Cowboys will try to retain WR Austin without franchise tag

The Dallas Cowboys have a clear evaluation of wide receiver Miles Austin’s value after the 2009 season, so they have set their mind to retain the receiver although they could receiver first or third round picks if they accept trade offer from other teams for Austin.

"We’re just not going to have Miles Austin any place but with the Dallas Cowboys," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "We need him."

But the team needs to take fast action if they are determined to retain Austin, who is among the 200-plus restricted free agents that could become unrestricted if a new CBA is in place before March 5. According to Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones, the Cowboys will not designate Austin its franchise player as the team doesn’t plan to spend wildly on free agents if the NFL has no salary cap in 2010. Then what would they offer to keep Austin in his No. 19 Cowboys jersey? There has not been confirmed information.

Cowboys injured RB Barber and LB Ware will still play weekend

It seems that the Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber and linebacker DeMarcus Ware will not have much time to have their injuries heal up, as Coach Wade Phillips expect them to start Sunday’s home game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Barber has a fractured left thumb that he thought he just jammed while playing against the Kansas City Chiefs before the bye week. An X-ray revealed the break. Ware has a stress fracture in his left foot. But Phillips’ logic is like this: Barber is a right-handed player, so injured thumb on left hand will not affect his performance in game; and Ware played previous game well with the injuries, so he can play the next games as well with the injury still paining him.

I believe Phillips would not like to use injured players, but he just had little choice as there are too many injuries among the Cowboys. All 10 players on the latest injury list fully participated in practice Wednesday. Along with Barber and Ware, receiver Roy Williams, running back Felix Jones and safety Gerald Sensabaugh are all expected to wear back their Cowboys jerseys and play against the Falcons after they missed the Kansas City game.