Dallas Cowboys News & Notes: "The Tape Loves This Defense."

Jerry: Romo might be playing his best football ever - NFL.com
With his Cowboys riding a five-game win streak, Jerry Jones couldn't be more pleased with Tony Romo.

"I don't know that I can say that I've ever seen him play better," Jones told KRLD-FM on Friday, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "We've seen him certainly do what Romo does. That is instinctively make plays. We've seen him basically protect the ball, and I know for a fact that he's bought into his working and the coordination that he has to have with (play-caller Scott) Linehan."

Jones went on to say that Romo's last "three or four" starts "basically ratify" the quarterback's statement in training camp that his best seasons are ahead.

Tony Romo, Philip Rivers belong in best QB of past decade discussion | The MMQB
Keith Goldner of numberFire.com argues that both Rivers and Romo have been two of the most effective quarterbacks of the past decade, and they’re proving to be elite once again in 2014.

Dallas Cowboys defense leads team's surprise start | The MMQB
Head on over and read Peter King's take on the Cowboys defense, it'll be well worth your time. It includes some stats, a look at how the personnel has changed over the last two years, an assessment by Chiefs GM John Dorsey, and this take by Justin Durant (Marinelli calls Durant the best-kept secret in the NFL):

"We may not be the big household names," said linebacker Justin Durant, who meandered from Jacksonville to Detroit before finding a home in Dallas last year as a sideline-to-sideline linebacker. "But we play hard, I can tell you that. We fly to the ball. Every single guy on this defense embodies the tough, smart and fast guy that coach Marinelli wants in his players. They did a great job finding players who all play this way."

Breaking down Tony Romo’s scramble, game-changing pass against Seahawks - Seattle Post Intelligencer
As Cowboys fans, we've come to take Tony Romo's spin move almost for granted. Others are still baffled by it, and this article breaks down the footage film to find out exactly how Tony Romo confounded the entire Seattle defense on the third-down pass to Terrance Williams.

Head coach Pete Carroll and the Hawks’ defensive staff spent time drilling their team on Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo — and particularly his unique ability to escape pressure by spinning out of what seem like surefire sacks. But with Dallas trailing by three late in the game, Romo was able to use his trademark move to improvise a play that confounded Seattle’s best attempts to stop him, extending a drive that would culminate in the Cowboys’ decisive score.

Dallas Cowboys' Rolando McClain not worried about future - Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Not a lot happening on the contract front for McClain, but it doesn't seem like much of an issue either.

"We haven't talked about it and I'm not worried about it," McClain said of his future. "I'm getting ready for the Giants." "I'm just happy to be with the Dallas Cowboys," McClain said.

"I'm happy with our success so far. I'm having fun with my teammates. Having a good time, gelling together and playing some good ball right now."

Dallas Cowboys LB Rolando McClain says nagging groin injury ‘feels better’ | Rainer Sabin, DMN
Rolando McClain has a standard answer for any type of injury:

"It feels better than it did last week."

Fullback Clutts earning roster spot - Jean-Jacques Taylor, ESPN Dallas
Jason Garrett says Clutts has gotten better, and that having a fullback is a good way to run the football.

"The fullback position is always a big question," Garrett said. "How many snaps is he getting? But we believe in the value of the fullback in some of those two-back formations and personnel groups we’re going to be in. We saw at the end of the game the other day it’s not so much the quantity but the quality and the importance of the situation. Short yardage and goal line are some really important downs."

Dallas Cowboys have ‘a lot of confidence’ in Jermey Parnell at right tackle | Rainer Sabin, DMN
The Cowboys aren’t worried about Parnell’s ability to handle a full workload in Doug Free's absence.

"We have a lot of confidence in Jermey," offensive play-caller Scott Linehan said. "He’s played a lot of games and played well and had a really good preseason for us. We’re not changing anything that we do necessarily for him or anybody else."

Can Cowboys get McClain & Murray under contract tag Bryant? Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas
Archer addresses a twitter question about the Cowboys' cap situation.

Yes, they will have the chance to keep those guys and use the franchise tag on Dez Bryant. By the way, I believe, as of right now, the chances are better that Bryant plays next year on the franchise tag than on a new long-term contract. The Cowboys will have to spend wisely. Maybe I'm naive, but I think this team has learned from its mistakes of the past when dishing out huge contracts. They might have to go over budget a little bit to keep DeMarco Murray because of what he is doing, but I don't think they will break the budget. The same goes with Rolando McClain. The Cowboys have a lot of free agents like Bruce Carter, Justin Durant, Dwayne Harris, Doug Free, Anthony Spencer and others. They won't be able to keep everybody but I do believe they will be wiser with how they handle their cap.

DeMarcus Lawrence Impressing Since Return | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
Lawrence returned to practice this week for the first time since breaking his foot in camp, and Scott Crisp writes that Lawrence has looked good since in practice.

"Since he’s been off he has been in the weight room," said defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. "He looks great. He has filled out even more. He’s had a couple of days of practice. He has fresh legs now. But he really looks quick and explosive. Now he has a chance over the next couple of weeks to hone in on his skills, hopefully we will get him going."

Presenting the NFL’s Biggest Camera Hogs - Wall Street Journal
The WSJ tallies the number of times the TV broadcast cut to the head coach and quarterback to see who were the NFL’s biggest camera hogs.

Jerry Jones Assault Lawsuit Dismissed " CBS DFW
The money grab didn't work.