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I checked in with five NFL front-office executives to get their takes on what the Cowboys should do when Romo returns, and what the future holds for the veteran QB. I was a little surprised by the responses. Their quotes below are in bold, followed by my take:
Executive 1: Don't mess with a good thing
"Why risk ruining the chemistry? If you could go back to Romo and you lose a game, you could lose the locker room. I would stay with Prescott. There has always been that old thought that a starter can't lose your job to injury. The current players may not remember the Wally Pipp story, where Wally Pipp got hurt and was replaced by Lou Gehrig and lost his job forever."
I was in the locker room after the Cowboys' win over Cincinnati on Sunday, and there is no question that Prescott has won over the room. This isn't a knock on Romo. It says more about Prescott's ability to lead and work with his teammates.
Prescott said one of the things scouts missed on him is his ability to get the most out of his teammates. Wide receiver
Terrance Williams swears by Prescott. The offensive line likes the way he works, and it sure helps him to have the best O-line in the league.
The good news is that Prescott and Romo have an excellent relationship. Prescott has said he's willing to accept being the backup. "This is Romo's team,"
he told reporters last month.
Romo's situation is complicated, however, because he's owed a lot of money over the course of his contract. That brings us to our next executive's suggestion.
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Executive 2: Keep Romo, start Prescott
"They could work out the cap consequences of moving on from Romo over the next two or three years. Sure, the Cowboys are somewhat married to Tony because of the cap. But let's be realistic here. Tony has a great relationship with the team and the owners. He's a Cowboy. I think there is a chance they could lower his salary and accept a backup role for the next couple years and stay with the team. Because of his age and injuries, there are no guarantees he can get a big contract as a starter for a new team."
This is an idea I had never considered. Romo's contract is a huge factor in his future.
Before the 2013 season, Romo signed a six-year, $108 million contract that runs through 2019. He's scheduled to make $14 million next season. After this season, the Cowboys would have to take a $19.6 million cap hit if they let him go in 2017. They could cut him after June 1 and save the $14 million salary and take a $10.7 million hit next year -- a net cap savings of $3.3 million in 2017 -- and an $8.9 million hit in 2018. That's a huge chunk of change to have in dead money.
Ideally, Romo could retire as a Cowboy, but he might not be ready to be a backup unless he suffers another major injury. But how many teams will be looking for a starting quarterback next year? Cleveland, San Francisco, Buffalo and the New York Jets are among the teams that could have open spots, but are they going to want an older QB with an injury history?
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Executive 3: Start the veteran, but get the rookie ready
"It's a good dilemma to have because you have two quarterbacks. I would go back to the established quarterback. You can always go back to Dak if there is an injury or if Romo is struggling. That's not a bad spot to be in."
Many people are discounting the fact that Romo is really good when he's healthy. He's probably a top-10 quarterback when he's at his best.
When Romo starts, the Cowboys are 78-49, and the offense averages 25.4 points per game. With Prescott over the past five games, Dallas is averaging 25.8 per game.
Romo has completed 65.3 percent of his passes over his career. Prescott's completion percentage is 69.
Romo has averaged 7.9 yards per attempt, which ranks sixth in NFL history. Prescott is averaging 8 yards in the five games he has played.
The big difference so far in their careers is that Prescott hasn't turned the ball over. That won't continue, though. He'll have some tough outings, and he'll throw some picks. Executive 3 would like to see how Romo performs with the supporting cast that has benefited Prescott.
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Executive 4: Keep building a new core
"If you are 5-1 going into the bye week or are close to 6-2 by Week 9, there is no way you should go back to Romo. The players would revolt. You are developing a good core of good, young players on offense. I'd get rid of Romo after the season."
That might be a little harsh, but you have to admit Jones went against logic and came out big in the draft. The Cowboys' biggest needs were on defense. Cornerback
Jalen Ramsey seemed to be a natural choice at No. 4, but Jones pushed for Elliott and then tried to trade up at the end of the first round for quarterback
Paxton Lynch (which likely would have changed the course of the Cowboys' season dramatically).
Dallas ended up taking Prescott in the fourth round, and the Prescott-Elliott backfield combo has proved to be formidable. Prescott's ability to run the read-option and to scramble opens up running lanes for Elliott. Elliott is the league's leading rusher. His ability to set up manageable second- and third-down plays makes Prescott's job easier.
The success of Elliott and Prescott enhances the quality of Dallas' draft. Third-round pick
Maliek Collins, a defensive tackle, is starting and playing well. If linebacker
Jaylon Smith, a second-round pick, can heal from his knee problems and become a star next season, the Cowboys would have four starting-caliber players from the 2016 draft. They can build around them and sustain a successful team for several years. The Cowboys have a few more young building blocks, too, including offensive linemen
Tyron Smith,
Zack Martin and
Travis Frederick and safety
Byron Jones.
Because of Romo's age, the thought was that the Cowboys had to build a win-now team, but they don't have the cap room to buy big in free agency.
Thanks to Prescott and other young pieces, the Cowboys' future looks much brighter.
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Executive 5: This story sounds familiar ...
"It's an easy decision for me. Romo is gone. He's old. He's injured. He has back problems. At some point, a franchise has to move on. Dak Prescott gives them that option. I liked Dak in college and thought he could be good in the pros, and now he's showing it."
Romo is 36. He has missed 12 of Dallas' past 17 games with serious injuries, and he hasn't played a 16-game season since 2012.
In 2001, the
New England Patriots lost Drew Bledsoe to a serious chest injury. He had just signed a 10-year, $103 million contract.
Tom Brady, a sixth-round pick in his second year, came off the bench and took them to the Super Bowl. A dynasty was born.
Executive 5 suggested that the Cowboys should keep Romo on the sidelines and make sure he's completely healthy before playing him. The exec thinks Prescott has shown enough in five games and has proved that the former Mississippi State signal-caller can sustain it in the long term.
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The verdict
Four NFL front-office executives strongly are in favor of the Cowboys sticking with Prescott, even it means the end of Romo's tenure in Dallas. The other exec thinks the Cowboys might be able to keep Romo on the roster with a lesser salary and a lesser role.
All five execs, however, believe in Prescott's staying power, which bodes well for the Cowboys' future. The rookie's rise means Dallas' long-term outlook is much more positive.
