Now that we've had a dose of reality....

[ABQCOWBOY]

I'm sorry, I obviously didn't read back far enough to realize that you were discussing the possibility of bringing in a new QB. I agree wholeheartedly that woudn't make sense.

I can not speak for anybody else but I am not suggesting we bring anybody in at this point because I think the time to do that was before the season started.

I'm simply saying that in retrospect, I don't believe the decision to stick with Bledsoe and Romo only was a good one. Obviously, I believe that we should have tried to get a bit more experience signed.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Fair enough.

One or two more stinkers like that from Bledsoe and we may find out who is right.

I hope not but that is my biggest fear, this season.

 

[Stautner]

I can not speak for anybody else but I am not suggesting we bring anybody in at this point because I think the time to do that was before the season started.

I'm simply saying that in retrospect, I don't believe the decision to stick with Bledsoe and Romo only was a good one. Obviously, I believe that we should have tried to get a bit more experience signed.

The thing is that Romo is in his 4th year here - if Parcells believes in him, as it appears he does, and if Parcell wanted to keep Romo here and avoid him leaving as a free agent - he had to make a commitment to him. You can't tell a guy he is your QB of the future and keep him buried at 3rd string on the depth chart forever.

At some point he is going to have to be allowed to play - and he will be inexperienced as a starter - as all first time starters throughout history have been.

 

[Doomsday101]

The thing is that Romo is in his 4th year here - if Parcells believes in him, as it appears he does, and if Parcell wanted to keep Romo here and avoid him leaving as a free agent - he had to make a commitment to him. You can't tell a guy he is your QB of the future and keep him buried at 3rd string on the depth chart forever.

I agree. Even if Dallas were to bring in another QB it would not be as a backup. Romo at this time is the backup to Drew. Dallas did not extend his contract and give him as many snaps as they did this past training camp and pre-season to make the 3rd string QB. Romo like any other QB has been bidding his time and learning and if called on it will be his job to run this offense and he should know it better than any other player we could bring in off the streets.

 

[wileedog]

I hope not but that is my biggest fear, this season.

This is pure speculation on my part, but I honestly believe we win that game with Romo in there yesterday. He could have avoided most of the pressure Bledsoe was getting and I didn't see Drew make a single throw that Romo couldn't have.

I don't fear it all. I think a QB who makes quicker reads and is more accurate is exactly what this team needs right now, and there's no question in my mind Romo has both of those things over Drew.

What he lacks is experience obviously, and perhaps the big time arm. However with TO on the field, he doesn't need to throw a perfect 60 yard bomb. What he needs to be able to do is find the open reciever fast and put the ball where it needs to be, and let the WRs makes plays.

And that is what Drew failed to do miserably yesterday.

I'm not calling for Drew's head right now, but if he doesn't play considerably better against Washington I sure will be leaning towards it.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The thing is that Romo is in his 4th year here - if Parcells believes in him, as it appears he does, and if Parcell wanted to keep Romo here and avoid him leaving as a free agent - he had to make a commitment to him. You can't tell a guy he is your QB of the future and keep him buried at 3rd string on the depth chart forever.

At some point he is going to have to be allowed to play - and he will be inexperienced as a starter - as all first time starters throughout history have been.

Perhaps but winning is the name of the game in the NFL. As I have said throughout this post, I'm not against playing Romo but if we do that, lets all agree that this year is development only.

If Romo has to play for any length of time, I believe that our season is done. I like the kid and that's saying something becasue prior to this year, I was not at all convinced he was capable of being our future at QB. Having said that, if we really are trying to complete for a championship, then Romo or whomever else whould be secondary. It should be a decision based on who can help us win now.

I am not a big believe in the ability of a young player with no game experience being a guy who can come in and win lots of games for us. It's not specific to Romo, it's what I believe about any young QB in that situation. If Marino were somehow brought into Dallas in his rookie your and installed as the starter by some miracle, my opinion would be the same and I would be saying the same things. Same for any young QB. It is just what I believe. Can it happen? Yes, it can but, the law of averages say that it won't.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This is pure speculation on my part, but I honestly believe we win that game with Romo in there yesterday. He could have avoided most of the pressure Bledsoe was getting and I didn't see Drew make a single throw that Romo couldn't have.

I don't fear it all. I think a QB who makes quicker reads and is more accurate is exactly what this team needs right now, and there's no question in my mind Romo has both of those things over Drew.

What he lacks is experience obviously, and perhaps the big time arm. However with TO on the field, he doesn't need to throw a perfect 60 yard bomb. What he needs to be able to do is find the open reciever fast and put the ball where it needs to be, and let the WRs makes plays.

And that is what Drew failed to do miserably yesterday.

I'm not calling for Drew's head right now, but if he doesn't play considerably better against Washington I sure will be leaning towards it.

Sad part of this is that it doesn't really matter what you or I or whomever thinks. I don't believe Parcells will bench Bledsoe. I posted this earlier in the week. Good, bad or whatever, we signed him, we started him and that's probably going to be our starter as long as the guy can get up in the morning. Parcells sticks with those vets like no tomorrow. That's how it is.

 

[wileedog]

Parcells sticks with those vets like no tomorrow. That's how it is.

Which is why a rookie started at FS yesterday?

 

[Stautner]

Perhaps but winning is the name of the game in the NFL. As I have said throughout this post, I'm not against playing Romo but if we do that, lets all agree that this year is development only.

If Romo has to play for any length of time, I believe that our season is done. I like the kid and that's saying something becasue prior to this year, I was not at all convinced he was capable of being our future at QB. Having said that, if we really are trying to complete for a championship, then Romo or whomever else whould be secondary. It should be a decision based on who can help us win now.

I am not a big believe in the ability of a young player with no game experience being a guy who can come in and win lots of games for us. It's not specific to Romo, it's what I believe about any young QB in that situation. If Marino were somehow brought into Dallas in his rookie your and installed as the starter by some miracle, my opinion would be the same and I would be saying the same things. Same for any young QB. It is just what I believe. Can it happen? Yes, it can but, the law of averages say that it won't.

I wont agree its a year of development only, and I doubt Parcells will either. He want's to win, and will only make the move if he believes Romo is ready to win. That's the point of 3-4 years of developing him in a backup role.

I will, however, agree that it may end up being a year of development whenever Romo gets the nod to start, I just wont concede that's all we can hope for. If he were a rookie I would think differently.

But the thing is, there ALWAYS comes a time when a young player replaces and old one, and Parcells has been around long enough to have done that a number of times. Parcells does covet experience, but there ALWAYS comes a time when you have to weigh the benefits of experience against the benefits of energy, enthusiasm and athleticism - obviously the maturity and knowledge levels of the youngster come into play as well.

But let's not act as if Parcells has never passed the torch from an aging player to a younger one - he knows there is a time for everything, and at some point that time will come for Bledsoe. I just personally believe that if Bledsoe and the offense struggles somewhat consistently that Parcells will make the move - it just seems to clear that he likes Romo's potential enough to make the move.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Which is why a rookie started at FS yesterday?

FS won the job in TC. Had the FS who won the job been Vinnie T, Watkins could have mailed it in for the rest of the season.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I wont agree its a year of development only, and I doubt Parcells will either. He want's to win, and will only make the move if he believes Romo is ready to win. That's the point of 3-4 years of developing him in a backup role.

I will, however, agree that it may end up being a year of development whenever Romo gets the nod to start, I just wont concede that's all we can hope for. If he were a rookie I would think differently.

But the thing is, there ALWAYS comes a time when a young player replaces and old one, and Parcells has been around long enough to have done that a number of times. Parcells does covet experience, but there ALWAYS comes a time when you have to weigh the benefits of experience against the benefits of energy, enthusiasm and athleticism - obviously the maturity and knowledge levels of the youngster come into play as well.

But let's not act as if Parcells has never passed the torch from an aging player to a younger one - he knows there is a time for everything, and at some point that time will come for Bledsoe. I just personally believe that if Bledsoe and the offense struggles somewhat consistently that Parcells will make the move - it just seems to clear that he likes Romo's potential enough to make the move.

I agree that Parcells won't view it that way. Having said that, that's what it will be.

I hope that Romo can be the guy who comes in and proves to be the exception but I don't think it will happen. This is not to say he won't make some good plays or win some games but in order for him to take us to the playoffs, he would have to go something like 10-5 as a starter from here on out. That is a lot to ask of a young QB with his relative experience. No, I just don't see it.

And to be honest, that may not be all bad. I would honestly like to see us solidify our QB future. I make no secret of the fact that I don't believe Bledsoe will ever win a champoinship for us. I think he gives the best chance right now but I don't think it will ever happen. I would actually like to see us close this chapter of our history and move on to a new one. That would be OK with me.

 

[Stautner]

I agree that Parcells won't view it that way. Having said that, that's what it will be.

I hope that Romo can be the guy who comes in and proves to be the exception but I don't think it will happen. This is not to say he won't make some good plays or win some games but in order for him to take us to the playoffs, he would have to go something like 10-5 as a starter from here on out. That is a lot to ask of a young QB with his relative experience. No, I just don't see it.

If Romo were going to be the starter next week i would agree with you - the chances of him going 10-5 would be slim.

But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm not at all saying Parcells will have a quick trigger and replace Bledsoe this quickly - I'm just saying Parcells won't stick with Bledsoe come hell or high water. It likely would either take several bad games like this or it would take Bledsoe and the offense playing at a consistently mediocre level for a fair portion of the season.

At the very earliest I couldn't see a change until at least the Cowboy's 4th game, and even then only if Bledsoe played very poorly in each of the 1st 3. I really think it's unlikely that any move would be made until at least midseason, after a pattern of offensive struggles has been established.

Nevertheless, this is all IF's - and what I really expect is that Bledsoe will play better than he did this week and hold on to the job all year. That is, unless the team is out of the playoff hunt. Next year is a whole new ballgame though.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

If Romo were going to be the starter next week i would agree with you - the chances of him going 10-5 would be slim.

But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm not at all saying Parcells will have a quick trigger and replace Bledsoe this quickly - I'm just saying Parcells won't stick with Bledsoe come hell or high water. It likely would either take several bad games like this or it would take Bledsoe and the offense playing at a consistently mediocre level for a fair portion of the season.

At the very earliest I couldn't see a change until at least the Cowboy's 4th game, and even then only if Bledsoe played very poorly in each of the 1st 3. I really think it's unlikely that any move would be made until at least midseason, after a pattern of offensive struggles has been established.

Nevertheless, this is all IF's - and what I really expect is that Bledsoe will play better than he did this week and hold on to the job all year. That is, unless the team is out of the playoff hunt. Next year is a whole new ballgame though.

The longer it goes, the harder for Romo to play conistantly well IMO. We lose to many games and then the other teams in the East start putting it to us because they have to to stay in the race. It's probably all for not, I agree.

For me, I'd rather change sooner as opposed to later. JMO.

 

[Dale]

I've been critical of Bledsoe, but my view of his career hasn't changed.

I think he's a HOF quarterback IF he leads this team to at least one Super Bowl victory. He'd then be a top-five quarterback statistically in most categories, have one Super Bowl victory as a starter, have led another team to a Super Bowl, and even won another AFC title game as a backup.

But, as I've always felt, if he doesn't get that elusive SB victory as a starter I think he'll have no shot at the HOF. Statistically, he's amazing in some regards. But the general perception of him right now is that he's not a HOFer, and that won't change unless he wins a title.

 

[Stautner]

The longer it goes, the harder for Romo to play conistantly well IMO. We lose to many games and then the other teams in the East start putting it to us because they have to to stay in the race. It's probably all for not, I agree.

For me, I'd rather change sooner as opposed to later. JMO.

I agree completely - the deeper into the season we are before making the change (IF a change is to be made this year), the more we will be sunk into a pattern of offensive problems that will be hard to overcome.

But again, I think this is unlikely.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I agree completely - the deeper into the season we are before making the change (IF a change is to be made this year), the more we will be sunk into a pattern of offensive problems that will be hard to overcome.

But again, I think this is unlikely.

As do I. Parcells is a creature of nature. His nature is to stick with his Starting QB if he thinks he has anything at all left. Could be a long season for us. I hope not but I guess we will see.

 

[wileedog]

As do I. Parcells is a creature of nature. His nature is to stick with his Starting QB if he thinks he has anything at all left. Could be a long season for us. I hope not but I guess we will see.

If that were the case Parcells would be doggedly quashing all the Romo talk in these PCs, just as he did the last several years when people asked him about not playing Romo/Henson in garbage time.

The fact the he keeps bringing up that he wants to get Romo prepared to play this year suggests he is a lot more open to it than you think IMO. No way he would be giving the media that line to run with if there wasn't something behind it.

Granted, it could be a headgame with Bledsoe, but yesterday's game was probably his worst by far in a Cowboy uniform. Does Drew really need a manufactured QB controversy to add further pressure on him?

If Drew stinks this week, the bye week to work Romo in is going to look awfully tempting to Bill.

 

[cowboyed]

Wow. I guess we only remember the good days.

Aikman had days that bad (and worse). They all do.

For instance, in 2000, Aikman put up the following numbers in a game against the NYG:

Comp: 22
Att: 42
Yards: 211
TD: 1
Int: 5

Sure in very loose or general terms every quarterback can have a bad day. This is not the first time for Bledsoe and won't be the last time for other quarterbacks either. That stated I don't think you can compare a 2000 Giants game with this 2006 Jaguars game. Different players, different game circumstances.

 

[mr.jameswoods]

I'm just patiently waiting for the season to end. Nothing good is going to come of this. Parcells is too stubborn and wants to win with his guy even if his guy isn't the answer. Let's just say, I was anticipating yesterday's performance and I'm not the least bit shocked by what happened. Bledsoe is getting old and he doesn't have the arm he once did to be able to force passes. We are going to see more of that this season.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I'm just patiently waiting for the season to end. Nothing good is going to come of this. Parcells is too stubborn and wants to win with his guy even if his guy isn't the answer. Let's just say, I was anticipating yesterday's performance and I'm not the least bit shocked by what happened. Bledsoe is getting old and he doesn't have the arm he once did to be able to force passes. We are going to see more of that this season.

For real? The season just started.

- Mike G.