Turnover differential being the surest way to identify winners and losers in the NFL, it's got to be the goal of every offensive player to protect the ball better.
Tony Romo threw 10 interceptions in 2011, which is reasonable, but they were costly, and he would want every one of them back. Likewise, another Cowboys offensive player has to do a better job of hanging onto the ball in 2012.
It's running back Felix Jones, who fumbled five times this past season, which was 10th-most in the NFL among non-quarterbacks. But of those players with more fumbles, five carried the ball much more than Jones, who had only 160 total touches - 127 rushes and 33 receptions.
He averaged a fumble every 32 touches. Of those who fumbled more often in 2011 with fewer touches than Jones, most were the regular return man for their team - Stefan Logan of Detroit, Brandon Banks in Washington and Tampa's Preston Parker.
Just two of Jones' fumbles were lost, but the three others exhibited more risk than the Cowboys certainly would've liked. DeMarco Murray had only one fumble on his 190 touches.
Only one NFL player with more fumbles in fewer touches than Jones was a running back - Tashard Choice. Playing for three teams, he had six fumbles on only 76 touches.
It was a big part of why he was let go by the Cowboys. If Jones' fumbling issues from 2011 get any worse as he enters a contract year, his days in Dallas may very well be numbered, too.
