, signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants last season. He caught five touchdown passes and was targeted a career-high 90 times.

Now he's with the Bears and is considered an important part of their offense.

Wednesday, Bennett was asked about his time with the Cowboys and offered an interesting response.

"I think early in my career, it’s no secret that I struggled earlier in my career," Bennett said. "But it wasn’t because of my ability or being able to make plays. It was more attitude. I think I never accepted my role in Dallas and I always was fighting with what my role was instead of just accepting
it. I did kind of accept it because I became one of the better blocking tight ends in the NFL, which was my role there. It’s helped me out throughout my whole career. I was a blocking guy down there. Really it just added some perspective for me."

Bennett was the backup to Jason Witten, considered one of the best tight ends in the league. In New York, due to injuries, Bennett was needed to become No. 1 on the depth chart.

The Bears wanted the all-around Bennett, who not only is a good blocker but an excellent receiver.

"I didn’t want to be the second guy (in Dallas)," he said. "I never want to be second. I finally got a chance to be the No. 1 guy, and I was able to make huge strides in being able to play and make plays. I think this is the next step for us up and I’m excited about it."

In some ways Bennett was doomed to fail with the Cowboys for several reasons. The team didn't know how to use him on the field or talk with him away from it. Garrett made efforts, he attended a charity event of Bennett's during the lockout a few years ago.

But Bennett needed a fresh start somewhere to grow not only as a player but as a person.

MOBILE, Ala. -- Late Tuesday night, Monte Kiffin and Chip Kelly shared a beer and some conversation.

Before Kiffin, the Dallas Cowboys' newly-hired defensive coordinator, left for the night, he hugged Kelly, the new coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kiffin said he has a tremendous amount of respect for Kelly. But when the men were coaching in college, it was Kelly's Oregon's Ducks that rolled up 730 offensive yards in a 62-51 victory in November over Kiffin, then the defensive coordinator for USC.

With the Cowboys, Kiffin will now have to face Kelly's Eagles twice in the regular season. But that isn't his only challenge in the NFC East.

Kiffin has to deal with Eli Manning and the New York Giants, and how could we forget about Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins?

Were the moves the Cowboys made this offseason -- switching from a 3-4 scheme to a 4-3 -- specifically designed to stop division foes?

"Well, when you’ve been coaching as long as he has, he has experience in every area, without being trite," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "Really, we all know what he has spent years coaching against option-type football, and it’s just the nature of things when he coached at Nebraska, Arkansas and throughout. And I know obviously he’s dealt first-hand competitively when he was at Southern Cal with where Chip Kelly is."

At some point this offseason, Jason Garrett will lean back in his favorite chair, close his eyes and ponder what might have been.

There were 2,035 plays in the Cowboys’ 2012 season, but some are more memorable than others - and it doesn’t matter whether they went in the Cowboys’ favor or against America’s Team.

What if Dez Bryant's pinkie hadn’t come down out of bounds against the New York Giants in the final minute? Or what if a Washington safety hadn’t knocked the ball out of Bryant’s arms, breaking up an apparent touchdown, in the fourth quarter?

What if Eric Frampton had recovered New Orleans receiver Marques Colston's fumble instead of tight end Jimmy Graham?

That’s the story of the NFL every year.

A play here or there and the Cowboys would’ve made the playoffs. It’s the reason why Garrett is forever saying every play in every game matters.

“It allows you to argue your point to your players that it’s really really close each and every week in this league,” Garrett said. “The importance of getting all of the details right and making sure you’re on point can make a difference in this ball game and here’s why.

“All these things that happened to us this year where plays went against us. If that play had been different we would’ve won that game. Or, similarly, plays that went for us that helped us win ballgames. There were a number of those too. It’s the nature of the NFL.”

Without further ado, let's continue the countdown:

Dez Bryant's non-catch vs. Giants

Play: Tony Romo incompletion
Situation: Second-and-6 from New York Giants 37
Score: New York Giants, 29-24
Time: :16 left in fourth quarter

Taylor's Take: This was a harbinger of what Bryant was going to do in the second half of the season. Bryant used a double move to run past cornerback Corey Webster and he split safety Justin Tyron, who was later providing help. Bryant made a leaping catch between them, snagging the ball at its apex in the end zone. One problem: Replays showed Bryant's pinkie landed out of bounds when he braced for the fall, negating the catch and apparent game-winning touchdown.

Season Impact: This should have been the season’s defining play. Instead, it was another case of what might’ve been. If the Cowboys had completed their rally from a 23-0 first-half deficit, it would’ve pushed them over .500 and might’ve galvanized the Cowboys to greater heights. Still, it showed us what Bryant was capable of achieving. Three games later against Cleveland, Bryant turned in a 145-yard performance that started his great end-of-the-season run.

The Washington Redskins will host the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC wild-card game Sunday afternoon. At one point during the regular season, the Redskins were 3-6. But they won seven consecutive games, including five against the NFC East, to emerge as the champions of the division.

The New York Giants started the season 6-2, but a 3-5 finish cost them a first-place lead in the division. Big Blue is sitting at home watching the postseason.

The Philadelphia Eagles started the season 3-1 but lost eight straight. Eventually things fell apart, leading to the firing of coach Andy Reid.

The Dallas Cowboys had a 3-5 start, but despite a 5-3 finish, losing their final two games to New Orleans and Washington cost them a playoff berth.

One would believe the future looks bigger in Washington with a rookie quarterback, Robert Griffin III, and quite possibly some defensive talent returning from injury for the 2013 season.

The Giants have been a strong team, led by an elite quarterback, Eli Manning, that has proven to be mentally tougher than most teams in the NFC East.

The Eagles seemed to be rebuilding but as of today are without a head coach and have questions about who will be the quarterback in 2013.

The Cowboys?

Jason Garrett isn't going anywhere, and neither is the quarterback, Tony Romo. However, numerous injuries -- five to defensive starters -- and an inconsistent offensive line hurt the Cowboys in 2012. Is depth an issue going forward? If so, are the Cowboys losing the arms race against the rest of the NFC East?

"It's a competitive division, the NFC East has been a competitive division for a long, long time, and we understand that," Garrett said after the loss to the Redskins to close the season. "But we have to focus on ourselves. It's about us. (The loss to Washington) was about us. It wasn't about the Washington Redskins. We didn't (do) what was necessary to win that ballgame. We have to live with that and we have learn from it and go forward."

ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the third time in five seasons, the Cowboys will face a winner-take-all season-finale.

Thanks to the New York Giants' 33-14 loss to Baltimore, the Cowboys can make the playoffs by beating Washington next week to win the NFC East.

How?

Even if the Giants win next week to finish 9-7, the Cowboys would have a better division record to gain the tiebreaker on New York.

They would gain the tiebreaker on the Redskins based on common opponents with the difference being the Cowboys' 19-14 win at Carolina on Oct. 21. The Redskins lost to the Panthers, 21-13.

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Jerry Jones talks about the Cowboys' loss to the Saints and not getting the call go their way in overtime. Listen

The Cowboys and Redskins have eight non-division common opponents: New Orleans, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Carolina, Baltimore and Cleveland. The Redskins beat the Saints, Buccaneers, Ravens and Browns. The Cowboys beat the Bengals, Buccaneers, Steelers, Panthers and Browns.

Conference record is the fourth tiebreaker after head to head, division record and common opponents.

In 2008, the Cowboys needed to beat Philadelphia to make the wild card and lost. Last year, Dallas faced the Giants for the division and lost.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- From a technical standpoint, there is a three-way tie for first place in the NFC East between New York, Washington and Dallas.

Based on tie-breakers Washington is in first, Dallas in second and New York is third.

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett doesn't care. He knew the Giants lost in Atlanta on Sunday prior to the Cowboys' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he maintained his focus.

"A tie in the division after 14 games means nothing," Garrett said. "We have the New Orleans Saints coming here next week. What we have to do is get better and learn from this ballgame."

Garrett is consistent in his thought process with his team: Focus on your job at hand and the opponent coming up. Garrett said he doesn't break the season down in parts, just in individual games. If you win the game in front of you, it doesn't matter what happened last week or what your opponent did, just win the next game.

"We're not concerned about the standings," he said. "Focused on the task at hand. The players hear me say this halfway through the talk (and) they start rolling their eyes. You focus on us and on the task at hand. We have to look at this game and say, 'How can we get better?' That's what we have to do, that's the first thing. Then focus at the task at hand as the New Orleans Saints come here next week."

ARLINGTON, Texas – As Jason Witten answered questions from elementary school students on Tuesday, he kept waiting to be asked about the Cowboys’ chances of making the playoffs.

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The Cowboys’ postseason hopes were helped to a degree on Monday by Washington’s win against the New York Giants, leaving them a game behind New York in the NFC East race. At 6-6 like the Cowboys, the Redskins are in second place by virtue of their Thanksgiving Day win but the teams will meet in the Dec. 30 regular-season finale.

But it wasn’t like Witten was signing, "Hail to the Redskins," either.

“If we don’t take care of our stuff then none of that matters,” Witten said. “I mean if you’re in the last game and you need to this, this and this to go right I can see you cheering for (other teams), but the best thing we can do is take care of ourselves and start playing our best football this time of year and build on that win there last week.”

Witten visited Swift Elementary School in Arlington on Tuesday to present a $10,000 grant to the school as part of the NFL’s Play 60 campaign. X Box Kinect matched the grant and AT&T will hand out another $10,000 to an Arlington school later.

“It’s always good to do it after a win, that’s for sure,” said Witten, who led students in exercises after an assembly. “The message is about so many different things, about encouraging them to go out and play is the biggest thing. We were all there at one time and had dreams and goals to achieve. They’re no different.”

With the New York Giants holding a slim one-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck breaks down the NFC East race and picks a winner.

After the Sunday games, the Cowboys find themselves two games back of the NFC East leading New York Giants with five games to play in the regular season.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said it would be difficult to reach the postseason as a wild-card team. And with the Giants' 38-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, winning the division became a whole lot more difficult.

But there is some good news. Minnesota (6-5) Seattle (6-5), New Orleans (5-6) and Tampa Bay (6-5), teams competing for one of two wild-card spots, all lost Sunday.

The Cowboys will try to get back on the winning track when they play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night. But the Cowboys have lost their last eight Sunday night games, including a loss earlier this season to the Falcons.

The Giants are back in control of the NFC East, so a division title looks like a long shot for the Cowboys. A wild-card berth is still a possibility, but even that seems remote at the moment.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cowboys coach Jason Garrett didn't want to speak about the playoffs after his team's 38-31 loss to the Washington Redskins on Thursday.

Quarterback Tony Romo didn't want to talk about that, either.

But owner Jerry Jones said hopes for a wild-card spot appear to be over, and the best way this 5-6 team can reach the postseason is by winning the NFC East.

"We've got to play (Washington) again,” Jones said. “Our chance is to have better numbers in the NFC East just from what I’m seeing. It’s going to be hard for us to get there from the wild-card spot."

The New York Giants are 6-4 overall and own a game and half lead over the Redskins and Cowboys, who are tied for second place at 5-6. But the Cowboys split the season series with the Giants and don't play them again this season. The Redskins' next opponent is the Giants on Dec. 3.

The Giants face the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.

"All I can do is sit here and look at the numbers," Jones said. "I can't enthusiastically say that our odds, because I don't know what New York is going to do, but it looks to me like our best opportunity would be to try and end up with the best record in the NFC East, and I don't know what that's going to be."

It was interesting to hear Jones say the following: "I don't know if 8-8 can get it there or not, and I sure don't know if we're going to be 8-8."

To reach 10 victories, the Cowboys have to win out. To get to nine, the Cowboys must win four of their remaining five.

"I'm not trying to be negative, but we've got to play (Washington) again," Jones said. "With how impressed I am with how they played, we've got our hands full up there for that last ballgame."

That regular-season finale against the Redskins is in Landover, Md.

ARLINGTON -- The Cowboys enter their annual Thanksgiving Day game against their NFC East rivals, the Washington Redskins. Before you fill your belly check out our preview:

The series: The Cowboys lead the all-time series, 62-40-2, have won the last three games and six of the last seven. The 62 victories for the Cowboys are the most the franchise has against any other team. Of the 104 played games, 44 were decided by a touchdown or less and six were decided by one point.

Thanksgiving Day series: The Cowboys have hosted 44 of the 46 Thanksgiving Day games. Only twice, in 1975 and 1977, did the Cowboys not play on Thanksgiving Day. But since 1978, the Cowboys have hosted a game in Dallas. The Cowboys are 28-15-1 on the holiday and have have won five of their last six Thanksgiving games, with the only loss coming in 2010 against New Orleans. Dallas last played Washington on Thanksgiving Day in 2002 and won, 27-20.

RG3 does Cowboys Stadium: The only time Robert Griffin III has played in Cowboys Stadium was in 2011, his final season at Baylor. Griffin threw for one score and ran for two more in a 66-42 beatdown of Texas Tech. Griffin said Cowboys Stadium is a beautiful place and he expects the crowd to be loud but also noted he's coming this time as a professional. Despite having family and friends from Waco, Texas and from his hometown of Copperas Cove, Texas, in attendance, this is a business trip.

New starters for Cowboys: The Cowboys may have a new starting running back and left tackle today. Jermey Parnell could start at left tackle over Tyron Smith (ankle) and Lance Dunbar might get the call over Felix Jones (knee). Parnell and Dunbar will make their first NFL starts today. Smith and Jones are listed as questionable on the injury report and not having them puts the Cowboys at a major disadvantage. Also, Jay Ratliff (groin) might be replaced by Josh Brent at nose tackle.

A must-win game: Coach Jason Garrett says every game is big, each and every week. But this one is more than others because the Cowboys have a chance to get within a half game of the New York Giants for first place in the NFC East. The Giants are currently 6-4 and the Cowboys (5-5) have one of their biggest chances of the season to catch the defending champs. Should Dallas win, their record within the division would be 3-1, good for any potential tie-breaker purposes.