After a few weeks of poor statistics and the Cowboys’ first loss since the season opener, Dak Prescott is discovering how fickle some fans and football onlookers can be. He’s also finding out just how large a shadow that Tony Romo casts from the sideline.
As you would have expected going into this situation, some are clamoring for Romo to regain the starting job after a bad stretch for Prescott. Nevermind that the Cowboys went 2-1 during this stretch, but Prescott failing to top 200 yards passing in any of the last three games has folks worried about how he’ll perform in January against playoff defenses.
Calling for Tony Romo is a natural reaction. You’ve loved him for about a decade. He’s a veteran who’s dealt with the pressure of the NFL postseason. No matter how exceptional a rookie Dak Prescott has been, he’s still a rookie.
The problem I have with the “run to Romo” mentality, though, is that it ignores a key aspect of why you have faith in Tony. It’s not that he’s never had some some real clunker games. Tony’s worst game is easily more atrocious than anything Dak’s showed us yet.
Romo had the chance to bounce back. He had the opportunity to restore or validate trust because he was out there the next week making plays and getting wins. It’s why you believe in him now.
It’s the same opportunity that Dak Prescott now deserves. If you want him to one day be mentioned along with Romo, Troy Aikman, and Roger Staubach, you can’t undercut him now.
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In 2006, his first year as the Cowboys starter, Romo started to have problems at the end of the season. He lost three of five games, threw eight interceptions, and had passer ratings below 60 in three games. Bill Parcells didn’t run back to Drew Bledsoe. He let Tony play through it, and it was a vital part of his development.
In 2008, Romo’s play cratered in December yet again. He threw six picks as the Cowboys lost three of four games. They went from 7-5 to an 8-8 team barely missing the playoffs. A Super Bowl-winning QB, Brad Johnson, was on the sideline. But by this point it was clearly Tony Romo’s team and the thought of switching to Johnson wasn’t even considered.
Fast forward to 2014. The now-veteran Romo led an 11-3 Cowboys into a Thanksgiving game with the Eagles. He had an awful day, throwing two picks, no touchdowns, and only 199 yards, as Dallas lost 33-10. Fears of another late-season slide arose. But Romo, now hardened by past experiences, went on a tear through that December and the Cowboys rolled into the playoffs.
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The debate about who’s better right now between Dak Prescott and Tony Romo is valid. There are certainly situations and opponents that Romo might be better equipped to handle based on his experience. If you’re only concern is Dallas winning a Super Bowl this season, then I can understand why you’re vexed.
If you’d like to see Dak Prescott and the Cowboys win multiple Super Bowls in the future, though, what happens now matters. Romo got to work through the bad times and deal with failure during a long offseason. Those made him one of the top quarterbacks in football and allowed him to sustain that status.
You can’t bench Prescott now. You can’t rob him of the opportunity to overcome his own adversity. It’s not just how quarterbacks get better, but it’s the fire that tempers athletes, other professions, and even people in general. It’s a fundamental truth of human existence; growing pains.
I’m not here to tell you Romo couldn’t do a better job this year. I’m not ignoring the possibility that Dak’s rookie wall could crumble right on top of us.
This is just a warning. A continued backslide from Prescott may cost us in 2016. There’s no denying that it.
Not letting him play through it, though, may cost us for a lot longer.
Totally understand the logic here and to some extent I agree…however, the window is closing on vets like Tony and Witten to get to a SB or NFCCG. Why throw these precious chances away by letting Dak’s ego dictate your decisions. Dak is the future, he will be allowed to work thru things, develop and hopefully lead us for years to come. If you can save the season and gain a championship for players whose careers are in their twilight, why wouldn’t you do that?
As with most things in life, football is a “meritocracy”. In order to achieve positive results, then one must work hard. Parents, teachers, and coaches alike tell their pupils that if they work hard enough, then success can be infinite. This in turn, is meant to incentivize. Dak has lead this team to an 11-2 record coming off a very dismal 2015 season and he’s done so at an unprecedented rate for a rookie quarterback. Our two losses on the season have been for less than 4 points. Keeping him in the starting lineup has absolutely nothing to do with some imagined ego, but, rather his long leash is a reward for his body of work thus far. To bench him over a single bad performance sends the wrong message and may motivate Prescott in seeking other options once his contract expires.
This was very well said! Couldn’t agree more.
I would absolutely agree, if it were only one single bad performance. But Dak has struggled against these latest playoff caliber defenses. Which is what you would expect from any rookie quarterback. This weekend, it will be no different and I wouldn’t expect it to be any other way. In fact, they may still win this weekend, but you will see Dak struggle and continue to struggle against top rated defenses. Believe me, I am not saying Dak is not “The Guy”. He will be the face of this team for years to come. But let’s be realistic. This is not a rebuilding year were the Cowboys were without a quarterback. Just two years ago they were knocking on Championship Door and almost went in. Tony Romo gracefully conceded the position due to the stellar performance of a rookie that hadn’t seen the likes of what he is seeing now.
As stated “football is a meritocracy”
Meritocracy, (I had to look it up);
“Advancement in such a system is based on performance measured through examination and/or demonstrated achievement in the field where it is implemented.”
Dak struggles again this weekend, Tony needs to step back in. In the long run, Dak will be fine, he is an outstanding guy, playing for a great organization, learning from the best.
Handled.
I appreciate the consideration for Tony and Jason, but you’re talking about two guys out of a much larger roster, more players to come, and your entire fanbase. The organization has to think about what’s going to give us the best shot at winning championships for the long-term, not just 2016. Going “all in” on a single season usually comes with a price.
I don’t think it’s an ego question with Dak. Honestly, I feel like it’s more of an ego question with Romo. Fans have spent years waiting for Romo to finally quiet the doubters, to end the whispers of “choker” and they want to see that happen. I don’t think it’s going to with Romo, flat out. Not everybody gets a championship. That’s the reality of the NFL. Romo hasn’t played football in over a year. He hasn’t played through two entire games in a row in almost two. The last time he played football, he threw for three interceptions in the first half — and then broke. In fact, none of his games last year were that great. The last minute of the Giants game was amazing but the offense struggled to move the ball before that, they struggled to move the ball the next week against Philly. People forget, the offense hadn’t scored a touchdown before Romo went down. Against Miami, you take away Rolando McClain’s touchdown and the offense only scored seventeen points and Romo threw two picks.
There’s very little about pro football that is “fair”. Some players get championships and some don’t. When Romo went down, we thought the season was pretty much over. There was very little talk about how this was the very best team Romo’s ever had before that. The line was great but it’s the exact same line that Romo has gotten hurt behind the last three times. Zeke was expected to be really good and he’s been outstanding…not quite as good as Murray though, who set (or tied) a record for consecutive hundred yard games to start a season. It’s Dak who’s been the revelation, Dak who’s changed the expectations for this season since Romo went down with a broken back. Romo might not get a championship ever. But Witten might.
Another outstanding breakdown of the reality of NFL life. It’s nice to see that not all fans lose their objectivity. Hope you will keep reading and making awesome comments like this one!
So far DC brass seems to be erring on the side of the future. Evaluate Dak on his whole season. He still has a 102.7 rating.
I would likewise be concerned about undermining his confidence with a quick hook. Fortunately Garrett was a QB & I bet he has a good horse sense about this issue. If Dak were to regress further, against lesser defenses, you might argue that a spell watching a veteran do it would be a positive for his development. Not right now.
Dak is rock solid with his temperament – one of his best aspects – and I actually don’t think a benching would devastate him. But I still would not do it until and unless I had to. That’s the only time you’ll have the whole team behind you on the move.
And you have to look at Romo’s prospects for taking you to the promised land. Rusty, brittle. Good chance that it doesn’t work.
I think having Garrett as a former QB is an invaluable asset for how this situation is handled. You’re right that his insights into the mentality of the position give the front office a much better grasp of how to handle it.
And I agree about the risk of going to Romo. Even if he plays great, can he take a hit? Hard to be confident enough in him to risk damaging Dak.
I want to say this is a really well thought out piece but I don’t know if that’s valid since what I really mean is I completely agree with this piece. 😀 Which, you know, is different. Still, I completely agree with this piece. Thanks for saying it out loud.
Thanks for the support!