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FALLING

1. Rob Ryan. The Dallas Cowboys' defensive coordinator was a hot name on the head-coaching rumor mill a couple of weeks ago. But lately, Ryan's defense hasn't been able to stop anyone. He seems to blitz when he shouldn't blitz, to not blitz when he should ... the kinds of things that happen when your coverage in the secondary is failing you. And it's failing Ryan big-time right now. Terence Newman has regressed throughout the season. Mike Jenkins looks like an injury waiting to happen. And the guys behind the starting corners aren't playing well at all. Of all the Cowboys' collapses this year, the one that might haunt them the most if they don't end up in the playoffs is blowing a 12-point lead in the final six minutes against the Giants on Sunday night.

2. New York Giants secondary: The Giants as a whole are rising, as they're back on top of the division by virtue of a tiebreaker and in spite of the four-game losing streak they just ended. But if you watched Sunday's game, you noticed the Cowboys weren't the only team in it that couldn't get a stop on the back end. Giants coach Tom Coughlin called his team's coverage issues a "grave concern," and the Giants need to get some things fixed in the secondary these next two weeks against Rex Grossman and Mark Sanchez before they see Tony Romo & Co. again in what could be a critical Week 17 rematch.

3. Santana Moss, Redskins receiver. Normally one of the Washington Redskins' most solid and reliable offensive performers, Moss cost his team a chance to send Sunday's game against the Patriots into overtime. An offensive pass interference penalty moved the Redskins back as they were driving for the tying touchdown, and Grossman's final throw of the game went off Moss' hands and into the arms of Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo for an interception that ended all hope. It hasn't been the greatest year for Moss, who missed games earlier in the season with a broken hand, but Sunday was a low point.

RISING

1. Eli Manning, Giants quarterback. He's been here before, but Manning just keeps on rising and rising and rising. His 400 passing yards in his latest comeback victory established a new single-season career high. He's over 4,000 yards for the third year in a row and one of four quarterbacks who are threatening to surpass Dan Marino's single-season NFL record of 5,084 yards. If Aaron Rodgers hadn't already locked up the award, Manning would be in the MVP race. He's led five game-winning touchdown drives this year for a team that has only seven wins. If the Giants' run game can look as good as it looked Sunday behind a resurgent Brandon Jacobs, the way Manning's playing could make them one of the best offenses in the league in the final month.

2. Felix Jones, Cowboys running back. Sadly for Cowboys rookie running back DeMarco Murray, his season is over because of a severe ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter of Sunday's loss. That means a lot more carries for Jones, who was the starter earlier this season before he got hurt and Murray took over. Jones looked fresh and spry and more than capable Sunday. The problem now is that they have practically nothing behind him, so the priority has to be keeping Jones from getting hurt. I imagine the Cowboys will throw the ball more over their final three games, but when they run, they'll ask Jones to do the running.

3. Philadelphia Eagles defense. They totally cooled off a red-hot Miami team Sunday, knocking quarterback Matt Moore out of the game and shutting down the Dolphins after an early Brandon Marshall touchdown. First-year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo is working new guys into new roles and expanding what the defense is capable of doing. It was the best the defense has looked all year and the way the Eagles had hoped they'd be able to play consistently this year. The talent is there, and if the scheme and focus issues are settled, it may be enough to carry the Eagles to a strong finish, even if it is too little too late.

Some thoughts on the Philadelphia' Eagles impressive 26-10 victory against the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday afternoon:

What it means: Well, I mean, I guess, technically you've got to say the Eagles are still alive. The victory moves them to 5-8 for the season, and if they can somehow find a way to play this well on defense the rest of the way and win their final three games, they could theoretically still win the NFC East at 8-8. It's a long shot, and it would require the Giants and the Cowboys to do a lot of losing. But this year in the NFC East, no one's very good. And as bad as the Eagles have been, you just can't put that little "x" next to them in the standings just yet.

Defensive clinic: It looked bad early for the defense, as Matt Moore beat Nnamdi Asomugha with a perfectly thrown 16-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall. But the Eagles' defense locked in after that. It got to Moore and eventually knocked him out of the game. Linebackers Casey Matthews and Brian Rolle made plays. Asante Samuel made a tackle and forced a fumble. It looked a lot like the way the Eagles had hoped they'd be able to play defense all season. And jeez, they went into the fourth quarter with a lead and never even looked as though they'd give it up. The defense had nine sacks, allowed 204 total yards, held the Dolphins to 3-for-15 on third downs and forced three turnovers.

Hoping it was rust, not ribs: Eagles quarterback Michael Vick played after missing three games with broken ribs, and he didn't look great. He hooked up with DeSean Jackson for a long touchdown, but ended the day 15-for-30 for 208 yards and an interception to go with the touchdown. It's possible he was rusty, and the Dolphins' defense has played very well lately, but if the ribs are still hurting Vick when he throws, you have to wonder what the Eagles will or even can do about that.

Weird day for Shady: Eagles running back LeSean McCoy entered the day ranked second in the league in rushing yards, but had just 38 yards on 27 carries against that tough Dolphins front. He did get two touchdowns to take him to 17 for the season (14 rushing, three receiving), but he wasn't his usual explosive self, and he lost ground to Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew in the race for the rushing title.

What's next: The Eagles have a tough home game Sunday against the New York Jets, who are 8-5 and making their own playoff push. New York's once-feared defense isn't quite what it used to be, and the Jets' lack of big-time pass-rushers could allow Vick a little bit more time to throw than he often gets, so it's not an impossible game. They'll just need to protect the ball, and they'll have a chance to outscore Mark Sanchez and the Jets' offense.

As you get ready for this afternoon's game against the Dolphins in Miami, here's one reason for Philadelphia Eagles fans to be feeling good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: Well, you get your quarterback back. After three games of Vince Young, Interception Machine (yeah, he even threw three in the game he won), Michael Vick returns from his broken ribs to see if he can't salvage something -- if only self-respect -- out of the final four games of the Eagles' season. There was some thought that wide receiver Jeremy Maclin would be back, too, but he was downgraded from probable to questionable on Saturday and now looks like a game-time decision with that hamstring injury. Regardless, the return of Vick will help the offense run better, might help get DeSean Jackson re-engaged and is the Eagles' best chance to win their last four games and give them even an outside chance at the playoffs.

Cause for concern: These are not September and October's Dolphins. Miami has won four of five since it's 0-7 start and has outscored opponents 139-54 over that stretch. The defense is playing inspired and getting to the quarterback. The offense is clicking as quarterback Matt Moore is getting the ball to Brandon Marshall and tight end Anthony Fasano and Reggie Bush is leading the run game. This may have looked like a pushover second-half game a few weeks back, but (a) so did Seattle and (b) these Dolphins are playing some of the best all-around football of any team in the league right now. The Eagles will have to play their absolute best -- something we've seen them do for a full game maybe twice all season.

Getting cold in the East as we arrive at December. What can we expect for this month? A spirited Cowboys-Giants race? A hot finish by the Eagles or Redskins to make things fun or interesting? A daily serving of links? I can only promise the last.

Dallas Cowboys

Gerald Sensabaugh says it's amazing to watch film and see how good Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is at getting open even when double-teamed. Fitzgerald will be the greatest challenge Sunday for a Cowboys defense that needs to shut down Arizona and get a win heading into the first Giants game. There's some talk in that Dallas Morning News story about how having already seen top wideouts Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall will help the Cowboys against Fitzgerald. No mention, though, that those two guys combined for 13 catches for 199 yards and three touchdowns in their games against the Cowboys. So I mention it. So there.

Despite early week optimism that wide receiver Miles Austin would return from his second hamstring injury of the year and play against the Cardinals, Austin missed practice again Wednesday and his status remains in doubt.

New York Giants

Former Giant Michael Strahan stopped by practice and spoke with the Giants' current defensive line, which hasn't been as good at sacking the quarterback lately as it usually is. This is a big deal here in the New York metropolitan area because it recalls a time last season when Strahan gave a pregame pep talk and the defense went out and sacked Jay Cutler nine times in the first half. Should this indeed be a similar situation, it would be well timed, as the Giants have the Packers coming to town this week. The Packers are currently on a 17-game winning streak that began with a 45-17 victory over the Giants last Dec. 26 in Green Bay and includes a Super Bowl victory, so they're pretty hot. Or maybe due for a loss? One or the other.

Dave D'Alessandro says the Giants have been asking too much of Eli Manning and that he can't do it all.

Philadelphia Eagles

Kevin Callahan says the only way things are going to be better for the Eagles in the final five games than they were in the first 11 is if they give running back LeSean McCoy the ball more. Why does it increasingly seem like the only people who don't believe this are the ones making the Eagles' game plans each week?

One of the things Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari are watching tonight in Seattle is DeSean Jackson, since whatever he does is going to be making headlines in the coming days, good or bad. We're at the point where Jackson is almost a bigger story than what's going on on the field for the Eagles, since everybody's looking ahead to next year and beyond and wondering what chance remains that he's a part of the team going forward.

Washington Redskins

Barry Cofield was a bit of a surprise signing for the Redskins back in the offseason -- a 4-3 defensive tackle signed to play the nose in Washington's 3-4. But Cofield was game, and has played it fairly well, though he and the team acknowledge that he's still learning it and should expect to eventually be better at it than he is now.

It seems as though safety LaRon Landry's groin injury is worse than the Redskins initially thought it was. Landry missed practice Wednesday, and his injury-plagued season continues.

A couple of Thanksgiving night thoughts now that I've had a chance to digest the Dallas Cowboys' 20-19 victory over the Miami Dolphins, among other things:

This is the Romo you read about: How many times have you been told that you have to deal with the bad Tony Romo because of how good the good one is? Well, I'm sure lots of Cowboys fans were rolling their eyes about the two first-quarter interceptions. But there was Romo at the end, dancing away from pressure and finding Jason Witten on that big 23-yard gain, finding DeMarco Murray for a big completion while getting drilled and expertly moving his team into field goal range without poor decisions or unnecessary risks. Romo made the plays he needed to make to win the game, and that's what we're supposed to use to judge quarterbacks, right? Wins?

Running tough: Murray has found the going tough the past two games, playing without fullback Tony Fiammetta and against defenses that are strong up front. But for the second week in a row, Murray was in there grinding out the tough, between-the-tackles yards the team needs him to be able to get if the offense is to work as well as it can. He had 87 yards on 22 carries, which is good, hard running back work, and it's got to encourage the Cowboys and their fans that their rookie running back is tough and willing enough to handle it.

Defense a mixed bag: The Cowboys were tough up front, cutting off the Dolphins' run game between the tackles. But Terence Newman needed to basically commit pass interference on every play in his effort to stop Brandon Marshall. Marshall's touchdown catch was completely amazing for the fact that Newman was strangling him with two arms while yanking him to the ground. With Mike Jenkins out, the Dallas secondary suffers, and opponents know they can take shots down the field. The good news is that there are few receivers in the league with Marshall's size and physicality. The bad news is that the Cowboys' next game is against Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals. They need to sort out some coverage issues.

Automatic Dan: Could any Cowboys fan have imagined how good you feel about Dan Bailey with the game on the line? That was the rookie place-kicker's fourth game-winning field goal this year in the final two minutes or overtime. And while it was only a 28-yarder, as soon as they were in field goal range all you were thinking as a Cowboys fan was, "Just don't turn it over." You knew Bailey would make the kick. And what a feeling that's got to be for the Cowboys. They're relying on rookies at kicker and running back, and the rookies are among the most reliable players on their roster.

Loving Laurent: For most of the game, I was wondering if Romo had forgotten there were other people to whom he could throw the ball besides Laurent Robinson. But when the Cowboys get near the end zone, Romo doesn't feel the need to go anywhere else. ESPN Stats & Information reports that Robinson has been targeted in the end zone five times this year and has caught all five of them. I imagine Dez Bryant will still get his in the coming weeks, and Romo did remember his old friend Witten on that final drive when he needed him. But Robinson has earned Romo's trust in key spots very quickly.

In Summary: You may have wanted them to crush the Dolphins, and you may well be able to argue that they should. But this is a different Miami team than the one that began the season 0-7. Its defensive line is fearsome, and Romo will wake Friday morning with the aches and bruises to prove it. Matt Moore is playing very well at quarterback. Miami came in as one of the hottest teams in the league, and while a victory over a team that's now 3-8 doesn't stand out as one of the sparkling achievements of their season, the Cowboys can feel good, for the second week in a row, about a win that didn't come easily but came nonetheless.

As you get ready for this afternoon's Thanksgiving Day home game against the Miami Dolphins, here's one reason for Dallas Cowboys fans to feel good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: The Dolphins' defense is tough up front, but they're not as tough in the secondary, and with Dez Bryant, Laurent Robinson and Jason Witten, the Cowboys and Tony Romo have enough downfield passing game targets to overmatch the Dolphins on the back end. They'll try to run it with DeMarco Murray, but even if that doesn't work and they find themselves having to outscore the Dolphins through the air, the Cowboys should be able to pull it off.

Cause for concern: The Dolphins' passing game has been better lately, with Matt Moore getting comfortable at quarterback and looking often for big, physical No. 1 wide receiver Brandon Marshall. With cornerback Mike Jenkins out and safety Gerald Sensabaugh a game-time decision due to injury, the Cowboys could have trouble finding ways to contain Marshall. If he's able to get open, he could beat the Cowboys with some big plays.

Busy day for injury news in the NFC East, with the most recent and surprising being the announcement by the New York Giants that starting left tackle Will Beatty will have surgery Thursday to repair a detached retina in his right eye. There's no timetable yet for Beatty's return from the surgery. Presumably, he'll need some time to get his vision all the way back, and doctors will have to assure him that he's not putting his eye in unusual danger before they clear him to play again.

What the Giants will do in Beatty's absence they have not yet said. They play Monday, so their normal practice schedule this week is pushed back a day and they didn't practice or speak with the media as they would on a normal Wednesday. Coach Tom Coughlin held conference calls with members of the New York and New Orleans media, but those took place before the Beatty news broke, so he didn't address it. They could either just replace Beatty with backup tackle Stacy Andrews or move left guard David Diehl back to left tackle and play Kevin Boothe at left guard. Neither is an appealing option for an offensive line that's already struggling.

In other Giants injury news, Coughlin told Saints reporters that running back Ahmad Bradshaw's broken foot was feeling better. Coughlin said that he didn't know if Bradshaw would practice Thursday but that he expected the Giants to be "in pretty good shape" at running back. No idea what that means about Bradshaw for this week. And there's no update on the status of the hamstring injury that kept linebacker Michael Boley out of Sunday's game.

Washington Redskins

Good news, finally, on the injury front for the Redskins. Top wide receiver Santana Moss, who broke his hand in Week 7's loss to Carolina and has missed four games, is expected to play Sunday. The Redskins missed Moss not just as a receiver but also as a blocker as their offense struggled badly for about a month before Sunday's game against Dallas. Quarterback Rex Grossman will be happy to have him back. It also sounds as though safety LaRon Landry expects to play Sunday and left tackle Trent Williams, who injured his knee Sunday, was announced as a "limited" participant in Wednesday's practice.

Dallas Cowboys

Nothing really new or particularly happy to report on the Cowboys' injury front. Receiver Miles Austin, fullback Tony Fiammetta, cornerback Mike Jenkins and backup quarterback Jon Kitna have all been ruled out of Thursday's game against the Dolphins. (The Kitna injury is one reason, certainly, that the Cowboys put in a waiver claim on quarterback Kyle Orton on Wednesday when he was claimed by the Chiefs. The other reason was likely to keep him away from the Bears -- a team with which the Cowboys may end up competing for a playoff spot.) Safety Gerald Sensabaugh and running back Felix Jones are questionable due to their injuries. The Dallas secondary struggled without Jenkins last week, and losing Sensabaugh would make life difficult against Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall.

Philadelphia Eagles

No practice for quarterback Michael Vick, as Vince Young took all of the first-team reps again and looks likely to make his second straight start Sunday against the Patriots. Andy Reid said in his news conference that Vick had done a little bit of throwing and wouldn't yet rule him out, but that he still feels pain in the area of his broken ribs. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson missed practice with a foot injury, and his status for Sunday is unknown. And wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was a limited practice participant. He's apparently got a Grade 2 shoulder separation and says whether he can play Sunday will come down to how much pain he's in. Not sure on shoulder separations, but I'm betting the pain that comes with them is pretty significant. Maclin also has a hamstring injury that continues to cause him problems. So whoever starts at quarterback for the Eagles on Sunday could be throwing a lot of passes to Riley Cooper and Jason Avant.

The Dallas Cowboys will host the Miami Dolphins in their annual Thanksgiving Day game on Thursday afternoon. Each team comes in having won three games in a row. The Cowboys edged the division-rival Redskins in overtime on Sunday to claim a share of first place in the NFC East. And the Dolphins have really turned it on after their 0-7 start, outscoring their last three opponents by a combined score of 86-20. Here's a look at some of the things to watch for as the Cowboys try to make it four in a row against one of the hottest teams in the league:

Air it out: The Dolphins' defense is allowing 251.1 passing yards per game this year, which is the eighth-highest average in the league. Now, during their current three-game winning streak, they're only allowing 206 passing yards per game. Their defense is playing better, especially up front. But they can still be exploited in the secondary, and none of the teams they've beaten -- Kansas City, Washington or Buffalo -- came equipped with the kind of downfield weapons the Cowboys and Tony Romo have at their disposal. While the Cowboys have shown, since rookie DeMarco Murray took over as the starting running back, a commitment to the run, I'd look for them to take some deep shots against a weak part of this Miami defense and see if they can build an early lead.

Make Matt Moore uncomfortable: The Dolphins' quarterback has played very well in recent weeks, throwing six touchdown passes and one interception during the win streak. Miami has managed to get big production out of running back Reggie Bush to take some pressure off of Moore, and he's worked tight end Anthony Fasano into the receiving mix to complement the big, physical downfield presence of wide receiver Brandon Marshall. But Moore isn't likely to find the going so smooth if the Cowboys can get into the backfield and disrupt his timing. DeMarcus Ware should be moved around some in this game so he gets to attack the Marc Colombo side of the Dolphins' offensive line as well as the Jake Long side. It's on the Colombo side, Cowboys fans will not be surprised to learn, that they're most vulnerable.

The Fiammetta factor: With fullback Tony Fiammetta sidelined due to illness last week, Murray and the run game weren't as effective as they had been in the previous four games. That's not to say Murray wasn't good. His prior four games were a lot to live up to. But with Fiammetta out, there was a clear difference in Murray's effectiveness when running between the tackles. It looks as though Fiammetta will sit out again, so watch the Dolphins stack up eight-man fronts to try and take away Murray or at least dare him to try and run inside.

Is Sean Lee all the way back?: The Cowboys were the best defense in the league against the run in the early part of this season. Then, starting with the injury to middle linebacker Lee in the loss to the Eagles, they struggled against the run for a few weeks. Was their improvement in this department Sunday because the Redskins' run game is so poor, or because Lee is getting more comfortable playing in spite of his injured wrist? The Dolphins, with Bush and rookie Daniel Thomas leading their run game, will offer a more reliable test.

Home for the holiday: Romo is 4-0 in his career on Thanksgiving Day. He missed last year's game due to injury, but he and the Cowboys are thought to have an advantage here because they play a Thanksgiving game every year and are experienced in how to handle the short week. They're also at home, and playing with extreme confidence. While they can't take the suddenly red-hot Dolphins lightly, they have what they need to establish themselves as the better team early and control the game.

Predictions come out on Fridays, but we have a Thursday game this week, so click on the video to see and hear my prediction for the Cowboys-Dolphins game on Thanksgiving Day. And tune back in Friday for the rest of the week's NFC East picks.

Last week: 1-1

Season to date: 15-18

As you get ready for this afternoon's game against the Dolphins in Miami, here's one reason for Washington Redskins fans to feel good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: Rex Grossman is back! What? That doesn't fire you up? It looks as though Grossman will get the start over John Beck at quarterback, and quite honestly there's reason to believe things will improve for the Redskins on offense. Not that they're going to turn into the Packers overnight, but in spite of his turnover tendencies, Grossman is obviously more comfortable running the offense than Beck. And the whole offense has to get back in sync. The Redskins have run the ball 26 times and thrown 80 passes over their past two games, and that's an awful ratio for a team whose hot start was built on the run game. Maybe with a less jittery quarterback under center, the offense will be able to relax and find better balance.

Cause for concern: The Redskins are banged up at safety, with O.J. Atogwe and LaRon Landry having missed practice this past week because of injuries. And the Dolphins are a team that can beat you deep if strong-armed Matt Moore can find huge wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Moore looked a lot better last week working tight end Anthony Fasano into the offense, and there's a chance Miami could put together a credible passing game against a Redskins team whose corners had better play tight.

As you get ready for the New York Giants' home game against the Miami Dolphins this afternoon, here's one reason for Giants fans to be feeling good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: Well, lots of reasons to feel good. The Dolphins have yet to win a game this season, and a lot of people think they might be trying to lose on purpose so they can get the No. 1 pick in the draft. I don't buy that the players are trying to lose, but they have played very poorly and are already on their backup quarterback in Matt Moore. Even their potential strengths don't match up well with the Giants. If rookie running back Daniel Thomas were healthy, they could maybe get a run game going against a Giants defense that doesn't stop the run well, but Thomas' hamstring will keep him out of this game. Top receiver Brandon Marshall is a mismatch for most cornerbacks, but the Giants' Corey Webster and Aaron Ross have the size and the speed to cover him. Basically, it's hard to see too many ways that the Dolphins might be able to win the game.

Cause for concern: I guess a winless team can be a desperate team, and the Dolphins really do have nothing to lose. They have the kinds of players, in Marshall and Reggie Bush, who can beat you with a big play, and if they hit a couple of those they could theoretically put the Giants on their heels and control the game. The Giants showed a few weeks back in a home loss to the Seahawks that they're not immune to a "trap" game in which they play down to their opponent. I don't see it happening here, but anything is possible.

New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese has been consistent in his answers regarding imprisoned wide receiver Plaxico Burress. He's never ruled out a reunion with the former Super Bowl hero. But in Saturday's edition of the Daily News, Ralph Vacchiano argued that Burress' return to the Giants would make little, if any, sense.

For starters, he thinks Burress' presence could be a progress stopper for young players such as Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks. But Ralph also thinks the constant questions about Burress' past could undermine the season.

"Someone familiar with Burress' thinking believes he prefers to avoid New York, to play in a warmer climate, and that his preference is to live near his offseason home in Miami," writes Vacchiano. "The person also says Burress knows he'd be better off far from the clutches of the New York media that remember every sordid detail of his Giants career. His past, were he to play elsewhere, is a short story. In New York, it would become a season-long theme."

Not sure you need a source to tell you that playing in another locale might provide for an easier transition. And I'd be surprised if a team such as the Dolphins made a play for Burress. They already have the mercurial Brandon Marshall on their roster. I assume that Burress would come back with a new attitude, but it's hard to forget his history of fines while playing for the Giants. He was not necessarily a bad teammate, but he was extremely immature about how he approached things off the field.

I think several Giants players still have a great deal of affection for Burress, but my guess is that, privately, most of them would agree that he'd be better off on someone else's roster.

Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout who operates the well-respected Move the Sticks Web site, offered this analysis of the Brandon Marshall trade via Twitter:

Big winner in the Marshall trade is the Lions...further evidence that the Cowboys gave up WAY too much for Roy Williams

You'll get no argument from me. Denver is being congratulated for extracting a pair of second-round draft choices from Miami for Marshall, and deservedly so. (Just three days ago, Pittsburgh settled for a fifth-round pick from the New York Jets for receiver Santonio Holmes.)

Using one version of the trade value chart, NFC West colleague Mike Sando computed the Broncos' bounty into the rough equivalent of the No. 28 overall pick in a draft. In other words, the Broncos got the value of a low first-round pick for Marshall.

As you might recall, Detroit got better than franchise-player value for Williams in the 2008 trade that sent him to Dallas. The Lions wound up with a first-round pick (No. 20 overall), along with additional selections in the third, sixth and seventh rounds.

You would be hard pressed to find an objective reason why Williams was worth more than Marshall. The only thing I can think of is Marshall's precious status under the NFL's personal conduct policy; one more mistake and he could face an indefinite suspension. On the field, Marshall clearly has outdistanced Williams' pre-trade production.

Williams played in 60 games for the Lions before the trade. Coincidentally, Marshall played in 61 for Denver. Over those near-identical time periods, Marshall had 327 receptions to Williams' 262. That's a difference of nearly one full catch per game.

I don't think it was any secret before Wednesday, but now it's more clear than ever: Lions general manager Martin Mayhew absolutely fleeced the Cowboys on this deal.

I tuned into a Dallas-Fort Worth radio show ("Ben & Skin" on ESPN 103.3) this morning just in time to hear Ben Rogers campaigning for the Cowboys to trade for Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall. I'm sure Dallas could get it done for the No. 27 overall pick or perhaps second- and fourth-round choices.

And Rogers is not alone in his passion for bringing Marshall to Valley Ranch. ESPN's own Adam Schefter endorsed this deal in his weekly Insider mailbag:

Q: Why wouldn't the Dallas Cowboys make a move for Brandon Marshall? He's one of the top receivers in the game, and only 26 years old. If they don't believe in Roy Williams, which it doesn't look like they do, they need that No. 1 receiver next to the very dangerous Miles Austin. They would make the perfect receiver combination. -- Adam (Grand Haven, Mich.)

Schefter: Can't argue with you there, Adam. Marshall would be a great fit in Dallas. My hunch is that by trading so much for Williams, and paying him so much, the Cowboys are leery about doing it again for another wide receiver, especially when they know they have to pay Austin. So there's a lot there to digest. But there could be a huge payoff if the Cowboys decided Marshall were worth their first-round pick.

Beast: I respectfully and humbly disagree with my colleague, Adam Schefter. Should we forget about all the peace and harmony in the locker room that may have contributed to the Cowboys' first playoff win since the Clinton Administration? I fear that Marshall might spice things up a bit too much. And I'm sure Austin would feel right at home as he wonders how a guy who basically saved the Cowboys' season in '09 could be asked to play for less money than Williams and Marshall. There was a time when Jerry Jones would have jumped at the chance to land a young superstar wide receiver for a draft pick or two.

But whether he admits it or not, Jones has come to believe in the idea that locker room chemistry can be an important ingredient to a winning team. He's already made a huge blunder in trading for Williams. At this point, he should probably cut his losses and try to build on last season's success. Did the Colts and Saints make it to the Super Bowl because they had superstar wide receivers? I don't think so. Marques Colston and Reggie Wayne are certainly elite players, but they were also complemented by less heralded receivers. Even former Saints first-round pick Robert Meachem had dropped off the map before kick-starting his career in '09.

Jones tried to pair two "superstars" in '08 with Terrell Owens and Williams. Obviously, he decided that wasn't a good idea. So while a receiving corps that includes Austin and Marshall is certainly intriguing, it's not the best thing for the Cowboys.

Thanks to the boys at ESPNDallas.com for tipping me off to Schefter's take on Marshall.

Thanks for all your contributions to the mailbag. Things have been piling up over the last couple weeks, so let's dive right in:

Preston from N.C. writes: Hello Matt! I am a big fan of the blog although you never answer my questions. I have one that I need you to shed some light on for me. Question is how much would it cost to get rid of Roy Williams this offseason? In my opinion, Roy needs to go. I feel like we need to draft young o-linemen and start developing them while we still have people they can learn the ropes from. I think we need a safety behind Ken Hamlin to make him step his game up. Tell me what you think Mr. Mosley?

Mr. Mosley: Thanks for your patience, Preston. It's with deep regret that I announce Roy Williams is not going anywhere. Jerry Jones owes him a guaranteed $9.5 million next season, so he's not going to simply cut him loose. The owner finally bit the bullet and released T.O. to create a better situation for quarterback Tony Romo. Williams isn't a bad locker room guy despite some of the things you hear him say at times. I've had top personnel men in the league tell me that Williams is a good person and I tend to believe them. That said, it's pretty obvious that he's lost the trust of both Jason Garrett and Romo. He had some big drops this season and that caused Romo to stop looking in his direction. By the end of the season, he was a starter in name only.

Will his large contract keep him in the starting lineup? Well, Jones vowed that he would not compromise his team to serve his own ego. I don't think Williams was ever the same after he took a big hit to the ribs against the Broncos. That opened the door for Miles Austin to become a star in this league. He's the true No. 1 receiver at Valley Ranch. With Hamlin, I'd release him this spring and go with Alan Ball as the starter opposite Gerald Sensabaugh. Hamlin's performance tailed off dramatically once he received a lucrative contract. There are people at Valley Ranch who are ready to see him go. But again, it will be up to Jones. This whole uncapped year scenario puts a lot of things up in the air.

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Jennifer from Minneapolis sent this via fax: Mosley, you talked a lot of junk about the Vikings, how the Cowboys were so much better, and had all the matchups in their favor before the Vikings-Cowboys game. Those blogs you did with Kevin Seifert were borderline cocky. Why haven't we seen you say that you were dead wrong?

Mosley: Jennifer, I was dead wrong.

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Sean from Virginia Tech has a Redskins draft question: What do you think are the chances Washington trades down in the draft? I saw something about Brandon Marshall leaving Denver. Maybe the Redskins put together a package in which they trade first-round picks and acquire Marshall? Also, what are the chances Washington passes on Sam Bradford if he is on the board and take an O-lineman. That is what they really need.

Mosley: Sean, it's not as easy to move out of those top five picks as you might think. Teams don't want to pay those huge rookie signing bonuses if they don't have to. If Mike Shanahan decides that Jason Campbell's not his quarterback of the future, then I think it's likely that he stays at No. 4 and tries to take Sam Bradford. I like the offensive tackle out of Oklahoma State, Russell Okung, but I'm not sure Shanahan will be able to help himself from taking Bradford. This is a big kid with an amazing accuracy. I watched him play in person at least six or seven times in college and he can make every throw. Plus, I'd love to see Campbell get a fresh start somewhere else. But I understand your logic, Sean. The Redskins have neglected the offensive line in the draft for years -- and they've paid for it. If you want to turn this thing around quickly, you desperately need more stability up front. Oh, and Marshall's the last guy this franchise needs.


OK, this is the first of many, many mailbags throughout the offseason. We'll talk soon.