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By Tim MacMahon
ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones has good reason for fast-tracking his coaching search, which has apparently consisted of a walk down the hallway and a phone call to the South Beach branch of Valley Ranch.
"We've got a lot of work to do," Jones said. "We've got a lot of personnel decisions to make, and the quicker that I can get this head coaching decision resolved, the earlier that I can get on it."
Based on the results of this 6-10 season, Jerry and Co. can use all the help they can get in renovating the roster.
While Jones is busy officially crowning Jason Garrett, we'll get a head start on the roster renovation.
We divided the players who finished the season on the Cowboys' roster or injured reserve into three categories, based on whether they should be Cowboys in September.
We'll start with the players who should be brought back next season.
WR Miles Austin
A 1,041-yard season was considered a disappointment after he signed a six-year, $54 million contract.
NT Josh Brent
He was a find as a supplemental seventh-round pick and could play a much bigger role if Jay Ratliff moves to defensive end.
WR Dez Bryant
If he can just stay healthy and learn the offense, he'll be a superstar.
K David Buehler
Don't guarantee him the full-time kicking job. Just the role for which he was drafted: kickoff specialist. He'll have to earn anything more than that.
OLB Victor Butler
He needs to improve on special teams, but he's shown flashes during limited opportunities on defense.
RB Tashard Choice
He deserves a chance to be the No. 2 back. He'll be an upgrade over Marion Barber.
C Phil Costa
Scouts think he has a chance to develop into a starter. He's a brawler with brains.
LT Doug Free
Locking him up to a long-term contract needs to be the Cowboys' top post-lockout priority. Has proved he's a solid starter at either tackle spot.
OG Montrae Holland
He's not pretty, but you can plug him in if either guard goes down and not worry.
LB Bradie James
The defensive captain, who has led the Cowboys in tackles the last six seasons, will be especially motivated in the last season of his contract.
CB Mike Jenkins
He had a horrible season, but you can't give up on a recent first-round pick a year after he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.
RB Felix Jones
Maybe he's suited to just be a change-of-pace back, but let's see what he can do with an overhauled offensive line before making that determination.
QB Jon Kitna
He's great in the locker room, still pretty good on the field and embraces his role as Tony Romo's backup.
LS L.P. Ladouceur
You never hear his name, a sign that the deep snapper keeps doing his job well.
LB Sean Lee
The only question is whether he's durable enough to be a starter. But that's a big question.
P Mat McBriar
The awesome Aussie led NFL punters in gross (47.9) and net (42.3) average.
S Danny McCray
He has the potential to be a Bill Bates-caliber special teamer. He led the Cowboys with 28 special teams tackles as a rookie.
QB Stephen McGee
He has a lot of developing to do, but the fact he led two late go-ahead drives in two opportunities proves he merits an investment of more time.
DE Igor Olshansky
There is too much uncertainty at this position to part ways with Olshansky, although his most memorable moments were dancing while on the wrong end of a lopsided score.
FS Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
The Cowboys knew the Division II prospect was a project when they drafted him in the fourth round. They can't give up on him after one injury-shortened season.
TE John Phillips
He looked like a guy ready for an increased role before he tore his ACL during the preseason opener.
NT Jay Ratliff
He didn't make a tackle for a loss this season and seems to be wearing down due to dealing with consistent double-teams. A move to end makes sense.
QB Tony Romo
He gets ripped a lot, sometimes rightfully so, but do you know how many franchises would love to have a quarterback in his prime who owns a .639 career winning percentage?
CB Orlando Scandrick
His play dramatically improved the second half of the season, when the Cowboys used zone coverage much more often. He's a reliable nickel cornerback.
OLB Anthony Spencer
Like Jenkins, he's a recent first-round pick who has demonstrated the ability to be dominant but struggled this season. He needs to get back to late 2009 form.
OLB DeMarcus Ware
He's well on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
TE Jason Witten
It's tough for tight ends, but he's also making a strong case for enshrinement along with Ware in Canton.
OT Sam Young
It's a shame the Cowboys didn't give the sixth-round pick playing time as a rookie. Many in the organization think he has starter potential.
--
We continue with the players who are on the bubble:
S Alan Ball
He can't be the starting free safety again. But if he comes cheap, the Cowboys could re-sign him to be a versatile backup and special teams stalwart.
TE Martellus Bennett
Still hasn't lived up to his promise in the passing game, and the Cowboys could be willing to listen to trade offers.
DE Stephen Bowen
He's the top priority of the team's three free-agent defensive ends. He's a valuable interior rusher in nickel and dime packages.
LB Keith Brooking
This is the toughest decision on the roster. He's a phenomenal leader and still a solid linebacker. However, if the plan is to make Sean Lee the starter next season, it's probably best to let Brooking go. Backup linebackers have to cover punts and kicks, and that's a young man's job.
K Kris Brown
If he beats out David Buehler in training camp and the preseason, keep two kickers on the roster.
S Barry Church
He showed some promise in limited playing time as an undrafted rookie and is a good bet to be back next season. But the Cowboys need to invest a high pick in a safety, and Church could get caught up in a final-cut numbers game.
LB Kenwin Cummings
Bring him to training camp and let him compete.
RG Leonard Davis
Davis is a declining player who isn't worth his hefty salary. But let's wait until after the draft to determine whether Davis is expendable.
DE Clifton Geathers
Bring him to camp and let him compete. He at least looks the part at a chiseled 6-foot-7, 300 pounds.
C Andre Gurode
Ditto the Leonard Davis comment.
WR Jesse Holley
The ex-reality show star will never contribute at receiver, but he's a quality special teams player. He'll either be one of the last cuts or among the final men on the 53-man roster.
WR Sam Hurd
If the price is right, it'd be smart to keep the special teams captain, who is an adequate reserve receiver. But he'll look for more money and a bigger role in free agency.
WR Manuel Johnson
He's injury insurance at the receiver position, which is important to have with Dez Bryant on the roster.
LG Kyle Kosier
He's worth re-signing to a reasonably priced, short-term deal. He'll rightfully look for a better offer in free agency.
DE/NT Sean Lissemore
The Cowboys liked his athleticism and motor when they drafted him, but he basically redshirted his rookie year because of injuries. He needs to earn his job in camp and preseason.
CB Bryan McCann
He can't be trusted on punt returns. But he's a threat on kickoff returns, and his speed and smarts give him potential at cornerback.
RB Lonyae Miller
He should compete with a rookie, whether it's a mid- to late-round pick or an undrafted free agent, to be the third back.
CB Terence Newman
If the Cowboys draft a corner in the first two rounds, Newman becomes expendable after a rough season. The team can save $4 million in cap space by cutting him.
WR Kevin Ogletree
His speed and route-running ability give him potential to be a nice No. 3 receiver. He needs to rediscover the hunger he had as an undrafted rookie fighting for a roster spot.
OT Jermey Parnell
The 6-6, 290-pound Parnell played more basketball than football at Ole Miss and didn't move to the offensive line until getting to the NFL. His progress will be interesting to monitor.
TE Martin Rucker
If John Phillips gets healthy and Bennett doesn't get traded, it's hard to see how Rucker would fit on the roster.
S Andrew Sendejo
The Cowboys wouldn't have signed him from the UFL if they didn't see something, but Sendejo ranks behind Church, McCray and Owusu-Ansah in the team's pecking order of young safeties.
S Gerald Sensabaugh
The Cowboys won't give Sensabaugh the lucrative long-term deal he wants. But they might keep him as a stopgap strong safety if he doesn't get a decent deal elsewhere.
DE Marcus Spears
His situation is similar to Sensabaugh's. If he gets a good offer in free agency, he's gone. If not, the Cowboys will consider keeping him.
OLB Brandon Williams
He has a great first step. But he hasn't made many steps in his development from Texas Tech defensive end to Cowboys outside linebacker.
WR Teddy Williams
The Cowboys blocked the Dolphins from signing the ex-track star late in the season, but he's a project best suited for the practice squad.
--
We conclude with the players who should no longer be allowed to wear the star:
RB Marion Barber
The Cowboys can save $2.75 million in salary-cap space by cutting a nonproductive player who caused problems for the coach. It's a no-brainer.
OT Alex Barron
The joke in St. Louis after the Rams cut Bobby Carpenter was that they still got the best of that trade.
OT Marc Colombo
It's a testament to his toughness that he overcame a devastating knee injury to have a productive career in Dallas. But he's just not physically able to be a quality starter anymore. The upgrading of the offensive line starts at right tackle.
QB Chris Greisen
He was a one-week insurance policy.
FB Chris Gronkowski
The Cowboys need a fullback whose forte is blocking. Stanford's Owen Marecic would be a nice fit if he's available in the fifth round.
DE Jason Hatcher
He had plenty of opportunities to prove he could be more than a backup and never took advantage. There's no reason to re-sign him.
LB Leon Williams
The Cowboys thought he could play any linebacker position. The reality is he can't play any well.
WR Roy Williams
He'll never see eye-to-eye with Jason Garrett. It's worth taking a little bigger salary-cap hit to move on from a major mistake.
ESPNDallas.com
IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones has good reason for fast-tracking his coaching search, which has apparently consisted of a walk down the hallway and a phone call to the South Beach branch of Valley Ranch.
"We've got a lot of work to do," Jones said. "We've got a lot of personnel decisions to make, and the quicker that I can get this head coaching decision resolved, the earlier that I can get on it."
Based on the results of this 6-10 season, Jerry and Co. can use all the help they can get in renovating the roster.
While Jones is busy officially crowning Jason Garrett, we'll get a head start on the roster renovation.
We divided the players who finished the season on the Cowboys' roster or injured reserve into three categories, based on whether they should be Cowboys in September.
We'll start with the players who should be brought back next season.
WR Miles Austin
A 1,041-yard season was considered a disappointment after he signed a six-year, $54 million contract.
NT Josh Brent
He was a find as a supplemental seventh-round pick and could play a much bigger role if Jay Ratliff moves to defensive end.
WR Dez Bryant
If he can just stay healthy and learn the offense, he'll be a superstar.
K David Buehler
Don't guarantee him the full-time kicking job. Just the role for which he was drafted: kickoff specialist. He'll have to earn anything more than that.
OLB Victor Butler
He needs to improve on special teams, but he's shown flashes during limited opportunities on defense.
RB Tashard Choice
He deserves a chance to be the No. 2 back. He'll be an upgrade over Marion Barber.
C Phil Costa
Scouts think he has a chance to develop into a starter. He's a brawler with brains.
LT Doug Free
Locking him up to a long-term contract needs to be the Cowboys' top post-lockout priority. Has proved he's a solid starter at either tackle spot.
OG Montrae Holland
He's not pretty, but you can plug him in if either guard goes down and not worry.
LB Bradie James
The defensive captain, who has led the Cowboys in tackles the last six seasons, will be especially motivated in the last season of his contract.
CB Mike Jenkins
He had a horrible season, but you can't give up on a recent first-round pick a year after he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl.
RB Felix Jones
Maybe he's suited to just be a change-of-pace back, but let's see what he can do with an overhauled offensive line before making that determination.
QB Jon Kitna
He's great in the locker room, still pretty good on the field and embraces his role as Tony Romo's backup.
LS L.P. Ladouceur
You never hear his name, a sign that the deep snapper keeps doing his job well.
LB Sean Lee
The only question is whether he's durable enough to be a starter. But that's a big question.
P Mat McBriar
The awesome Aussie led NFL punters in gross (47.9) and net (42.3) average.
S Danny McCray
He has the potential to be a Bill Bates-caliber special teamer. He led the Cowboys with 28 special teams tackles as a rookie.
QB Stephen McGee
He has a lot of developing to do, but the fact he led two late go-ahead drives in two opportunities proves he merits an investment of more time.
DE Igor Olshansky
There is too much uncertainty at this position to part ways with Olshansky, although his most memorable moments were dancing while on the wrong end of a lopsided score.
FS Akwasi Owusu-Ansah
The Cowboys knew the Division II prospect was a project when they drafted him in the fourth round. They can't give up on him after one injury-shortened season.
TE John Phillips
He looked like a guy ready for an increased role before he tore his ACL during the preseason opener.
NT Jay Ratliff
He didn't make a tackle for a loss this season and seems to be wearing down due to dealing with consistent double-teams. A move to end makes sense.
QB Tony Romo
He gets ripped a lot, sometimes rightfully so, but do you know how many franchises would love to have a quarterback in his prime who owns a .639 career winning percentage?
CB Orlando Scandrick
His play dramatically improved the second half of the season, when the Cowboys used zone coverage much more often. He's a reliable nickel cornerback.
OLB Anthony Spencer
Like Jenkins, he's a recent first-round pick who has demonstrated the ability to be dominant but struggled this season. He needs to get back to late 2009 form.
OLB DeMarcus Ware
He's well on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
TE Jason Witten
It's tough for tight ends, but he's also making a strong case for enshrinement along with Ware in Canton.
OT Sam Young
It's a shame the Cowboys didn't give the sixth-round pick playing time as a rookie. Many in the organization think he has starter potential.
--
We continue with the players who are on the bubble:
S Alan Ball
He can't be the starting free safety again. But if he comes cheap, the Cowboys could re-sign him to be a versatile backup and special teams stalwart.
TE Martellus Bennett
Still hasn't lived up to his promise in the passing game, and the Cowboys could be willing to listen to trade offers.
DE Stephen Bowen
He's the top priority of the team's three free-agent defensive ends. He's a valuable interior rusher in nickel and dime packages.
LB Keith Brooking
This is the toughest decision on the roster. He's a phenomenal leader and still a solid linebacker. However, if the plan is to make Sean Lee the starter next season, it's probably best to let Brooking go. Backup linebackers have to cover punts and kicks, and that's a young man's job.
K Kris Brown
If he beats out David Buehler in training camp and the preseason, keep two kickers on the roster.
S Barry Church
He showed some promise in limited playing time as an undrafted rookie and is a good bet to be back next season. But the Cowboys need to invest a high pick in a safety, and Church could get caught up in a final-cut numbers game.
LB Kenwin Cummings
Bring him to training camp and let him compete.
RG Leonard Davis
Davis is a declining player who isn't worth his hefty salary. But let's wait until after the draft to determine whether Davis is expendable.
DE Clifton Geathers
Bring him to camp and let him compete. He at least looks the part at a chiseled 6-foot-7, 300 pounds.
C Andre Gurode
Ditto the Leonard Davis comment.
WR Jesse Holley
The ex-reality show star will never contribute at receiver, but he's a quality special teams player. He'll either be one of the last cuts or among the final men on the 53-man roster.
WR Sam Hurd
If the price is right, it'd be smart to keep the special teams captain, who is an adequate reserve receiver. But he'll look for more money and a bigger role in free agency.
WR Manuel Johnson
He's injury insurance at the receiver position, which is important to have with Dez Bryant on the roster.
LG Kyle Kosier
He's worth re-signing to a reasonably priced, short-term deal. He'll rightfully look for a better offer in free agency.
DE/NT Sean Lissemore
The Cowboys liked his athleticism and motor when they drafted him, but he basically redshirted his rookie year because of injuries. He needs to earn his job in camp and preseason.
CB Bryan McCann
He can't be trusted on punt returns. But he's a threat on kickoff returns, and his speed and smarts give him potential at cornerback.
RB Lonyae Miller
He should compete with a rookie, whether it's a mid- to late-round pick or an undrafted free agent, to be the third back.
CB Terence Newman
If the Cowboys draft a corner in the first two rounds, Newman becomes expendable after a rough season. The team can save $4 million in cap space by cutting him.
WR Kevin Ogletree
His speed and route-running ability give him potential to be a nice No. 3 receiver. He needs to rediscover the hunger he had as an undrafted rookie fighting for a roster spot.
OT Jermey Parnell
The 6-6, 290-pound Parnell played more basketball than football at Ole Miss and didn't move to the offensive line until getting to the NFL. His progress will be interesting to monitor.
TE Martin Rucker
If John Phillips gets healthy and Bennett doesn't get traded, it's hard to see how Rucker would fit on the roster.
S Andrew Sendejo
The Cowboys wouldn't have signed him from the UFL if they didn't see something, but Sendejo ranks behind Church, McCray and Owusu-Ansah in the team's pecking order of young safeties.
S Gerald Sensabaugh
The Cowboys won't give Sensabaugh the lucrative long-term deal he wants. But they might keep him as a stopgap strong safety if he doesn't get a decent deal elsewhere.
DE Marcus Spears
His situation is similar to Sensabaugh's. If he gets a good offer in free agency, he's gone. If not, the Cowboys will consider keeping him.
OLB Brandon Williams
He has a great first step. But he hasn't made many steps in his development from Texas Tech defensive end to Cowboys outside linebacker.
WR Teddy Williams
The Cowboys blocked the Dolphins from signing the ex-track star late in the season, but he's a project best suited for the practice squad.
--
We conclude with the players who should no longer be allowed to wear the star:
RB Marion Barber
The Cowboys can save $2.75 million in salary-cap space by cutting a nonproductive player who caused problems for the coach. It's a no-brainer.
OT Alex Barron
The joke in St. Louis after the Rams cut Bobby Carpenter was that they still got the best of that trade.
OT Marc Colombo
It's a testament to his toughness that he overcame a devastating knee injury to have a productive career in Dallas. But he's just not physically able to be a quality starter anymore. The upgrading of the offensive line starts at right tackle.
QB Chris Greisen
He was a one-week insurance policy.
FB Chris Gronkowski
The Cowboys need a fullback whose forte is blocking. Stanford's Owen Marecic would be a nice fit if he's available in the fifth round.
DE Jason Hatcher
He had plenty of opportunities to prove he could be more than a backup and never took advantage. There's no reason to re-sign him.
LB Leon Williams
The Cowboys thought he could play any linebacker position. The reality is he can't play any well.
WR Roy Williams
He'll never see eye-to-eye with Jason Garrett. It's worth taking a little bigger salary-cap hit to move on from a major mistake.
