MOBILE, Ala. -- Welcome to the Senior Bowl, where college and pro coaches are looking for jobs and scouting talent.
The Cowboys coaches are not here -- they're in Miami for the Pro Bowl -- but owner Jerry Jones and his scouts are, and they're looking at some of the best seniors in the country.
A small group of reporters talked to Jones about the Cowboys during an impromptu state-of-the union address.
Jones shared his thoughts on starting running back Marion Barber, who rushed for 932 yards on 214 regular season carries in 2009. Barber battled thigh, knee and thumb injuries last season. Since becoming the full-time starter in 2008, Barber has not finished a season without getting nicked up.
There's a hot rumor the Cowboys are shopping Barber, but I was told that's not true. But the Cowboys owe Barber a $4 million roster bonus this spring, and he's scheduled to make a base salary of $3.8 million.
Jones said money isn't a factor in determining whether Barber will be back in 2010.
"He had various nicks but not as bad at the end as the year before," Jones said. "I like where we are at the running back position. We still got him, and his injury is in the categories of nicks. But he was still able to get in there and help us at the end [of the year]. And we weren’t in that situation the year before, and that’s progress."