Should Dallas Cowboys Target Tiki Barber as DeMarco Murray Injury Replacement?

A number of times this season, former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber's name has come up any time a team lost its starting running back to injury.

With a number of teams befalling such a fate this year, that means that Barber's name gotten a lot of play in the media, though most of the speculation was regarded as nothing more than idle chatter.

It makes sense. Barber is 36 years old and has been out of the game since 2006. Though he was an amazing running back in his prime, notching five straight seasons with 2,000 or more all-purpose yards, the time away from the game and his advanced age, combined with his reputation as a self-serving egomaniac, has kept teams from calling him up.

But now that yet another star rusher has gone down, this time the Dallas Cowboys' DeMarco Murray, whose season is over after suffering a broken right ankle against the Giants, it seems unusual that Barber hasn't generated an iota of interest around the league.

ProFootballTalk.com's Mike Florio posted today that it would be smart for the Cowboys to bring Barber in for a tryout, considering there are just three weeks left in the regular season and the team is still angling for a playoff berth.

The Cowboys will likely bring in a number of potential backs for workouts this week, with the oft-injured Felix Jones the only dedicated rusher the team has on its active roster at the moment.

Florio suggests that, considering Barber and Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett were teammates in the early 2000s and and the team has another matchup against the Giants looming, he might be worth a look, if not a pickup.

However, I don't necessarily agree. While I don't see the harm in the Cowboys extending a tryout to Barber, the level of media circus this move will generate for a Dallas team already perpetually under the microscope won't be helpful for a struggling team trying to reach the postseason.

Further, I honestly don't believe that Barber has enough left in him to benefit the Cowboys or any team. Four years away from the game is a long time, even if Barber has been keeping himself in good enough shape to play.

The Miami Dolphins kicked Barber's tires back in August but decided to go with veteran Larry Johnson instead, who they ended up cutting in September. If Barber was less ready to play than Johnson, then it doesn't bode well for his chances to make the Cowboys should they decide to give him a look.

Yes, the Cowboys need to add a running back to their roster and they need to do it this week. But there is still talent available out there, they don't have to resort to working out a former player who'd be better served to stay retired. Barber's not the answer for Dallas or for any team.