USA Today ranks Cowboys’ Tony Romo fifth-best QB - Dallas Morning News

John Machota reviews USA Today's 2012 NFL preview magazine and finds that Tony Romo is the fifth highest ranked player in the magazine's top 50 players list.

"The only higher-rated passers last year were Aaron Rodgers, (Drew) Brees and Tom Brady," wrote NFL writer David Elfin, who compiled the list. "Romo has a 47-30 regular season record, but his 1-3 playoff mark keeps him from being considered a truly elite quarterback."

The other quarterbacks ahead of Romo are, in order, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Eli Manning.

A different defense this year - SportsDayDFW

On paper, the Cowboys' defensive scheme may look very similar to what it looked like last year, but the DMN's Matt Moore writes that there's a belief among the Cowboys that the defense will be vastly different from last year. He quotes DeMarcus Ware, who says the the Cowboys have developed a "nasty streak" on defense and are finally starting to force the turnovers in practice that the team has lacked in recent years.

"It’s just knowing where you need to be and being a little more aggressive," Ware said. "The defense is totally, totally different."

Safety Matt Johnson is too physical? - DallasCowboys.com

Brian Broaddus answers fan questions on a variety of topics, and when prompted about rookie safety Matt Johnson, writes that "If Johnson does have a weakness, he is too physical of a player and will go for the big hit and not the wrap-up tackle."

Easily the best news on this Sunday morning. It's been a long time since a Cowboys safety was accused of being too physical. I remain hyper-excited about Johnson.

Interior offensive line spots up for grabs? - Dallas Cowboys.com

Mickey Spagnola takes a look at the interior offensive line in his offseason review. He has 332-pound Nate Livings manning the left guard spot, and argues that with David Arkin and Ronald Leary battling for the right guard spot, Mackenzy Bernadeau might be in play for the center position once he's back from hip surgery.

Arkin has been getting most first team snaps, but Leary has been getting some as well. If either emerges as a strong possibility at right guard, that could push Bernadeau into a battle with Phil Costa for the starting center spot.

Jerry Rice ranks Dez Bryant among NFL's top young wide receivers - NFL.com

Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice compiled a list of his top six receivers in the league for ESPN’s NFL Live earlier this week. Rice included Dez Bryant on the list, which he sorted alphabetically.

"I had a chance to meet this guy in Dallas and he's a humongous receiver," Rice said on ESPN's "NFL Live" this week, per The Dallas Morning News. "If he can get his head on straight, Tony Romo's going to look for him more and they're going to be incredible out on the football field."

Rice’s other five (in alphabetical order) were Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown (23), New York Giants’ Victor Cruz (25), Cincinnati’s A.J. Green (23), Minnesota’s Percy Harvin (24) and Atlanta’s Julio Jones (24).

Morris Claiborne only unsigned draft pick left - Star-Telegram

Linebacker Kyle Wilber and safety Matt Johnson were the latest draft picks to sign their contracts, leaving only first-round pick Morris Claiborne unsigned. The Cowboys and Claiborne's agent are waiting see what the contracts for the other top eight picks are going to look like to make sure their deal is consistent with the other contracts.