Cowboys' Jason Garrett Preparing For NFL Draft

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(INDIANAPOLIS) -- Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is looking to improve his offense come April’s NFL Draft.  The Cowboys will have the 18th overall pick and Garrett wants to improve his rushing attack.

"It's certainly an area where we have to get better.  Whenever you're near the bottom of the league rushing the football, you want to improve that area," Garrett said.  "It starts with the offensive line and we believe strongly that other people contribute to running the football."

Garrett will have a new defensive coordinator in Monte Kiffin this year.  The Cowboys hired the 72-year-old coordinator after the firing of Rob Ryan.  Garrett enjoyed having Ryan as a coach and believes he will do a great job with Saints head coach Sean Payton.

"Didn't suprise me one bit that he'd get a job," Garrett said.  "I think it's a great fit for Sean Payton down there in New Orleans, Rob (Ryan) will do a great job for him.  Knowing both those guys fairly well, I think the match is really a good one."

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Cowboys Survive Browns in OT, 23-20

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images(ARLINGTON, Texas) -- The Cleveland Browns gave the Dallas Cowboys all they could handle on Sunday.  Down 13-0 at halftime, Dan Bailey sent the Cowboys (5-5) into overtime with a field goal late and then won it with a 38-yard field goal in overtime to give Dallas a 23-20 win.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was sacked for a career-high seven times in the victory and almost gave the game away with a costly fumble late.

"I'm not surprised about anything in the NFL. I think every week is hard, it's a challenge.  I'm not going to make any excuses for winning," said Romo, who passed for 313 yards with a touchdown.  "I know that it's hard no matter who you play."

Dallas will have a short week ahead with another game on Thanksgiving against the Washington Redskins.

"It's a really important win.  A hall of fame pitcher told me a long time ago, you got to sometime win a game when you don't necessarily have your best stuff," said Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett.  "I don't think we had our best stuff today but we found a way."

Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden led his team down the field to put the team up 20-17 with 1:07 remaining in the fourth before Bailey's game tying field goal with two seconds left in the fourth. 

Weeden finished 20 for 35 with 210 yards and a touchdown in the loss.  Cleveland drops to 2-8.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

NFL Grants Saints Permission to Speak to Payton

Chris Graythen/Getty Images(NEW YORK) --  The National Football League has granted the New Orleans Saints permission to negotiate a new contract with suspended head coach Sean Payton, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Even though Payton is suspended and unable to communicate with the organization due to his involvement in the bounty scandal, the NFL is allowing him to speak to the Saints regarding his contract situation.

The previous contract extension between Payton and the team was voided this past weekend, so if they are unable to agree on a new contract, Payton will be a free agent and can coach any team he pleases.

There is already speculation about Payton leaving the Saints to coach the Dallas Cowboys, replacing current head coach Jason Garrett at the end of the season.

He has a home in Dallas and has a close relationship with team owner Jerry Jones.  He is also a former Cowboys assistant coach.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio.

Cowboys Tight End Jason Witten Out With Spleen Injury

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images(OXNARD, Calif.) -- Tight end Jason Witten will most likely miss the rest of the preseason due to a spleen injury, the Dallas Cowboys said on Wednesday.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett said the nine-year NFL veteran suffered a slightly lacerated spleen during Monday night’s preseason opener against the Oakland Raiders. Garrett is unsure if Witten will be ready to play when they kick off the regular season on Sept. 5 against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

“It’s a very serious injury,” Garrett said. “We’re really taking this thing day by day. He has to be very still and idle for the next week to ten days.”

In 143 games played, the seven-time Pro Bowler has 696 receptions for 7,909 yards and 41 touchdowns.

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Sources: Cowboys Not Looking To Add Quarterback

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images(DALLAS) --  Sources tell ESPN's Ed Werder that the Dallas Cowboys will not pursue a quarterback for this Sunday's game against the Giants.

Romo who went down after suffering a bruised hand when he struck Jason Babin's helmet in Saturday's 20-7 loss to the Eagles should be capable of playing, according to sources.

Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett addressed the injury on Monday and said the team hopes that Romo will be able to practice on Wednesday.

"He needs to play as well as he can play and we're excited again about the opportunity," Garrett said. "He's a tough guy. He's played through injury this year. He's a great competitor. He's excited about the chance to be a part of this thing."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Cowboys Owner Jones Supports Head Coach Garrett

NFL Shield (NFL)(IRVING, Texas) -- Is head coach Jason Garrett on the hot seat in Big 'D'?

The Dallas Cowboys (7-6) enter their Week 15 contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-9) Saturday night on a two-game losing streak. They had a chance to take a two-game lead in the NFC East on Sunday, but blew a 12-point lead late in the fourth quarter against their division rivals, the New York Giants.  

Despite their up-and-down performance this season, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones tells ESPN that Garrett will be roaming the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

“I do intend, if there are mistakes made, that I want to be around for the rewards when they’re corrected and he’s the guy that can correct them,” Jones said.

The Cowboys still control their own destiny in the NFC East. If they win their final three games, including the season finale against the Giants, they will clinch the division title.

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Cowboys Not Taking Dolphins Lightly

Scott Boehm/Getty Images(IRVING, Texas) -- The Dallas Cowboys, winners of three straight, host the 3-7 Miami Dolphins, who are also on a three-game win streak, on Thanksgiving Day.  Despite Miami's losing record, the Cowboys are still wary of the Dolphins.

"They're playing better," Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett told reporters this week.  "They've played some good games early on in the season where they didn't win against good opponents, but also they're just playing better in all three phases of their team."

Cowboys linebacker Bradie James said he is familiar with Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore, who James said used to "light us up" during practice when Moore attended Cowboys training camp in 2007.

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