Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answered your sports questions on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

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Dirk: How do you see the West shaping up in the NBA? The Mavericks didn't make any big moves in the off-season, but I don't think San Antonio or Phoenix improved much either. Is this the Mavs year to win it all given that there aren't the championship expectations coming from the outside?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I can't really sit here and tell you I would be shocked if the Mavs won it all bcause they have a terrific team. To me, it's all about matchups. I think the Mavs can beat the Spurs, the Spurs can beat the Suns and the Suns can beat the Mavs. The West champ will win it all, which is hardly going out on a limb.

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From e-mail: Is the salary cap in the NFL so large nowadays that teams have the ability to keep pretty much all of their top players and not worry about getting into cap trouble like the Cowboys did in the late '90s? Will the Cowboys have any problem fitting new contracts under the cap in the future for their core guys such as Terence Newman, DeMarcus Ware and Marion Barber?

Jason

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I wouldn't spend much time worrying about the salary cap. First, the Cowboys learned valuable lessons from 2000, 2001 and 2002, when the cap handcuffed them, so they won't repeat those mistakes. Secondly, the cap is going to be so large over the next few years becasue of the gross revenues the NFL is pulling in that I really don't think any team is going to have cap issues unless they run into a situation like Atlanta, where an off-the-field issue leads to cap problems. I hope all of that made sense.

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From e-mail: I cannot for the life of me figure out what is wrong with the Stars. They came out firing against Anaheim and then came out flat against San Jose. Any ideas?

Ryan

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I spent some time with the Stars yesterday at the morning skate, so I hope this helps. It's too easy to say they came out flat against San Jose, when they led 2-1 after two periods and controlled much of the game. You would also expect them to come out firing against the defending Cup champions because they had something to prove. That said, the problem with the Stars is that they aren't playing complete games. They aren't paying attention to the details and doing all of the little things that leads to winning every shift and every period. When they do it for a complete game, the wins will come.

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clark: With Tony Romo's deal now done, who does Jerry Jones address next with an extension? Patrick Crayton? Marion Barber?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Crayton shouldn't be hard to get done because he understands he's a quality role player, which means he'll get a nice contract but won't break the beank - nor does he expect to. Barber, trust me, will be much trickier. Drew Rosenhaus is an excellent agent and he's going to want Barber to be paid like one of the top backs in the NFL, while the Cowboys will argue that he's not a starter, has never been the fullt-ime starter - even in college - and is better suited as a quality tandem runner. This one might take a minute, but I wouldn't play around and let him get to restricted free agency because some team could put a poison pill in his contract and he'll be gone.

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Raul: Do you think the Dallas Mavericks will benefit from bringing Jason Terry of the bench? Who will start in his place?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I don't mind Jet coming off the bench because he has the right attitude and Avery Johnson is going to make sure he gets some shots as soon as he's in the game. I think they'll rotate the starter based on the opposition.

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From e-mail: Why coming off the bye week do the Cowboys play all three division opponents back-to-back-to-back? Who or how are the schedules chosen? Was that the luck of the draw, or doesn't the NFL have the sense to put the divisional games toward the end of the season if not split them fairly even between non-division teams?

Jonathan

Jean-Jacques Taylor: The schedule is luckof the draw. It's never worth complaining about. Good teams fight through it and take care of business. Whining about it is never acceptable.

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Roy L.: Who would you rate as the top five teams in the NFC now?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: 1. Dallas. 2. NY Giants. 3. Green Bay. 4. Detroit. 5. New Orleans. I reserve the right to change my mind in a few days.

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Jason L: Do you think Ohio State is the best team in the country right now? How difficult is it to compare the best teams when they play vastly different schedules?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I'm a Buckeye all the way through, but we're not the best team in the country. I'd say LSU is better. I think Oregon might be a little better. Then my boys are No. 3, but I wouldn't argue if someone had them No. 4 or No. 5. They are, however, a definite top five team. I judge teams by how they play. Penn State is an excellent home team and we took them apart. You can lose and look good and win and look bad. What matters is how you play over the long haul.

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PatsFan: How in the world is Tom Brady not the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Two reasons: He signed his contract two to three years ago and the financial parameters for the position have changed since then. Second, he took less money becasue he wanted to ensure the Patriots still had the money to add other guys. Don't cry for him, though. He's doing OK.

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JASON: Why are the Rangers being mentioned as an A-Rod destination?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I have no idea.

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From e-mail: I heard the Rangers will save $21 million with A-Rod opting out of his deal in New York. Where will the Rangers put that money now? Please tell me it won't go into Hicks' pocket.

Mark

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Hicks might put it in his pocket and spend it next year. This is a poor year for free agency, so the Rangers aren't going to be big-time players. I would, however, use that extra money to make sure I signed Torii Hunter. If that money means guaranteeing a fifth year, which could be a deal-breaker, then the Rangers need to do it.

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clark: Given the extent of Terry Glenn's injury this season, do you believe he'll return next year or will that be based on his off-season health, draft, etc.?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I think Terry Glenn will absolutely be with the Cowboys next year. He's still among the fastest players on the team and he allows the Cowboys to stretch the field vertically, something they haven't necessarily been able to do this year.

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Jason L: Do you think Avery Johnson will be able to pace the Mavs better during the regular season so they are not burnt out by the time the playoffs roll around like they were last year?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Yes, because as a coach you learn a little something every year. He thought he did at it at the end of last season, but that wasn't the case. He'll do it this year even if the Mavs lose a few more games becasue it's all about the playoffs.

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BCS07: Who do you think will end up playing in the national championship game in New Orleans?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I'm gonna go out on a limb. This is not who I want to be in the BCS game, but who I think might get there: Boston College and Oklahoma. That game would not excite me, but OU certainly has the schedule to run the table as does BC, though it has some tricky games in Maryland and Clemson on the road in addition to the ACC title game. I'd like to see Ohio State and Oregon in the game, but I think my boys are going to drop one of their final three.

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Modano9: What were your thoughts on Mike Modano's recent demotion to the fourth line? He responded the next night, but could you see him in that fourth-line role more as the season progresses?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Mike, you should be resting instead of being on this chat. I meant to talk to you yesterday, but I had to hollah at Tippett and you were gone when I got back. Now that we have that out of the way, I thought it was great. Tippett wants his guys playing at a certain level and he's not afraid to demote anyone who doesn't whether it's Marty Turco or Mike Modano.

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JASON: Who besides Torii Hunter are the Rangers targeting? Any No. 1 pitchers out there to push Kevin Milwood back to a No. 2, where he belongs?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: There are no pitchers worth signing unless you want to sign a guy like Eric Gagne for an incentive-laden, club-friendly deal. Hunter is the guy the Rangers need.

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etex: Why do Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, Jason Garret, etc., keep trying to make Julius Jones into an NFL running back? Also why do I keep hearing that Marion Barber is not an every -down back?. Give him the ball 25 times and let's see.

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Julius Jones is a good RB and when he's running for someone else next year, you'll see that. I really don't know why it's so hard to see that each guy makes the other guy a little better, though I'm not opposed to giving Barber a few more carries.

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GoSox: What did you think of Scott Boras making his A-Rod announcement in the middle of Boston's clinching victory in the World Series? Seemed pretty bush league.

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I didn't really care. The series was the second-lowest watched of all-time, so did it really matter? We all know Boros and A-Rod are self-serving dudes, so we shouldn't have been surprised.

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Jason L: Do you think Jerry Jones is going to have to address Terrell Owens contract after this season since he has only one year left on his current deal?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Good question. I don't know. I don't think so. T.O. will need to prove himself next year because he's been good, but not great. I also don't know if T.O. is the kind of guy you want on your team as his skills start to diminish because I KNOW he will be the last one to agree. Everyone needs more evidence.

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Roy L.: When will Notre Dame be back?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Maybe never if Charlie Weis, the most overrated coach in America, can't do a better job than this. He won with Willingham's players and has the worst offense in America with his own guys. They aren't even competitive.

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JASON: Where is Kobe Bryant calling home on Jan. 1?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Chicago. The Bulls have better prospects to offer and the Lakers would prefer he be in the East. As far as it relates to the Mavs, my whole point has been that you have to place a call and find out what it takes to get Kobe. If you don't want to pay the price, fine. But you must place the call.

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jc: What was the reasoning behind cutting Pops from the Mavs?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I don't know. Maybe he just wasn't good enough.

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profbackwards: I know the off-season is eons away, and we have a Super Bowl to win first, but what are the odds of a big-time receiver pickup like Chad Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I don't know. It's way too early for free agency just like it's way to early to discuss draft picks. Let's let the season play out and see what areas the Cowboys need to address. Then I can give you a reasonable answer.

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brian72975: New England is good, but I think the win over the Redskins exposed Washington as a team with no QB and no coach. Your thoughts?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I think you have to almost discount whatever happens against New England right now because the Patriots are playing perfect football. I don't think they're going undefeated, but if they beat the Colts, Pittsburgh might be their only other tricky game.

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jc: Is Major Applewhite the next SMU coach?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: Why in the world would he take that job? If he hangs out at Alabama another year, he can get a really good job like Penn State if Joe Pa retires. Or maybe Michigan, if Lloyd Carr is fired after this season. Or, maybe, LSU if Les Miles leaves for Michigan. I don't know, but I do know he can do better than SMU.

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The Texas Hammer: With the way the Browns are playing, it doesn't look like the Cows are going to get a top 5-10 pick this year. With that being the case, what do you think is out there for the Cowboys? Do you see another trade coming?

Jean-Jacques Taylor: I have no idea. The Cleveland situation is the reason why I keep saying it's too early to talk about draft picks and free agency. You just have no idea how the season is going to turn out. Until you do, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to speculate.

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Jean-Jacques Taylor: It has been fun. Peace. Be blessed.