Chilling comment from Babe Laufenberg

[Zimmy Lives]

I had a disc problem back in college (i can't recall if it was L4-L5 or L5-S1) over 10 years ago.............. Developed severe pain in the lower back and then numbness developed down the left leg into my calf and ankle area over time. Did injections and exercise that only provided temporary solutions but eventually the pain would come back. I had surgery to remove part of the disc and have been fine ever since with some occassional flare ups but nothing significant.

Granted, as you said, I am not a NFL QB. But I can attest that I have had a disc problem that was largely fixed with surgery.

You're probably shorter as well!

I was told I would lose an inch or more if I had disc surgery so I said no. I'd rather be 6-2 and in pain than 6'0 and healthy.

 

[Sydla]

If Romo plays this year out and we miss the playoffs again, there is very likely to be a completely new coaching staff in place that will likely want to put its own imprint on the team (as much as Jerry allows) that probably won't include wheeling around an oft-injured 35-year-old QB in Romo. His time is running out if we don't win big this year. The only thing tying Romo to the starting job in that scenario would be the money Jerry has paid him.

And given the wide range of opinions on Manziel, it's possible you could hire a coach to take over for Garrett that doesn't think highly of Manziel and what's his own QB. And if Jones limited his coaching search to guys who liked Manziel and wanted to work with him, that would be idiotic.

As for money tying Romo to the starting job............. absolutely........... but that's the reality of today's NFL. It doesnt' work like your fantasy team where you can sit guys without a care in the world as to your salary cap numbers, etc.

 

[erod]

None of that has anything to do with my post. My point was that I don't believe Babe's comments were the result of inside information from anyone he is close to because if they were and he blabbed it on the air right before the draft, he would lose all his contacts and possibly his job. His comments were his opinion based on what he knows of back injuries and that's fine but is totally unreliable when it comes to Romo because no one knows at this point.

All true. I hope it was speculation. But he's known hundreds of NFL players whose career was ended by back issues, and I think he believes Romo will be no different.

If Dallas does go QB in round 1 or 2, I think we'll know how they feel about Romo's health.

 

[Sydla]

You're probably shorter as well!

I was told I would lose an inch or more if I had disc surgery so I said no. I'd rather be 6-2 and in pain than 6'0 and healthy.

I didn't lose any height at all and if I did, it was miniscule. I didn't have the full disc removed so maybe that's a reason?

 

[Leadbelly]

Has Babe recently graduated from medical school and I wasn't aware? If not his opinion means absolutely nothing on the health of a person's back. What a stupid thing to say with 0 medical background.

Pretty much. I also think this business of Babe being close buds with Romo and Garrett…a bit overstated. He was a backup QB for two years in Dallas. If there's a fraternity of Cowboys QBs, Babe is Stork in Animal House.

I'm sure they have a friendly relationship, but not significantly different from one with Bill Jones or most of the other locals that cover the team.

 

[erod]

The scary thing is that Jerry and Manziel have the same personalities. They're drawn together.

Manziel comes from a trust-fund family with a very sordid past. They blamed A&M for all his multiple college troubles, and he was living the diva life without going to class. He thumbed his nose at everything about being a college football player except playing on Saturday.

He acts like Justin Bieber, hanging with rap stars all the time and challenging all authority. You bring him here, this close to his home and all his homies, and you're going to get the equivalent of Jerry the GM on the field. Wild, undisciplined, screw-it-all football.

That's exactly he may fall tonight in the draft, and God forbid we take him.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Super Bowl aside, Russell Wilson struggled last year for long stretches of games. He's a champion because of his ridiculous defense, not his dynamic offense. Same for Kaepernick, who struggled last year. RG3 is struggling. Manuel, Vick, Locker.....the guys you tout ain't getting it done with any consistency.

The Mannings, Rodgers, Flacco, Roethlisberger, Brees (pocket QB), Romo, Rivers, Ryan.....pocket passers win in the NFL. That hasn't changed.

Wait, so is your problem with Manziel's height or do you just not like running QBs? You're moving the goalposts now.

Struggles for long stretches in games? Really? When was this? I'm sure he wasn't lights out every second of every game, but the guy had a remarkable season for his second year in the league and WON THE SUPERBOWL. Great completion percentage, great QB rating, 26 TDs/9 INTs. The guy was fantastic. And he has one of the most mediocre WR cores in the league.

It's laughable for you to include RG3, Kaepernick and Manuel in there. Manuel was a ROOKIE last year, but according to you he "just ain't getting it done" huh? Right. RG3 carried his team single handedly to the playoffs in year one and had an awful year two coming off a torn up knee. I'm not a fan of the guy or his team, but the jury is not out on him yet by a long shot. Vick is just washed up, it has nothing to do with being a running QB. Kaepernick is a third-year QB who has gotten better every year and been in the Superbowl/NFC Championship the last two years. You're really grasping at straws here.

 

[Teague31]

Babe also said romo would not be ready for the start of last season. Dude is a hack

 

[DOUBLE WING]

And given the wide range of opinions on Manziel, it's possible you could hire a coach to take over for Garrett that doesn't think highly of Manziel and what's his own QB. And if Jones limited his coaching search to guys who liked Manziel and wanted to work with him, that would be idiotic.

As for money tying Romo to the starting job............. absolutely........... but that's the reality of today's NFL. It doesnt' work like your fantasy team where you can sit guys without a care in the world as to your salary cap numbers, etc.

How would that be idiotic? Manziel is an investment that you have to cater to. You make your offense work around Manziel, not the other way around. Any coach that would come in here under that scenario (missing the playoffs and firing Garrett) would have to be a coach who is willing and able to create an offense to fit Manziel.

As for the salary cap, that's not really the reality of the NFL. I've seen high-dollar guys benched around the league. Romo is getting paid the same whether he starts or not. I'm sure you hate, as an owner, to see a guy making that much and not playing, but if he's not the best player he shouldn't be out there. We can't assume what Jerry will do because he rarely ever does the logical thing when it comes to football decision making.

 

[Sydla]

How would that be idiotic? Manziel is an investment that you have to cater to. You make your offense work around Manziel, not the other way around. Any coach that would come in here under that scenario (missing the playoffs and firing Garrett) would have to be a coach who is willing and able to create an offense to fit Manziel.

As for the salary cap, that's not really the reality of the NFL. I've seen high-dollar guys benched around the league. Romo is getting paid the same whether he starts or not. I'm sure you hate, as an owner, to see a guy making that much and not playing, but if he's not the best player he shouldn't be out there. We can't assume what Jerry will do because he rarely ever does the logical thing when it comes to football decision making.

Because in limiting yourself to coaches who just want to work with Manziel, you are limiting the pool of coaches you are choosing from. How are you not seeing that? Manziel isn't or wouldn't be an established QB. It's different hiring a coach for a team that has an established QB in place.

Give me the list of $27MM cap hit players that were benched that weren't either hurt or fell off the cliff and went from good (which Romo is) to awful.

 

[Corso]

I will kick back and watch the earth burn.

It will be of Biblical proportions and it will be grand entertainment.
I'm getting ready as we speak!

 

[Fredd]

anyone that goes by the name of "babe" is a pig to me

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I think the only way we go with a first round QB is if Romo's back is truly a major concern. All indications from the powers that be are that the recovery is ahead of schedule if anything. He has been in voluntary workouts....don't you think if there was a problem they would be holding him out?

I am hoping for a major name QB at 16 so we can trade out and get good value....honestly hope there is just one left, along with one good OT and maybe one stud WR so we have our choice of trade partners.

 

[maxdallasfan]

Romo's back is fine until he gets up off the turf 10 times in Week #1.

 

[lqmac1]

No disrespect, but you cannot say that you have watched any of Blake Bortles' games if you are saying that. I would take Manziel over Bortles, but Blake was straight money under pressure and in crunch time.

Honestly, I didn't watch him. But what competition did he really face?

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Honestly, I didn't watch him. But what competition did he really face?

Good night man! I am not going to do your research for you. Opinions are great and all, but why exactly would you throw one out there when you have never seen him play? That means it is not your opinion at all.

 

[manster4ever]

Yesterday on local radio, Babe Laufenberg was on. He is the color analyst for Cowboys radio broadcast and a very close friend of Jason Garrett, as well as the guy that was touting Romo back when Drew Bledsoe was still the QB. He knows Romo well personally. (He was also a backup QB in the NFL for several years.)

He made a comment that does not bode well, given the inside scoop he generally has.

Laufenberg said he doesn't believe Romo will be able to get through next season with his back issues. In fact, he said he didn't think he ever would again.

Coming from anyone else, that would seem just like a random opinion to fill air space, but it had a cryptic feel coming from him because he's generally fairly conservative with his statements.

I think the Cowboys' opinion on this will be evident tonight if they go after Manziel or Bortles as a "surprise" pick. Mayock and McShay have Dallas taking Manziel at 16, which seems crazy because I don't think he'll be there.

Simply put, I'll be upset if Dallas takes Manziel tonight because that is not an immediate need. But part of me will wonder if this is far more about Romo's back than Jerry's need for splash and attention. (Laufenberg thinks Manziel will be a bust in the NFL, btw.)

If Romo is close to done, there are very dark days ahead in Dallas. That would be the ONLY reason to get a QB in round 1 tonight. If that's the case, I just hope it's Bortles because I don't think Peter Dinklage can hold up in the NFL either.

More than anything, I hope Laufenberg is dreadfully wrong about this and Romo plays on, while we bring Aaron Donald to the Cowboys tonight.

Confirms what I've said a few times on this board the last couple months.....NOBODY has agreed. I don't know why the heck anyone thinks this guy is going to stay healthy in 14', 15' or 16'.....his back is about fried and that means he is. Sad but true. Worst contract EVER by JJ...makes the deals given to Spencer, Rat, Austin, etc....pale in comparison.

 

[jnday]

What if his back is fine? Are you willing to throw away this draft and many drafts of the future for one QB who may or may not be good? I would rather build the team to help out the current QB.

They would be spending one pick. How is that throwing away an entire draft class? Why will that one pick cost the team in future drafts? This QB may or may not be good. You are right about that. Every player in this draft may be good or may not. You made one heck of a post that contained nothing but jibberish.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Honestly, I didn't watch him. But what competition did he really face?

Only in America can you give an opinion on something you know nothing about and expect people to think your opinion holds any weight.

 

[Avery]

All this Manziel talk is just funny to me. Break it down at the absolute level and it really comes down to this:

Year 1 - You draft Manziel at #16 and you immediately hear some fans come and decry that Romo hasn't gotten it done in eight years and it's time to move on. The logical side is that you're paying Romo a ton of money and, when healthy, is one of the top QB's in the league. Romo starts, Manziel rides pine and learns from a fellow gunslinger.

Year 2 - Depending on the previous campaign (let's say we go 10-6 and get bounced in the NFC playoffs), the peanut gallery grows louder. Another year of no SB's, Manziel getting more ready while his rookie contract continues to age, Tony getting older. He's still owed a ton of money and we did go 10-6 with him. However, with every interception Romo throws, the groans grow louder. Unless a SB is won, Romo's time has come to a close.

Year 3 - You have no choice but to start him at this point as JJ can't lose face with keeping JF on the bench and hearing that the #16 pick is a bust.