Editor's note: Below is some analysis from special contributor Babe Laufenberg up to this point of the season from previous chats he has held.
Question: What should the Cowboys do in the final month of the season to best prepare them for next season?
Laufenberg: Once you are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, I would like to see Kellen Moore get a few starts at quarterback. Find out about him. Sure, there are negatives with his size and arm strength, but if you have him on your roster, let's find out about him. He had a prolific college career, and was a player who I thought handled his team's offense as well as any QB this side of Andrew Luck. I am a firm believer in not overlooking productivity, and he was one of the most productive QBs in college football history. Can he be your backup for you next year that can win games? I don't have that answer. But let's find out.
Question: Fans keep calling for Johnny Manziel; please explain why this is a good or bad idea.
Laufenberg: The last thing this team needs is to take on Johnny Manziel. There is enough controversy that swirls around this team without adding that circus. And look at the resume he is building in Cleveland. You always say don't embarrass the team, the organization, or yourself. He has hit the trifecta. And the head coach, Mike Pettine, probably won't have a job at season's end. Cleveland forgot the one truism in life -- the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.
What was your reaction to the graphic photos of the Greg Hardy case released on Monday and what did you think of his on-field performance?
Laufenberg: Neither my reaction, nor my opinion, changed. I didn't need photos to show me what domestic violence looks like.
Question: We hear about this country club atmosphere at Valley Ranch and how the players don't fear Jason Garrett. Do the players really have to be concerned these days? I would hope that pride would kick in and they would act professionally.
Laufenberg: Well, I haven't seen any putting greens set up in the locker room, nor have I seen Ty Webb walk through the halls. It is the same atmosphere as last year when the Cowboys went 12-4. Hey, when you lose as colossally as this team has, everything comes into question. What the players are eating for lunch, what time the plane takes off, which hotel you are staying at. Look at last year's Super Bowl head coaches, Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick. Carroll is upbeat and positive and looks like he is on his way to a Beach Boys concert. Belichick looks like he is ready to go on the Baatan Death March. So you just stay true to yourself and your principles as a head coach and hope your players respond. This team is playing hard and competing. They are just not playing well enough.
Question: What do you make of the Cowboys calling Greg Hardy a leader? Given the circumstances it just feels like a terrible idea that will come back to bite them.
Babe Laufenberg: If we are calling Greg Hardy's behavior "leadership," someone needs to call Webster's and tell them they need to change their definition.
Question: Did the Cowboys make a mistake not re-signing Dwayne Harris after he helped beat them in the sixth week of the season?
Laufenberg: You have to understand that you can't sign everyone, but I sure liked what Harris brought to the table. And not only in the return game, but he was also the leading tackler on special teams and a serviceable receiver. The bigger problem is they didn't replace him. Cowboys are 31st in punt return average with a miniscule 3.5 yards/return. They are 23rd in kickoff returns. That is a lot of field position to lose at the end of a game.
Question: With mounting injuries, how many full seasons does Romo have left? How soon should the next QB already be wearing a Dallas uniform?
Laufenberg: There is really no way of predicting that, but would be foolish to think that Romo will be your QB for the next 3 years. He will be 36 next season, and with his back condition, he will always be one play away from being unavailable. But I seem to be the only one who is worried about all that, judging by the Cowboys' refusal to draft quarterbacks.
Question: If the season ended today - is Mo Claiborne back next year?
Laufenberg: Since I am not in charge of the purse strings at Valley Ranch (and good thing or they probably would be filing Chapter 7), can't answer the question about next year. I do know this - he has played pretty darn well. And with the injury to Orlando Scandrick in training camp, not sure what they would have done without him. You literally can't have too many corners in today's pass-happy NFL, so Cowboys certainly happy to have him this year. As for next year...
Question: What did you think of the Dez Bryant-Greg Hardy shouting match? Do you have any good sideline bickering examples from your playing days?
Laufenberg: Let me start by saying Hardy wouldn't be on my team. That said, when you signed him, you signed the entire package: a great pass rusher and a guy who has been a problem throughout his football career. Without knowing what actually was said, hard to make comment on the specifics. But knocking the clipboard out of your special teams coach's hands is a sign of disrespect. And we really need to stop using the word "passion," and substitute anger management and immaturity, because that is what his behavior really is. He has been on the active roster for three weeks, and in two of those weeks the Cowboys are putting out fires he created. Not good. I always refer to the words of the great Don Shula: "We will tolerate you until we can replace you."
Question: Let's look ahead to the 2015 NFL Draft. Where do you see the Cowboys three biggest positional weaknesses? (I'd like to suggest drafting Ohio State RB Zeke Elliott in the first round)
Babe Laufenberg: Running back will certainly be a position of need. Throw QB at the top of that list if there is one worthy of the pick. And we saw what happens when Dez Bryant goes out. Can't throw your hands up in the air if it happens again. Need to score points in todays NFL, so need to draft players that are capable of doing just that.
Question: Seems to be quite a bit of criticism for Dallas' offensive line in the loss to Atlanta. How did you think that unit played?
Laufenberg: Funny how we haven't had a whole lot of discussion of "The greatest line in the history of football" lately. In fairness, that was not the players, but the media. And the people saying it were just regurgitating what they were hearing. Offensive line play is like a man's shoes ... no one ever really pays attention to them. I do think the pass protection has been outstanding. In the running game, they clearly miss DeMarco Murray.
Question: How would you rate first-round rookie cornerback/safety Byron Jones' play so far this season? If you had that selection to do over again, would you pick him or look elsewhere?
Laufenberg: I think he has played well. Still hasn't been given the full dose, but thought he really matched up well with Gronk, or as good as anyone can matchup with that beast of a man! Need a bigger sample size, but so far, so good. But as a first-round pick, you didn't draft him to be your nickel defender. So eager to see him get out to corner and see how he performs against the best, play after play. You have to like his physical traits and his intelligence, and that combination is usually a good recipe for success.
Question: Steve Dennis just said on the radio that if you were in Jason Garrett's shoes, Greg Hardy WOULD be on your team. Please tell me he's not right.
Laufenberg: Obviously didn't hear that, so can't verify the authenticity of that statement. One thing I have heard is that Jimmy Johnson or Bill Parcells would have never allowed the Hardy sideline outburst to go unpunished. That would be revisionist history. I was with the Cowboys in training camp in Thousand Oaks in 1989. After practice ended, Michael Irvin got into a heated exchange that clearly bordered on insubordination with our special teams coach, Alan Lowry. It was the first time in my seven years in the NFL I had seen a player verbally go after a coach. Jimmy came over and calmed Michael down, and I thought Jimmy was going to get all over Michael. He didn't. Effectively sided with Michael. What that told me was that Jimmy believed he needed Michael more than he needed Alan Lowry. So there you go.
Twitter: @BabeLaufenberg