Marcus Spears was selected nine spots after teammate DeMarcus Ware, who recently signed an extension with Dallas worth $40 million in guaranteed money. The Cowboys haven't discussed an extension with Spears. Spears, however, is more focused on having the best season of his career. His 21 tackles put him on pace for a career-high 56. He has tied his career high with two sacks, putting him on pace for five. He has six quarterback hurries and two pass deflections.

With Allen Rossum out 2-4 weeks with a hamstring injury, Felix Jones will be the Cowboys' main kick returner, but coach Wade Phillips said Wednesday they will look at some other possible returners. "I guess it's my time to step up," Jones said. "Hopefully we don't have to do it too many times but I'm ready when my time's called."

Miles Austin has emerged as the Cowboys' best receiver over the past two weeks, but it is unlikely to mean a new contract. He is on a one-year tender and will be a restricted free agent this off-season. "You don't ever want to speculate because you don't know, but probably in both his case and our case, he needs to put games together and seasons together," said Stephen Jones, the team's chief operating officer. "Some of the biggest mistakes that are ever made are when you pay a guy off of one year. "For right now, I'd be surprised if we are doing any more business this year in terms of during the season," Jones said. "Let the season play out and see where we go next."

The Cowboys have signed linebacker DeMarcus Ware to an extension. The six-year contract, which runs through the 2015 season, is worth $78 million, according to a source. According to ESPN, Ware received $20 million on Monday for simply signing the deal. He will reportedly receive another $14 million within the next 12 months. Ware had 20 sacks last season.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips says that running back Felix Jones will be at "full speed" this Sunday. Dallas will face off against Atlanta. "I feel good about where Felix is," Phillips told the San Antonio Express-News. "He looks fast. He's moved well, so I think he'll get back into his role, which could be quite a bit during the game."

The Cowboys believe their new stadium could give them an edge over visiting opponents. "I think the stadium is so good, so different, so exciting, the team coming in can be awed by it a little bit," said head coach Wade Phillips. "'Wow, look at all this, and that, and the video board and all those things.' It could help some, but you've got to do it on the field. And your crowd helps you a lot."

Roy Williams has put up very ordinary numbers so far during his tenure in Dallas, but it is not an emergency situation yet. "One of these days, you hope that you don?t have to do it, but sometimes you got to dial 911, and I?m waiting on 911 to be dialed up. Hopefully, 911 refers to [quarterback Tony] Romo and myself [jersey numbers combined], not an emergency situation."

Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett may have been the player that was highly coveted ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. Pro Football Talk is reporting, "As league insiders try to divine the identity of the Cowboys player who supposedly was the subject of recent trade talks, the early speculation focuses on tight end Bennett." Bennett, a second-round pick in 2008, is stuck behind Jason Witten on the team's depth chart.

Cowboys receiver Patrick Crayton has confirmed that Miles Austin will start for the team this Sunday. Crayton is upset that the team's coaching staff didn't tell him of the decision. He learned of the demotion when Austin worked with Roy Williams in two-receiver sets during practice on Monday. "I would have loved it," Crayton said of an explanation from head coach Wade Phillips or offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. "It would have been real stand-up. That's not what happened. Oh, well."

The Cowboys are saying that they turned down a "significant offer" prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. "We had a significant offer for a key player that we turned down, and turned down in getting in more extended dialogue for," Jones told ESPN. "So we did have that kind of activity ... but I shouldn't name the player or the team. It was a very firm, significant offer for one of our young players that we had a chance for a lot of consideration if we had wanted to take it, and we didn't." Jones admitted that the player involved in the trade was not a running back, adding that the Cowboys were offered at least one premium draft pick for the player.