(Editor's Note: Each day we will take the 2 best questions for our staff writers to answer from the Mailbag. "Click here" to email questions now.)

ALDO ORTEGA, HILLIARD, OH: Bobby Carpenter was a first-round pick. He has not become a starter and is going into his fourth year. If he doesn't win the nickel job in camp, will he make the team? And if he doesn't produce this year, will he be a Cowboy in 2010?

Josh: Wade Phillips says it's time for Carpenter to show he can do it in a game. In the past couple years he hasn't been great in the preseason, so he definitely needs to bring it come August. With his style he should be a decent fit for the nickel job - he's probably more suited to run around and cover than he is to fill the hole and buck with a fullback. Does he make the team this year? I think so. Next year's probably too far off to predict.

Rob: Carpenter's making the team because yes, that nickel job will be his. Rookie Jason Williams is very talented but it'll take him some time to adjust to his new position. I've always felt Carpenter is best suited for a 4-3, but the weak inside spot seems to fit him best in a 3-4. It'll be interesting to see what transpires. But sure, this very well might be a make-or-break year for him in Dallas.

Nick: Let's just work on one season at a time. As for 2009, I think if he's not head and shoulders better than both Stephen Hodge and Jason Williams, then he could be on his way out. However, I think Carpenter will be much better and he's at least experienced on special teams. I have a hard time thinking he is not on the Cowboys' squad this year.

HOWARD FRANKLIN, WASHINGTON, D.C.: Is the 2009 season more or less an audition to find our featured back, regardless of who is being paid what, but who can win us a championship?

Josh: There's only one featured back in the league right now, Adrian Peterson. And if Minnesota had Felix Jones, I promise they'd find a way to use him. The Cowboys are extremely lucky to have three guys that can play. It's going to be up to the coaches to get the most out of all of them. The more efficiently they split up the workload, the better each guy will be because they should all be more fresh. As a unit, the whole has the potential to be greater than the sum of the parts, so to speak.

Rob: Interesting thought there. Yep, money shouldn't matter. The Cowboys should plan to get all three guys (Barber, Jones, Choice) involved, but the distribution of carries will depend some on the flow of the game. Personally I'd like to see Barber start and finish games because his energy is contagious to the rest of the offense. But Jones is so explosive, he'll get his share of touches -- runs and carries. And Choice is just too good to leave on the bench.

Nick: I just think the days of the one-back system are gone. It sounds great to say "who will lead them to a championship" but it's not going to be just one guy. Not on this team. Marion isn't the type of player to be the ONLY guy. And neither is Felix. But they're both good enough to play a lot and now you've got to find a spot for Tashard Choice. We all need to stop looking for the next Emmitt Smith and focus on these THREE backs.

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