NFL: Cowboys Running Back Marion Barber Probably Done in Dallas

Bizarre events continue to evolve around Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber.

The six-year veteran was detained by Los Angeles police following what apparently was a minor incident at a Beverly Hills hotel on Monday. Apparently, Barber was causing a disturbance of some kind and was placed in a cop car, but not arrested.

Okay.

Is this a big deal or not?

Based on the cascade of legal issues that seem to follow dozens and dozens of both former and current NFL players, the answer is no. However, given the recent history of Barber's performance and attitude as a Dallas Cowboy, perhaps it is.

Jerry Jones has walked the "country mile" with players of all kinds in his two decades as owner of the Cowboys. Whatever happened with Barber in Southern California was small potatoes, even compared to what Jones has dealt with on his roster alone.

But one has to wonder if this might serve as a tipping point for the Dallas organization concerning Barber as a member of the team.

It has already been widely speculated that Barber will not play his seventh season in Arlington, Texas. While his behavior might seem to start grating on some nerves, Barber's production and salary have to be the biggest concerns.

Barber signed a seven-year, $45 million dollar contract nearly three years ago to essentially take over the starting job at running back, despite the presence of rookies Felix Jones, a first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, and Tashard Choice.

It's funny how so many clamored for the departure of wide receiver Roy Williams amidst his perceived failure to live up to his contract extension signed the very same year. That is certainly a valid discussion, but few seem to have the same problem with Barber's amazingly high salary, combined with average (at best) production.

Understand, if you're not already aware, that Barber has never rushed for so many as 1,000 yards. His 975 yards rushing basically got him that gigantic contract, and no other season has topped that 2007 total. In 2010, he totaled a career-low 374 yards on the ground with only four touchdowns.

Barber was better his rookie year than in 2010, and he was clearly a third-down back behind then-starter Julius Jones.

Regardless of his attitude, and whether or not it's that big of a problem, you have to see that Barber is on the decline. He fits that description at football's most short-lived position.

He was fun to watch just a couple of seasons ago. The 2009 regular season is where one could see Barber had lost a step, and that clearly stayed visible in 2010. Is there much reason to think Barber will rebound in 2011?

Not really.

It's probably not fair to compare the career of Earl Campbell, a Hall-of-Fame running back who also won the Heisman Trophy in college, to that of Barber. We can probably safely suggest that Barber will not reach Campbell's total of 9,407 yards rushing and 74 touchdowns. But these two backs have something obvious in common.

Campbell and Barber both ran with a physical nature and ability most tailbacks do not possess. Campbell entered the NFL in 1978 and retired in 1986 just before the season began. That's eight seasons, and the main reasons he didn't go further were simple: too many carries and too many hits.

Having said that, Barber will never come close to Campbell's 2,187 carries, but he has taken the hits. Like Campbell, Barber does not have much in the way of elusiveness, and this means a lot of contact—low contact at that.

Can Barber still play in the NFL?

Of course he can.

But how about with an expected salary of $4.25 million in 2011?

Nope.

Barber was selected in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. The Cowboys would be lucky to get the same thing in return if he was traded prior to the 2011 regular season.