According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Felix Jones will begin this weekend's three-day mini-camp as the Dallas Cowboys' starting running back.
"One thing to note for this weekend's minicamps," Mortensen Tweeted, "Felix Jones moves into #1 RB slot for Cowboys."
The news signals the end of Marion Barber's two-year stint as the team's no. 1 back, which he won prior to the 2007 season. Indeed, while Barber may see a decreased role to some degree, there's little doubt he will remain integral to the Dallas rushing attack.
The team will not likely give Jones--a third-year player with a history of injury--more than he can handle, and Barber's contract makes him more or less immovable. Barber signed a seven-year, $45 million contract with the team in 2008, $19 million of which is guaranteed.
Jones will play 2010 under a five-year, $10.25 million rookie contract.
So, regardless of whether the team wanted to move Barber, it's unlikely that anything will get done at this point. Stephen Jones has said that the team is happy with its current, three-back platoon, and added that all three would be back in 2010. It appears that they will, indeed; but Jones's role has officially expanded, the result of his play-making ability in limited action.
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