NFL Trade Rumors: Why the Dallas Cowboys Shouldn't Trade Tashard Choice

The Dallas Cowboys have had a number of different lead running backs since the departure of Emmitt Smith.

Troy Hambrick only lasted one year. Julius Jones saw majority of the carries for three years. Marion Barber got his shot for three years. And now the ball belongs to Felix Jones for the foreseeable future.

But that is troubling news in itself considering the former first-round pick is having issues staying healthy.

Jones was forced from the game against the New England Patriots on Sunday. Owner Jerry Jones has classified the injury as a high ankle sprain, according to Rotoworld.

That likely means multiple weeks on the sideline for Dallas' lead back.

A Yahoo! report also indicated that Jerry would consider trading change-of-pace back Tashard Choice, and that he received a few calls about his availability.

The Cowboys are one of the league's worst rushing units at 84.8 yards per game. But with Jones' latest injury, it would be foolish for the Cowboys to even consider a deal.

Choice does sit third on the depth chart behind rookie running back DeMarco Murray, but there is a reason the uber-productive Oklahoma Sooner rookie fell to the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Many scouting reports doubted Murray's ability to run the ball between the tackles and stay healthy in the NFL. He has great talent, but his narrow and upright running style was something many people harped on.

Dallas doesn't know exactly what they have in Murray. He's averaging only three yards per carry on the season (Choice is averaging 2.6), and the Cowboys as a team only average 3.4 yards per carry.

Neither Choice nor Murray's troubles carrying the football can be attributed to them alone. 

But at least with Choice on the roster, they know they have somebody familiar with what they do. Murray's primary strength entering the NFL was his ability to catch the football out of the backfield or in the slot; he has only four catches on five targets to Choice's 11 on 14.

Maybe Jerry Jones thought he'd find a suitable deal before knowing the severity of Felix Jones' injury, but any trade should now be out of the question.

Tashard Choice may be disappointing as of late, but Dallas will need him before the season is out. The Cowboys cannot afford to ship out Choice. If they do it will be a big mistake.