Looking back: Was it a mistake not to go back to Romo

SultanOfSix

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You're wrong about the rule. If you're deemed as going to the ground, those rules apply over everything else and you can't have the ball hit the ground and come out. Happened to Megatron, happened to Dez, happened to Jesse James. Nobody liked the rule for obvious reasons but it was applied consistently while in effect.
The rule is utterly stupid and like many that exist can be interpreted within a vagueness depending upon on how the reffing mafioso sees fit. Dez clearly caught the ball in every way a catch is known in all the years football has existed (except when a stupid rule with interpretive bias can be applied), secured it, and made a football move to reach for the goal line. He wouldn't have been able to do the latter if he never had possession. I don't think I've seen a receiver where he tip-toes catches it on the sideline, secures it, is falling down in the process, hits the ground, loses the ball because of ground, and they call it an incomplete pass. That's the same type of thing that can be interpreted as "going to the ground" or whatever nonsense this rule has in its language.
 

Northern_Cowboy

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The smart move would have been to go back to Romo after he was healthy enough to play. Why? Because at the time he was the better player, there is really no disputing that Tony Romo was a better QB than Dak Prescott in 2016 and if you are trying to win a SB you play your best players when they are healthy enough to play. Cowboys didn't do that and it was a mistake. Romo coming back was not going to hurt that offense, all/most of the starters on offense with the exception of Zeke had been playing with Romo for years. Nobody knows how long Romo would have played or whether or not he gets hurt again, maybe he playes 2 games maybe he finishes the season, it's not relevent he was the better player and should have played when healthy. Now the Cowboys built that team and offense for Romo who do you think gets more out of it? Dak had a great rookie season, i have never disputed that but thinking a rookie QB was going to do something that had never been done in the history of the NFL (win a championship) was not realistic. You give Romo his starting job back, if he doesn't produce (which wouldn't happen but if it did) go back to Dak to finish the season. At any rate now knowing you have a possible replacement for Romo you could have let Romo go after the 2016 season and turned the ship over to Dak for 2017 and moved on. Doing it in 2016 was premature and probably cost us a very serious run at the SB that season
 
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Deep_Freeze

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Well what is being ignored is Zeke being on that team, something Romo never really had throughout his career.

No matter what we say about Romo getting hurt again, at the end of the day that's just something we don't know. We do know Romo didn't get a chance to play, and if Romo had gotten hurt we still had Dak. Pretty simple really.

Romo should've gotten a chance, Dak was good in that season but its not like we were looking at Kurt Warner.
 

Cowboy4ever

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I said it then and I will say it now, it was the biggest mistake in JG career as a coach. There was NO DOWNSIDE. At the point Romo could have come back, Dak had already established a role on this team moving forward. So here are the 3 scenarios that could have happened:

1. Romo stays healthy and was the best chance to get that team to the SB. In this scenario, you have the best of everything. If you decide that Dak is the future, a healthy Romo that just took the team to the playoffs and showed he could still play, can be traded for a decent ransom. Or you can keep Romo and let him groom Dak who had already shown he could play.

2. Romo is injured again. This would have sealed his fate, he would have known along with everyone else it was time to retire.

3. Romo is the backup and Dak is allowed to remain the starter. This all but sealed that Romo was gone at the end of the year, one way or another. It was the worst out of the 3 decisions and of course, it is the one that was made.
 

CowboysFaninHouston

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I wonder how things would have played out in 2016 if Romo got his job back once he became healthy.

Perhaps he could have taken the team all the way to the Superbowl like he almost did in 2014.

Perhaps Romo could have played one more season and Dak would only have 2018 and 2019 as being a starter for this team. His value would most likely be worth less because 2017 was a down year for Dak.

Perhaps he could've got re-injured and Dak would've stepped back in only further proving Romo's durability issues.

But to this day I still think Garrett and Jones did Romo dirty by not giving him his starting job back.

Jason Garrett.....*shivers*
I have been a dak critic in the past, I argued last summer that we should wait to see his improvements before offering a contract to make sure and paying a few more millions per year is not a big deal....I am a supporter to sign him now, given we have a QB that an play, the team is ready to make a run in the next few years and coaching having been the issue over the past few years.... with that said, I also argued in 2016, that we should go back to Romo. I was happy that we had found Dak, but given that team was ready to make a run, we couldn't/shouldn't go into the playoffs with a Rookie QB. Playoffs are a different animal than regular season and no Rookie has ever had success going deep into the playoffs.....its the way of NFL. its the needed experience and I thought Romo would have given us a better chance in the playoffs than a Rookie Dak, despite the regular season success. nothing against Dak, but just that we would have had better odds.

also, with that said Playoffs is not about players, its mostly about coaches. talent level is much higher for playoff teams (obviously) and as you go deeper, talent is higher and coaching becomes the difference between good teams and bad teams. making the right calls during crucial times becomes even more Key and I didn't think we had that, so how deep could we have gone? probably at best, with some luck to the NFCCG...….
 

DFWJC

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The rule is utterly stupid and like many that exist can be interpreted within a vagueness depending upon on how the reffing mafioso sees fit. Dez clearly caught the ball in every way a catch is known in all the years football has existed (except when a stupid rule with interpretive bias can be applied), secured it, and made a football move to reach for the goal line. He wouldn't have been able to do the latter if he never had possession. I don't think I've seen a receiver where he tip-toes catches it on the sideline, secures it, is falling down in the process, hits the ground, loses the ball because of ground, and they call it an incomplete pass. That's the same type of thing that can be interpreted as "going to the ground" or whatever nonsense this rule has in its language.
I wouldn't go down that rabbit hole with this guy on this topic.
He shows up every single time that play is mentioned and will argue no matter what you say.
It's pointless. Regardless of if the rule was dumb and eventually changed, he seems to have another agenda in just for some odd reason wanting Romo, in particular, to fail.
Maybe his boyfriend was an NFL official, I don't know....but he will argue that point till his dying breath.
 

John813

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Not really. Sometimes you can only make these decisions after you have the benefit of time.

In 2016, I was a strong proponent of staying with the hot hand. In fairness to Dak, that loss in the divisional playoffs was not on him; it was on poor coaching and bad defense.

So I’m going to say no, Romo still wouldn’t have won that game.

2016 remains, to me, the best year of Dak’s career. I’m not looking at passing yards, which reflects changes in the NFL over the past 4 years and the benefit of being in a Kellen Moore offense. I’m talking about touchdowns to interceptions and making good decisions, running with the football, etc.

It's been a topic every offseason though.
My point was it's been discussed so much and there's no new "evidence" to sway the conservation from either side.
One thing if Garrett came out after being not re-signed and mentioned that XXXX wanted Romo in but he was overruled by YYYY.

Well what is being ignored is Zeke being on that team, something Romo never really had throughout his career.

No matter what we say about Romo getting hurt again, at the end of the day that's just something we don't know. We do know Romo didn't get a chance to play, and if Romo had gotten hurt we still had Dak. Pretty simple really.

Romo should've gotten a chance, Dak was good in that season but its not like we were looking at Kurt Warner.

Murray in 2014 was very comparable. Didn't have Zeke's athletics but was a bull in the run game.
He was actually used more in the passing game than Zeke was used in 16.

The gameplan for both 14 and 16 were very similar. Control TOP, and their best defense was their offense eating clock.
Superior run game that lead to the passing game being efficient.
 

glimmerman

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From what I recall, it was Garrett, Linehan, and S. Jones that were on board with keeping the rookie (who was exposed on 3rd & long repeatedly that year) out there over the All-Pro. Jerry wanted Romo. Jerry was right. Personally, I think Garrett and Linehan liked the fact that Dak wouldn't change their plays. Zeke was dominant and Dak could run if a play didn't work. They were winning, so "why change it?" The problem was, when we played the Giants and Vikings, Dak's rookie warts were exposed - he was helpless on 3rd and long. Romo was the best passer in the NFL in in last season prior to injury ('14). I would love to have seen him with Zeke. It would've been like taking candy from a baby with that offense. Garrett wasted some really talented rosters. Ironically, if Romo wasn't so good at making Garrett look competent over the years, Garrett probably wouldn't have still been around to screw Romo.
And if JG failed with Dak he would have a excuse. And your right. Romo came out for one drive and made the easy TD. With Elliot to carry the load better than murray we would have not came out flat in some games. Give Romo a Cooper and Elliot. It’s a lot of coulda shoulda. But I bet Romo thought about it. Lol.
 

Redball Express

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The Dallas Cowboys hindsight game.
Have hours of fun with family and friends looking back on the history of the franchise and second-guess every move

Bonus what if cards included

:laugh:
Sure..if cards are included..you could bet your house the Cowboys would win a SB.

And lose that bet 25 times over.

Nice odds.
 

Beaker42

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Dear sir,

Thank you for outing yourself so candidly, along with many others In this thread, for the complete and utter Dak hating trolls they really are.
:facepalm:
Dear sir,

Thank you for outing yourself so candidly, along with many others In this thread, for the complete and utter Dak hating trolls they really are.
:facepalm:
He’s not worth what he’s asking. Not even close.
 

Frozen700

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I remember he also cured many diseases, found many long lost ancient relics, and woo'd many of the lady folk during that Eagles game

Hey I know it's hard for you to see anyone diss your man, but Dak is trash, get over it.

No need to cry and get all butt hurt.

#DontpayDak
 

PJTHEDOORS

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Seriously! Warner is a 2 time MVP Hall of Famer... Dak couldn’t even get in the Pro Bowl in his garbage time inflated, much bally-hooed, near 5000 yard season. Yet the only difference between the two is coaching... lol.

LOL! I know. Garrett has never been exposed for his lack of adjustments, prevent defenses under Marinelli, etc.
 
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