Marion Barber is likely to have a "major" role on the Dallas Cowboys this season

Tom Orsborn
Express-News Staff Writer

OXNARD, Calif. — Bill Parcells says running back Marion Barber is likely to have a "major" role on the Dallas Cowboys this season.
With that in mind, the coach took action last week to keep Barber from making any major mistakes.
After Barber fumbled twice in practice, Parcells ordered him to carry a football with him at all times at training camp.
"Dinner, lunch, everywhere I go," Barber said. "He wants me thinking football 24-7."
Barber rushed for 538 yards and five touchdowns last season, numbers that are likely to increase with more playing time. Parcells says he wants the former Minnesota standout, as well as second-year player Tyson Thompson, to share more of the workload with Julius Jones.
"You want to get more than one runner ready each game," Parcells said. "I'd like to get three. If you look around the league, there aren't many teams any more that rely on just one back."
Parcells says it's important for teams that play in warm climates to have at least two solid backs.
But regardless, "if it's 95 degrees, I think it always helps the back to have someone who can take a load off because when you do that, you don't really have to pace yourself," Parcells said. "You can't afford (backs who pace themselves) nowadays in pro football. You need backs that can go. With the size of the backs and the contact they're taking, the overall stamina and endurance comes into play, and (having) more than one is a great benefit to any team."
Although Jones has been the lead runner the past two seasons, Parcells says he doesn't see much difference between Jones and Barber.
"I think they're pretty interchangeable," Parcells said. "With those two, I'm more inclined to change the runners, and I'm trying to get Tyson ready to be part of this mix as a change-up runner. That means Marion could be the third-down guy and something else."
That "something else" has yet to be defined, but this much is clear: Parcells likes Barber and has increased his practice time with the first-team.
"He's a pretty good all-purpose back," Parcells said. "I like the way he blocks and catches the ball. He's got good vision. And I'm really happy with his progress. If he stays healthy, there's no reason why he can't be a real good player."
Barber says he's ready for the extra work.
"It's good to have a lot of guys to count on," Barber said. "All of the running backs are cool. It's all about family. That's what is going to help us win."
Barber is the son of Marion Barber Jr., who played running back with the New York Jets from 1982-88.
"(The younger Barber) has been around the game and really understands it," Parcells said.
Ron Wolf, the former Green Bay Packers general manager who is in camp helping Parcells evaluate talent, told Parcells that Barber reminds him of former Jets back Freeman McNeil. Barber even wears the same number (24) McNeil had during a 12-year career that ended in 1992.
"McNeil was not a real fast guy, which is like Barber, but he still was a very prolific ball carrier in the NFL and a good player," Parcells said.
Barber can be of both of those, Parcells said, provided he stays healthy and doesn't fumble.
"He's going to have to carry that ball around for a while," Parcells joked.