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August 22, 2006
Tom Orsborn
Tom Orsborn is a sports writer for the San Antonio Express-News.
1 a.m. SHREVEPORT, La. — ESPN and other national media outlets would be wise to stop speculating that Tony Romo could supplant Drew Bledsoe as the Cowboys starting quarterback this season.
It's not going to happen. Just ask Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.
"Drew is our guy," Witten said.
And that's coming from one of Romo's best friends.
Make no mistake. Romo, a fourth-year player, has improved.
But he's no Bledsoe, a 14th-year player who ranks among the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks in career attempts (fifth), career completions (fifth) and career yards (43,447).
Sure, Romo is more mobile. But do you really think Bill Parcells is going to let Tony Romo, a quarterback who has never thrown a pass in a regular-season game, take over an offense that has the potential to be among the league's best?
Asked if there is any chance Bledsoe wouldn't be the starter when the Cowboys open the regular season at Jacksonville on Sept. 10, owner Jerry Jones said, "I've never heard any debate about that from anyone on our staff."
On Monday night, Bledsoe looked sharp in his first preseason action, completing 12-of-16 passes for 156 yards, two touchdowns and a 144.8 passer rating.
"When Drew has time to throw the ball, he's like a surgeon," Jones said. "He's really a fine quarterback."
Romo wasn't bad either against the hapless Saints, connecting on 6-of-8 passes for 138 yards, one TD and a 156.2 rating.
But Bledsoe faced the Saints' first-team defense in the first half. Romo went up against reserves.
"Well, I'm glad I got him more work," Parcells said of Romo, who took all the snaps in the Cowboys' 13-3 victory over Seattle on Aug. 12. "That's six quarters. I want to get him nine or 10 this preseason. We'll see what happens."
Basically, that's pretty much it. Romo is playing more this preseason because Parcells wants to give Jones and personnel director Jeff Ireland a chance to make an evaluation and then decide whether they need to acquire another quarterback.
Bledsoe, meanwhile, said he's oblivious to all the ESPN-generated talk of his downfall.
"I honestly haven't seen it, haven't heard it," Bledsoe said. "We've been locked down in training camp, man. I haven't heard anything. I've said this before and I will continue to say it, I'm really happy for Tony. He's been playing very, very well and in his fourth year he is demonstrating he can play in this league."
Witten says Romo's improved play has pushed Bledsoe to play a better.
"I think there's definitely a competition there," Witten said. "But I think Drew welcomes that. He knows what kind of quarterback he is."
Jones said Bledsoe's competitive nature was on display at practice last week following Romo's strong performance against Seattle.
"He had his best week of training camp last week," Jones said of Bledsoe. "I was standing out there with him (on the practice field) one day visiting and he said, 'Jerry, I'm your man.' Anybody that has red blood in his veins would be aware and sensitive about competition."
But Jones, like Witten, says Bledsoe is the Cowboys' guy.
"What do you need to see?" Jones said. "I saw him play six or seven ball games last year where he played about as good as anyone can play."
Tom Orsborn
Tom Orsborn is a sports writer for the San Antonio Express-News.
1 a.m. SHREVEPORT, La. — ESPN and other national media outlets would be wise to stop speculating that Tony Romo could supplant Drew Bledsoe as the Cowboys starting quarterback this season.
It's not going to happen. Just ask Pro Bowl tight end Jason Witten.
"Drew is our guy," Witten said.
And that's coming from one of Romo's best friends.
Make no mistake. Romo, a fourth-year player, has improved.
But he's no Bledsoe, a 14th-year player who ranks among the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks in career attempts (fifth), career completions (fifth) and career yards (43,447).
Sure, Romo is more mobile. But do you really think Bill Parcells is going to let Tony Romo, a quarterback who has never thrown a pass in a regular-season game, take over an offense that has the potential to be among the league's best?
Asked if there is any chance Bledsoe wouldn't be the starter when the Cowboys open the regular season at Jacksonville on Sept. 10, owner Jerry Jones said, "I've never heard any debate about that from anyone on our staff."
On Monday night, Bledsoe looked sharp in his first preseason action, completing 12-of-16 passes for 156 yards, two touchdowns and a 144.8 passer rating.
"When Drew has time to throw the ball, he's like a surgeon," Jones said. "He's really a fine quarterback."
Romo wasn't bad either against the hapless Saints, connecting on 6-of-8 passes for 138 yards, one TD and a 156.2 rating.
But Bledsoe faced the Saints' first-team defense in the first half. Romo went up against reserves.
"Well, I'm glad I got him more work," Parcells said of Romo, who took all the snaps in the Cowboys' 13-3 victory over Seattle on Aug. 12. "That's six quarters. I want to get him nine or 10 this preseason. We'll see what happens."
Basically, that's pretty much it. Romo is playing more this preseason because Parcells wants to give Jones and personnel director Jeff Ireland a chance to make an evaluation and then decide whether they need to acquire another quarterback.
Bledsoe, meanwhile, said he's oblivious to all the ESPN-generated talk of his downfall.
"I honestly haven't seen it, haven't heard it," Bledsoe said. "We've been locked down in training camp, man. I haven't heard anything. I've said this before and I will continue to say it, I'm really happy for Tony. He's been playing very, very well and in his fourth year he is demonstrating he can play in this league."
Witten says Romo's improved play has pushed Bledsoe to play a better.
"I think there's definitely a competition there," Witten said. "But I think Drew welcomes that. He knows what kind of quarterback he is."
Jones said Bledsoe's competitive nature was on display at practice last week following Romo's strong performance against Seattle.
"He had his best week of training camp last week," Jones said of Bledsoe. "I was standing out there with him (on the practice field) one day visiting and he said, 'Jerry, I'm your man.' Anybody that has red blood in his veins would be aware and sensitive about competition."
But Jones, like Witten, says Bledsoe is the Cowboys' guy.
"What do you need to see?" Jones said. "I saw him play six or seven ball games last year where he played about as good as anyone can play."
