The future is finally in focus

[Bleu Star]

And it's not even his time yet.

I can't wait for Tony Romo to get back. Can't wait. His experience and know-how back in the backfield again, changing protections, signaling a route adjustment to Dez, pointing out the Mike, carving up the defense with his mind and his fancy pocket feet. The entire playbook back at our disposal. Let this big dog of an offense eat.

I so hope the Romo magic is still there. It's glorious to watch, and this season needs it, especially if a playoff game is in its future. He deserves another chance or two, and I hope he gets it.

But....suddenly, it's not nearly as critical as before. No longer are we pressured by the hear-and-now, because this team is no longer under the heavy microscope of the present and past. Sure, it is for Romo, but not for this team. Not for us. Not anymore.

There is a future. Say it with me.....by gosh, there's life after Romo. By some cruel joke to Cowboy haters everywhere, the Cowboys have stumbled on to Dak Prescott late in the draft after a half dozen had gone before him. It's another Romo miracle.

It's not just that Prescott can play. The real story is that Romo and Prescott are the too most poised, mature, well-mannered, serious, studied, and personality-polished players on the roster right now. Prescott doesn't just play like a veteran, he ACTS like one. None of this seems overwhelming to him.

Prescott isn't jaw-jacking after he makes a play. He's not look-at-me showboating after he scores, or getting into it with opponents. He more or less told Dez to shut up and play last week by telling the media he's not concerned about how many catches he receiver gets. I loved that. When he plays, it's Prescott's huddle. Nobody challenges him, and he wouldn't tolerate it if they did.

Plus, Prescott has a body built for the brutality of the position, and with a penchant for keeping plays alive and his eyes downfield. Prescott can run, but he doesn't unless there's no option. That is a real QB, and it will serve his longevity well. It's important because that ability tends to leave mid-career like it did Romo, so to be a QB first is vital. He won't be 23 forever.

Romo will return sometime after the first 4-6 games. It'll be fun to see him out there, and I hope he can still play like the Tony we know. I hope the back issues settle down and the collar bone is strong so this deserving warrior can finish his career on his terms this year and next.

But if not....if that back torques wrongly or that shoulder shatters again, we won't be held hostage this time with our heads buried in our hands. You know that position too well. We've all assumed it a few times in recent years.

If there's another unfortunate next time, we can say a sincere 'thanks' to Tony and turn the page. It'll be an unfair ending for a guy that's shouldered this team through tough times, taking Jerry's 3-13 rosters to 8-8 and beyond. What Romo has done with historically bad defenses and no-name offensive lines is nothing short of Hall-of-Fame worthy. Football ain't always fair.

Whatever happens, our football anxieties have been cured by an almost accidental afterthought of a compensatory pick in the 4th round. It's almost like finding an unknown kid from Eastern Illinois all over again. Just listen to the teeth-grinding around the league. Imagine the Commander fans' thoughts yesterday watching Dak. Yummy.

So the Dallas Cowboys are still Tony Romo's team. Sooner or later, it'll be Dak Prescott's. For about the next 10-15 years, in fact.

What a beautiful thing to write with confidence.

What a beautiful thing to read.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Man, it's easier to throw turds than it is to put something out there. That goes for all of us, and not just CowboyRoy's comments.

Keep on truckin' with the post-game content, though. You're getting the active thread out of it, no matter what.

Why better prepared for next year? Romo will be our starting QB next year.

Im sure he will. Just like last year and this year.

 

[Idgit]

I'll agree to disagree. I clearly see who the aggressor was here.

And for the record, I also saw that several other posters agreed with my comment about it.

I don't care enough to get all that involved in it, honestly. I noted that erod wrote a nice OP and Roy's one-line response suggested his opinion was 'totally ridiculous.' In my book, I'd have considered it first blood. From what I've seen of your book, you normally would, too. Now, as I said, erod went straight for the red button, but then, I completely understand that, too, given who he was using it on.

I do agree that it was a cold blooded response, though.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Tony is the starter. If we somehow find ourselves on a 4 game win streak, it means the entire team is running at full speed. But nobody seems to mention the other possibility. What if we find ourselves in a 4 game losing streak? Does that mean Dak isn't the next great thing?

As a 23 year old we're fine with him being a backup. In a decade the guy will still be younger than Romo today. So there's that. Dak is the future. But we need Romo back and healthy.

If you can agree that we are not winning the SB with either Romo or Dak then we should all be hoping for Dak to be THAT guy and never look back.

 

[Stash]

I don't care enough to get all that involved in it, honestly. I noted that erod wrote a nice OP and Roy's one-line response suggested his opinion was 'totally ridiculous.' In my book, I'd have considered it first blood. From what I've seen of your book, you normally would, too. Now, as I said, erod went straight for the red button, but then, I completely understand that, too, given who he was using it on.

I do agree that it was a cold blooded response, though.

You know me, I can get emotional with the best of 'em!


I just thought it was awfully quick and a bit uncalled for to tell someone that they "bring nothing" and that they should "find another forum", especially considering that his was the very first response to the thread.

It usually takes me considerably longer to reach a comparable level of outrage.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Broken record.

The answer is no. Unless a Greyhound bus runs over Romo crossing a street pushing his walker (with the customary hollowed out tennis balls on the legs) before he's eventual return, Romo shall return to the starting lineup.

That's realism. Does his return prevent Romo from being re-injured afterwards? No. This is football not chess. Will Prescott continue to learn the position for HOW ever long he holds a clipboard? Highly likely, just like all prepared successors before him.

That's it in a nutshell. Some want the future right now. Great. However, what shall happen, positively or negatively, is outside everyone's control EXCEPT those directly connected with the franchise. That's what eats some up the most. Their desire is overruling their understanding of what is most probable in the near future. Repeating that desire despite what shall happen, unless a CNN Breaking News reports a fatality involving a high profile Dallas Cowboy involving a passenger bus, is woefully repetitive--uust like beating incessantly against a wall of realism.

The wall of realism is that the Cowboys are NOT a SB contender with or without Romo. Once you realize that, it becomes quite clear what is best for this franchise.

 

[DC Cowboy]

It is OK fans to think Romo can be who he was. But it is NOT okay for the people that get paid to know these things to think this. The way this team is constructed...we would need the Romo of a few years ago to make a serious run. That guy no longer exists. People need to wake up. Is Romo a better QB than Dak at this point? Yes! But I can see teams blitizing Romo until he cries Uncle when he returns. I just hope Dak continues to get better and does not get discouraged when the politics of this business rear their ugly heads.

With the state of this defense....we are a couple of years away. And anyone who thought Romo could carry this team for an entire season+playoffs has simply not been paying attention.

If they want to give Romo one more shot next year...Jerry is going to have to open his wallet and get some catalytic players on every level of this defense next year. And someone opposite Dez that can stretch the field....which will open things up in the run game and give Dez room to operate underneath. The field has really been shrunk with the lack of speed on this team.

I think we definitely need a SPEED WR that can catch opposite Dez no matter who the QB is. We all know about the D.

 

[erod]

Good times, good times...



What about the years before when he had Free, Colombo, Davis, Gurode, and Kosier? I believe there were a couple of Pro Bowls in there too. And they went 13-3.

There were investments made and the cupboard wasn't exactly 'bare'.

2013 had Smith, Leary, Fredrick, and Free. And the team was still 8-8. With historically the worst defense in NFL history.

As much as anything, I hate the fact that Romo's defense has let him down time and time again and forced all of the pressure for winning and losing on him.

See above.

 

[DallasEast]

If you can agree that we are not winning the SB with either Romo or Dak then we should all be hoping for Dak to be THAT guy and never look back.

Everyone hopes Prescott is "that guy." People disagrees about when he will be named the permanent starter.

 

[CowboyRoy]

You know me, I can get emotional with the best of 'em!


I just thought it was awfully quick and a bit uncalled for to tell someone that they "bring nothing" and that they should "find another forum", especially considering that his was the very first response to the thread.

It usually takes me considerably longer to reach a comparable level of outrage.

That is because you are an intelligent, mentally confident individual NOT looking for a pat on the fanny.

Quite frankly, people with something to prove annoy me.

 

[Idgit]

You know me, I can get emotional with the best of 'em!


I just thought it was awfully quick and a bit uncalled for to tell someone that they "bring nothing" and that they should "find another forum", especially considering that his was the very first response to the thread.

It usually takes me considerably longer to reach a comparable level of outrage.

Yah, it was definitely harsh. Especially coming on the heels of the really nicely crafted OP. We went from a ride in the country to a head-on collision in like three posts flat.

 

[erod]

I'll agree to disagree. I clearly see who the aggressor was here.

And for the record, I also saw that several other posters agreed with my comment about it.

LOL, I received no less than 27 likes for that response. His game is old.

I do not have a history of that. That's the only thing he does around here. Every thread is the same with him. Adds nothing.

 

[DallasEast]

The wall of realism is that the Cowboys are NOT a SB contender with or without Romo. Once you realize that, it becomes quite clear what is best for this franchise.

What's best for the franchise is not in your or my purview. And neither of us have extra perceptional abilities to see the future.

 

[CowboyRoy]

Everyone hopes Prescott is "that guy." People disagrees about when he will be named the permanent starter.

Doesnt seem like it to me. Some people in particular seem quite offended that I think Prescott is the guy. Some actually going out of their way to insult the kid and demean how well he has played.

It appears a contingent of Romo fans get insulted and feel insecure when any of us talk about how much we like Dak. All while the rest of the NFL and even East rivals drool over him.

 

[Diehardblues]

We aren't going far with this defense this year with Romo or Dak . I don't even care if we go like 6-10 if we have our heir apparent . The sacrafice is worth the future.

If Romo wants to play we can let him back for one last farewell tour . I suppose we owe him for keeping us in contention this era but I'm for getting on with the future in 2017 after a draft full of defense and free agency acquisitions . Romo would have to make some noise in playoffs to want him back next year.

I don't want to waste any more seasons counting on his health. I'm sorry if that's cold but I don't want to waste another season with this star studded offense while they're in their prime cause it's probably going to take a year or two for Dak to break thru assuming we build the defense.

 

[DallasEast]

That is because you are an intelligent, mentally confident individual NOT looking for a pat on the fanny.

Quite frankly, people with something to prove annoy me.

Irony.

 

[CowboyRoy]

What's best for the franchise is not in your or my purview. And neither of us have extra perceptional abilities to see the future.

LOL...........you talk as if its rocket science. Dak is the real deal. If you cant see that, then that isnt my problem. People are talking about it all over the NFL. I guess Aikman doesnt know what he is talking about either right?

 

[CowboyRoy]

What's best for the franchise is not in your or my purview. And neither of us have extra perceptional abilities to see the future.

But isnt is amazing that I knew Romo would get hurt again this year? And I know that he will get hurt again.

 

[dallasdave]

That is because you are an intelligent, mentally confident individual NOT looking for a pat on the fanny.

Quite frankly, people with something to prove annoy me.

Stash is one of the best posters on this board and he will step in and say something when somebody is being done wrong !!!! He has done it for me in the past, and I am thankful every day Stash is on this board.

 

[DallasEast]

Doesnt seem like it to me. Some people in particular seem quite offended that I think Prescott is the guy. Some actually going out of their way to insult the kid and demean how well he has played.

It appears a contingent of Romo fans get insulted and feel insecure when any of us talk about how much we like Dak. All while the rest of the NFL and even East rivals drool over him.

Not exactly true. It's more accurate to say that some people disagree with your unwillingness to accept that Romo is still part of the starting quarterback equation because of your hardcore Prescott is the future now agenda.

Show me posts where posters do not like conversation about how much Prescott is appreciated, that are also devoid of comments stating or implying Romo will not or should not return as the starter.