Doomsday101
12-17-2004, 09:20 AM
IRVING, Texas - Drew Henson lasted just two quarters as the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Three weeks later, he’s not even their top backup.
Henson was dropped to No. 3 this week, with Tony Romo moving up to No. 2. Romo has been with the team since the start of last season without taking a snap in a regular-season game.
Romo revealed the change Wednesday, soon after Parcells said he hadn’t set the depth chart. At his daily news conference Thursday, Parcells insisted the new order was no big deal, saying he likes to flip-flop them every so often “to make sure they are staying in tune with what we’re doing and preparing for the game like they’re going to play in it.”
Although Parcells said he “wouldn’t make too much out of” this, he knows there are no minor issues when it comes to Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks.
Cowboys fans are always looking for someone to carry on the tradition of Don Meredith, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. Henson is supposed to be next in line and he seemed to be coming along well. He spent the first five games as the third-stringer, the next five games as the backup, then started the 11th game, albeit mainly because Vinny Testaverde was injured.
Parcells benched Henson at halftime of a tie game and went back to Testaverde. Henson remained at No. 2 the last two games, but didn’t throw a pass.
Now he’s back where he began the season — and this time there are just three games left, which is why Parcells also is talking about sending him to NFL Europe for some game experience.
“It’s not demotions or psychological warfare,” Parcells said. “It really isn’t.”
Henson said he was disappointed to be “farther from being on the field,” yet he remains hopeful he can get some snaps this season. Regardless, he considers his rookie year a good first step in his return to football after playing pro baseball the last three years.
“I know I’ve gotten better since the season started. I can feel that,” he said. “As long as I’m making progress in my own mind, I take everything else for what it’s worth and try not to read too much into it.”
Before lifting the hopes of Cowboys fans, Henson was supposed to be the next great star for the New York Yankees. He endured his share of disappointments along the way to realizing it wasn’t going to happen. Parcells is counting on that experience to help him deal with this — that is, if there’s anything to be disappointed about.
Parcells said Romo hasn’t necessarily passed Henson in the team’s big-picture plans, he just wants to take a longer look at Romo, who made the team last year as an undrafted rookie from Division I-AA Eastern Illinois.
This move gives Romo more work with the first-team offense during practices, in addition to the obvious benefit of being a Testaverde injury away from playing in a game.
“I don’t think it’s a tryout,” Romo said. “I think you’re always competing, whether it’s practice or a game. Coaches are always making decisions on personnel. ... I look at it as an opportunity to show the coaching staff and my teammates that I can play and help this team win. If they need me to play, then I’ll be ready.”
It could happen Sunday in Philadelphia and not just because of injury. Parcells said there are scenarios in which he’d sub Romo for Testaverde.
Testaverde is 41, so he’s obviously not the team’s quarterback of the future. Parcells realizes that at the end of the year he needs to be closer to figuring out whether Henson or Romo could be — or should he acquire another QB in the offseason.
How they’ve done in practice has given him “a sense of what each of their ability is,” but he considers that only a start.
“I haven’t seen enough of either of them under game conditions to make that determination,” Parcells said. “You have to see them under duress.
“So what we need to do is stop talking about this. Not because I am uncomfortable talking about it; it is an exercise in futility now.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6725885/
Henson was dropped to No. 3 this week, with Tony Romo moving up to No. 2. Romo has been with the team since the start of last season without taking a snap in a regular-season game.
Romo revealed the change Wednesday, soon after Parcells said he hadn’t set the depth chart. At his daily news conference Thursday, Parcells insisted the new order was no big deal, saying he likes to flip-flop them every so often “to make sure they are staying in tune with what we’re doing and preparing for the game like they’re going to play in it.”
Although Parcells said he “wouldn’t make too much out of” this, he knows there are no minor issues when it comes to Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks.
Cowboys fans are always looking for someone to carry on the tradition of Don Meredith, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. Henson is supposed to be next in line and he seemed to be coming along well. He spent the first five games as the third-stringer, the next five games as the backup, then started the 11th game, albeit mainly because Vinny Testaverde was injured.
Parcells benched Henson at halftime of a tie game and went back to Testaverde. Henson remained at No. 2 the last two games, but didn’t throw a pass.
Now he’s back where he began the season — and this time there are just three games left, which is why Parcells also is talking about sending him to NFL Europe for some game experience.
“It’s not demotions or psychological warfare,” Parcells said. “It really isn’t.”
Henson said he was disappointed to be “farther from being on the field,” yet he remains hopeful he can get some snaps this season. Regardless, he considers his rookie year a good first step in his return to football after playing pro baseball the last three years.
“I know I’ve gotten better since the season started. I can feel that,” he said. “As long as I’m making progress in my own mind, I take everything else for what it’s worth and try not to read too much into it.”
Before lifting the hopes of Cowboys fans, Henson was supposed to be the next great star for the New York Yankees. He endured his share of disappointments along the way to realizing it wasn’t going to happen. Parcells is counting on that experience to help him deal with this — that is, if there’s anything to be disappointed about.
Parcells said Romo hasn’t necessarily passed Henson in the team’s big-picture plans, he just wants to take a longer look at Romo, who made the team last year as an undrafted rookie from Division I-AA Eastern Illinois.
This move gives Romo more work with the first-team offense during practices, in addition to the obvious benefit of being a Testaverde injury away from playing in a game.
“I don’t think it’s a tryout,” Romo said. “I think you’re always competing, whether it’s practice or a game. Coaches are always making decisions on personnel. ... I look at it as an opportunity to show the coaching staff and my teammates that I can play and help this team win. If they need me to play, then I’ll be ready.”
It could happen Sunday in Philadelphia and not just because of injury. Parcells said there are scenarios in which he’d sub Romo for Testaverde.
Testaverde is 41, so he’s obviously not the team’s quarterback of the future. Parcells realizes that at the end of the year he needs to be closer to figuring out whether Henson or Romo could be — or should he acquire another QB in the offseason.
How they’ve done in practice has given him “a sense of what each of their ability is,” but he considers that only a start.
“I haven’t seen enough of either of them under game conditions to make that determination,” Parcells said. “You have to see them under duress.
“So what we need to do is stop talking about this. Not because I am uncomfortable talking about it; it is an exercise in futility now.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6725885/