As America heads to the polls next week to elect the next leader of the free world, a more mature debate rages in Dallas.
Prescott or Romo?
At the beginning of the season, the question wasn’t whether rookie quarterback Dak Prescott would thrive, it was whether he would survive. Quarterbacks drafted number one are typically a disaster in their rookie season – what hope is there for those taken at the end of the fourth round?
Prescott’s unlikely success is the biggest story of the NFL season. This is not a flash in the pan – we have seven weeks of evidence suggesting he’s special. He stands tall in the pocket with a poise beyond his years and pedigree, and he makes decisions like someone for whom the number ‘135′ would seem to denote to games played, not draft position.
Physically, he’s the perfect prototype for the modern quarterback. He’s tall, mobile and forceful – guys bounce off of him. His presence at the line of scrimmage is commanding, and he plays with statesman-like charisma. Like all the great quarterbacks, it often feels like the game is a part of him and not the other way around.
Sunday night, Prescott’s worst game of the season, was perhaps the greatest affirmation of his ascending star. Overwhelmed by the Eagles ferocious defence and rattled by a pass rush that hit him six times and sacked him twice, Prescott finally looked like a rookie. He made his worst mistake, tossing a crushing end-zone interception at the end of the second quarter that never had a chance.
But, as the best quarterbacks always do, he proved to have a short memory, and played the end of the game as though the start had never happened. He found a higher gear and calmly drove the Cowboys to the tying and winning touchdowns. As a result, the Cowboys head to Cleveland at 6-1 with a two-game lead in the division and the best record in the NFC.
All the while Tony Romo, who finished third in the league MVP award the last time he played a full season, sits back and watches, his vertebra healing, his heart, you would suspect, aching.
Texas is already grudgingly but firmly moving away from Romo. He’s been a great servant, but he’s an old, wounded 36. Prescott is the future, and if you listen to most Cowboys fans, Prescott is the present.
But the baton shouldn’t be passed just yet.
Today, we don’t picture Tony Romo as the player who, less than two years ago, was one of the five best quarterbacks in the NFL and an egregious refereeing decision away from a trip to the NFC title game. We picture him being crushed by Cliff Avril, Thomas Davis and Jordan Hicks, and not getting up.
We don’t think of him as a player who played 64 out of a possible 66 games from 2011 to 2014. We think of him as the player who’s always injured because he has been the past two years.
The notion that an incumbent starter should never lose their job due to injury is old school to the point of stale, a type of Byron Scott-don’t-shoot-threes antiquated. Romo shouldn’t get his job back because he didn’t deserve to lose it – he should get it back because he’s a better quarterback than Prescott.
The last time we saw Romo healthy he finished a season where he put up the best QBR and quarterback rating in the league. He had a 34-9 touchdown-interception ratio and the best yards per attempt in the league. Of the non-dragon quarterbacks, Romo might have been the game’s best.
Prescott is good but he’s not Romo. His numbers and performances have been inflated by a schedule of easy defences – by DVOA, the teams he’s faced have ranked ninth, 22nd, 19th, 24th, 23rd, seventh and first in defence. He excelled against Green Bay’s seventh-ranked unit, but struggled mightily against the Giants ninth-ranked D and Philadelphia’s league-leading defence. That’s not a blight on Prescott – it’s just the reality of a rookie quarterback. And as magical as he’s been, he hasn’t been able to dispel reality entirely.
Prescott isn’t going anywhere – the Cowboys have him on a bargain basement contract for three seasons after this one. The problem for Prescott supporters is that Romo isn’t going anywhere either. The onerous structure of his contract means that he likely won’t be cut or traded until 2018 at the earliest.
The best case scenario at Jerry World is this: Romo plays out this season and next at a high level before handing the reigns over to Dak. The present improves and the future stays on the roster.
From what we’ve seen, Romo’s best is better than Prescott’s best, and, health permitting, he’s a more reliable bet to reach his best more often. If health doesn’t permit, then the Cowboys’ decision is made for them.
But right now, Dallas’s ceiling is lifted with Romo. His synergy with Dez Bryant alone could elevate the Cowboys from ‘possibly’ the best team in the weak NFC to definitively the best. The Cowboys have the number one offensive line in the league, the best running game and a defence that is closer to competent than anyone could have expected.
With Prescott, they can continue being a feel good story. With Romo, they can win the Super Bowl.
bear54
If Romo wanted to repay the Cowboys faithful and Jerry Jones he should offer to remain as backup QB and help Dak get them into the playoffs. There' still 9 games to go the young bloke could get injured and Romo could step up and take them the rest of the way?
joe
Guest
You're right about that NOIP,it would be insane for a team to part with a 2nd or 3rd rd draft pick for a broken down QB who has played the majority of his career in a controlled environment dome stadium. I keep hearing "the Jets should trade for Romo"..Romo playing at the Meadowlands (or whatever its called now) on a cold windy December afternoon,i don't see that working out too well. That said,there ARE dumb teams who make moronic decisions on a regular basis. So even though its a bad idea it just takes one team to convince themselves its a smart move & then there's a possibility it happens
monday QB
Guest
the Jets will...and probably pay him handsomely. Not saying it's a good move, but it will likely happen IMO. Not making a direct comparison between Romo and Farve, and not saying the same will happen with Romo...but...Farve had one of his very best seasons after being moved on from Green Bay.
NFLfan29
Guest
Should have traded Romo before the deadline as Prescott will still be the quarterback all the way
NFLfan29
Guest
Don't forget the close one in the final game vs the Eagles for division win in 2013
no one in particular
Roar Guru
nobody is paying that for a 36yo broken down QB
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Dalton has been sacked more times in 8 games this season then each of the past 2 full seasons. I'd say the OL is the place to start. When they keep him upright his QB rating this season is the second best of his career.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Your first few sentences sound a lot like Seattle a few years ago.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
I'll stay with Prescott for one reason and that is Romo is too fragile. Retire man, you have a wife and kids and millions in the bank. He is one hit away from being a paraplegic.
joe
Guest
If Dalton isn't what is wrong with the Bengals then what is? I would say Marvin Lewis first off.But right after that it is Dalton. That Bengals team was loaded from about 2013 thru 2015.Arguably the best overall talent of any team in the NFL So they HAD the talent.The QB gets the glory when the team wins Dalton didn't step up in big playoff games when it mattered he has to shoulder much of the blame I remember one playoff game at Houston a few years back,Bengals down late & Dalton missed a wide open AJ Green in the end zone that would have tied the game late in 4th.He missed the throw & missed many other opportunities in playoff games when he could have stepped up. Look at the lack of output from a Dalton led offense in playoff games. The talent was there the defense did its job but he didn't get it done on offense.
joe
Guest
I agree that the level of competition is down in the NFC vs some previous years that Dallas were contenders. But that is hardly a ringing endorsement of Romo.He has a better chance now because the opposition is weaker. I think he is a very good QB kind of that second tier of guys over the past 10 years.Romo,Rivers,Eli Manning (even though he has 2 rings still not upper tier IMO) are all in that category of very good QB's. You still can't count on him when it REALLY matters.More often than not he makes the bad throw. Very good QB but i don't see him ever playing much again mainly due to injuries he is fragile now that back/core area is one hit away from having him out again.Not to mention the collarbone injuries he has sustained as well.All those hits add up & at his age it doesn't heal quicker either.
Matthew H
Guest
Looking at the records, Dallas have pretty regularly had the opportunity to top their division with just better than 0.500 record but haven't been able to get it done. The NFC East has no team with less than 4 wins, so while Dallas has 6, they are only 2 in front. May not even top division with a good record. How many wins needed to top division this year? I guess that its 11-12?
kingcowboy
Guest
Stay with Dak n trade Romo in off-season, may get a 2nd or 3rd pick for him
Matthew H
Guest
2007 - Romo in as 'holder for the kick' with Dallas behind by 2 and attempting 19yd field goal. Romo fumbles snap. 2008 - final game v Eagles for division win, Romo turns ball over 3 times and no TD in 6-44 loss 2009 - Romo wins 1st play-off game 34-14. In the Divisional round Romo turns the ball over 3 times in 3-34 loss 2011 - final game v Giants for division win, Romo plays ok but Dallas lose 14-31 2012 - final game v Redskins for division win. Romo throws 3 interceptions in 18-28 (I think) loss 2014 - Romo wins 1st play-off game 24-20. In the Divisional round Romo plays ok but Dasllas comes up short in 21-26 loss with incredible Bryant haul-in deemed incomplete on Calvin Johnson Rule. While unfortunate, them's the facts. I can't see Dallas ever winning a Superbowl with Romo. In my opinion they missed a chance to trade for something beneficial now too as he is quite old. In his defense he is getting better in big games, but still not a big game winner.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
To be fair. Dalton isn't whats wrong with the Bengals. If anything Dalton has kept his play at the level he found last year. That for me is above average, but not elite. As for the Cowboys. They should be maximising what they can get for Romo from a QB Hungry team, 2nd+3rd round pick? That could get it done. Geez, you could see a team like the Browns jumping at the bit to grab that. Though that can wait till the end of the season. Romo will be a good influence on Prescott. Anyway, the future is Prescott, and that future needs to start now. I don't see them winning the superbowl with Romo and who knows how good Romo's back really is.
Jay Croucher
Expert
Joe, I never said that Andy Dalton was ready to rise to a new level of greatness. In fact, I said the opposite. 'Dalton likely won’t be as good as he was last year – such quantum leaps are rarely sustainable'. http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/09/07/nfl-season-preview-part-4-elite/ The combination of Dallas's supporting cast and the lack of a clear dominant force in the NFC (in 07, 09 and 14 when Dallas contended there were the juggernauts in Green Bay, New Orleans and Seattle) make this Romo's best chance of getting to the Super Bowl.
Tom Rock
Expert
Tough situation. While Prescott has performed well, and far above expectations, the Dallas offence is built for him to succeed. Having the most diminant O-line in the league, a top 5 wide reciever and a bruising tailback will make any quarterback's job much easier. There is no doubt in my mind that Romo would be putting up better number and producing the same amount of wins if healthy. But quarterbacks are sensitive souls. Benching Prescott at the top of his game might permanently dent that essential swagger QBs need to succeed. Best case scenario is for Dak to get hurt, allowing Romo to re-enter the line-up without controversy. If Tony then stinks up the joint, bench him when Prescott is healthy.
joe
Guest
There is nothing to suggest they can 'win the SuperBowl with Romo'..just like your claim awhile back of Andy Dalton ready to rise to a new level of greatness.What suggests ANY of these claims are valid? Dalton is a solid QB,there's nothing to suggest he has an extra gear to kick into. Romo is a very good QB,but he has been in the league for 11yrs or so & yet to make any real playoff runs.Now he is the key to a SuperBowl victory? Granted this Dallas team is more balanced than most other teams they have had in Romo's tenure so i will give you that. Plus the NFC isn't great this year.Very evenly balanced.Probably 5 or 6 teams with legitimate shot at being the NFC champion. The biggest issue now for Romo is health.Basically his body is broken down.Even IF Dallas inserted him back in as starting QB next weekend, Romo is one hit,one.awkward fall away from leaving the field with another injury. I think that is what is going to decide the issue.Prescott will continue to be the long term QB even if they reinstated Romo.I don't think his back is going to hold up.Back injuries never heal properly.He has a lot of wear n tear to me he is a good QB who's best days physically have passed him by.I don't think he can play much longer.
monday QB
Guest
the pats never went back to Bledsoe. It's working, it has real potential to be the long term future and its unlikely the team would be going any better under Romo. stick with it.
Matthew H
Guest
Show me Romo's Superbowl rings then.