Old Ben and Luke

[Diehardblues]

I'm big on loyalty. Not blind loyalty, but loyalty in general.

Be it family, work, friends, customers, vendors.....loyalty and integrity are absolutes. They, unfortunately, are the rarest qualities these days.

That goes for every team in the NFL, too. You don't turn your back on Romo until he's done. It doesn't just make obvious football sense, it's just the right thing to do.

When Dak is clearly the better option, you pass the baton. Until then, it's just silly talk.

We need to decide when Romo is done not him.

I'm loyal to the Star not any particular owner, coach or player.

Let me ask you this. What team would take on Romo's contract with his current injury history?

 

[haleyrules]

We need to decide when Romo is done not him.

I'm loyal to the Star not any particular owner, coach or player.

Let me ask you this. What team would take on Romo's contract with his current injury history?

Exactly. Nò other team takes Tony on and he is done. Players come and go the club will always be.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

They wouldn't start a Dak who might be 4-2 for example over a hobbling Romo?

What would it take?

Well, at the very least, Dak will need to rank higher than 21st in passer rating.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

This is not the Defense you are looking for.

 

[Diehardblues]

As soon as Dak's legitimately better than Tony, Tony sits. I even buy that, if you think Dak's on a trajectory to be better than Tony over the course of a full season of play, Tony sits. But we're nowhere near that point of both of these guys are healthy. How quickly and completely the fans turned their backs on Romo makes me really sad. How completely some of them have forgotten how good a player he is is just confusing.

You can't wait for that absolute moment. You have to trust your instincts. It's how you make decisions when you have an up an coming talent.

I'm not saying you don't bring Romo back. I'm just saying I don't trust Jerry to make the right decision.

Of course a healthy Romo should provide us a better opportunity to win now . But that's assuming you think we can make some noise in the playoffs anyway.

I understand what Romo had meant to this team and I'm also brutally honest in that the results still haven't been that favorable overall so I don't feel the attachment. Watching Romo sling it around for a few years was somewhat entertaining but after missing playoffs 5 of last 6 years I'm about ready to move on.

I always figured we wouldn't have any Choice but to ride Romo until the bitter end with no relief in site.Sorry if I'm excited the Dak era might have better results than the Romo era.

 

[DandyDon1722]

Jerry with his comment is already lobbying for Romo's return. I expect the more diehard Romo loyalist to follow suit.

This is damage control starting after Daks first win to derail any momentum he might gain if he continues to win and have success.

They aren't ready for the future yet. They're still all in on Romo to validate his career.

I'm sorry but I don't understand this entire post.

The most die-hard of Romo loyalists? It's pretty much 80% of the "knowledgeable" fan base including the Zone because he gives us the best chance to win, down from 95% since Dak's emergence which is fine. I understand the lure of youth and exuberance, but nobody has to lobby for his return. It's a given as it should be.

Are the fan bases of Rivers and Ryan and Stafford, Tanneyhill and Smith and WInston, all QB's who have not won a Super Bowl - are they simply die-hard loyalists or does their QB give them the best chance to win in a league where teams are starving for competency at the Qb position?

BTW - of all those guys mentioned Romo is at the top of that list and better than both Eli and Flacco who have won Super Bowls.

What damage control? Who's upset Dak won? Who doesn't want him to continue to win and have success? I do. I hope he's the next Staubach and Aikman combined. I'm rooting like hell for him.

The future is this year, it's next week. That's the only thing anybody's worried about right now. Next year will take care of next year.

Finally, for a player to have the 3rd all time QB rating the history of the NFL along with being top 25 in several categories and the franchise leader in just about every passing category, nobody has to validate Romo's career. I wouldn't go around repeating that, unless you know more than every ex Cowboy QB and football coach, GM and player in the NFL.

Super Bowls are great and everybody wants one, but it doesn't diminish you as a player, it enhances your career, but doesn't diminish it.

Finally, as the owner has constantly said, his biggest regret is not getting Tony a Super Bowl and the all the facts point to nobody else being able to win here either, not with this defense and not with the offensive line he had early in his career.

 

[erod]

We need to decide when Romo is done not him.

I'm loyal to the Star not any particular owner, coach or player.

Let me ask you this. What team would take on Romo's contract with his current injury history?

That post wasn't meant for you, by the way. Not questioning your loyalty or integrity.

The contract is a different issue starting next season. He's my starter if healthy, but another injury or unhealthy offseason, and tough decisions will be front and center.

Although, they only save $5 million against the cap if they cut him. There's still a $19 million cap hit.

 

[erod]

This is not the Defense you are looking for.

Genius.

 

[Idgit]

You can't wait for that absolute moment. You have to trust your instincts. It's how you make decisions when you have an up an coming talent.

I'm not saying you don't bring Romo back. I'm just saying I don't trust Jerry to make the right decision.

Of course a healthy Romo should provide us a better opportunity to win now . But that's assuming you think we can make some noise in the playoffs anyway.

I understand what Romo had meant to this team and I'm also brutally honest in that the results still haven't been that favorable overall so I don't feel the attachment. Watching Romo sling it around for a few years was somewhat entertaining but after missing playoffs 5 of last 6 years I'm about ready to move on.

I always figured we wouldn't have any Choice but to ride Romo until the bitter end with no relief in site.Sorry if I'm excited the Dak era might have better results than the Romo era.

You don't make this decision based on attachment. And you don't make it based on team performance. It's an easy decision because Tony is, by far, the better QB right now. And Dak's very much unlikely to close that gap during the 2016 season. As soon as Dak can position himself to legitimately take Tony on, I'm all for it. He's growing in leaps and bounds right now, so maybe he does it, but unless he does, QB is not a position where you downgrade yourself on the chance something really unlikely could happen. You just play the great player you've got at that position and use the year and change you've got to get the young player ready. And count your lucky stars that you've got Dak there, because you're going to need him, soon enough.

 

[Diehardblues]

That post wasn't meant for you, by the way. Not questioning your loyalty or integrity.

The contract is a different issue starting next season. He's my starter if healthy, but another injury or unhealthy offseason, and tough decisions will be front and center.

Although, they only save $5 million against the cap if they cut him. There's still a $19 million cap hit.

Ok. No problem. We have a long history and mutual respect.

So, do you trust Jerry to make the best decision or will his contract and loyalty to Romo influence it?

 

[erod]

As soon as Dak's legitimately better than Tony, Tony sits. I even buy that, if you think Dak's on a trajectory to be better than Tony over the course of a full season of play, Tony sits. But we're nowhere near that point of both of these guys are healthy. How quickly and completely the fans turned their backs on Romo makes me really sad. How completely some of them have forgotten how good a player he is is just confusing.

Some of those fans simply aren't football smart enough to know what they're saying. Some of them think "mobile quarterbacks" are the answer even though they almost never are. Some of them chose Romo as a scapegoat years ago and won't let them go. Some of them decide on racial lines, or whatever gets the goat of others.

This should be nothing but sunshine. An elite quarterback with a true young gun in house on the way soon enough.

But, Cowboys fans can even screw that up. We've got a hopeless fan base, and the haters are right about what they say about us.

 

[erod]

Ok. No problem. We have a long history and mutual respect.

So, do you trust Jerry to make the best decision or will his contract and loyalty to Romo influence it?

Jerry, as always, is a whole different layer to this.

Romo is simply far superior to Dak right now. But that's just right now. There's nobody better to raise us a new QB than Romo doing it by example and in person each week and during the offseason. They seem to be fast friends.

 

[Diehardblues]

You don't make this decision based on attachment. And you don't make it based on team performance. It's an easy decision because Tony is, by far, the better QB right now. And Dak's very much unlikely to close that gap during the 2016 season. As soon as Dak can position himself to legitimately take Tony on, I'm all for it. He's growing in leaps and bounds right now, so maybe he does it, but unless he does, QB is not a position where you downgrade yourself on the chance something really unlikely could happen. You just play the great player you've got at that position and use the year and change you've got to get the young player ready. And count your lucky stars that you've got Dak there, because you're going to need him, soon enough.

I haven't once said Tony is not the better QB. Much of my argument centers around Jerrys decision making ability. And I enjoy playing Devils advocate. I like putting it out there for discussion.

But I certainly am concerned Jerry will make the best decision for Cowboy football moving forward. And I'm not afraid to take on these very difficult decisions and unpopular topics which none are more sensitive than # 9.

Thanks for your comments !

 

[erod]

I haven't once said Tony is not the better QB. Much of my argument centers around Jerrys decision making ability. And I enjoy playing Devils advocate. I like putting it out there for discussion.

But I certainly am concerned Jerry will make the best decision for Cowboy football moving forward. And I'm not afraid to take on these very difficult decisions and unpopular topics which none are more sensitive than # 9.

Thanks for your comments !

My gut is, Romo is your starter this year and next. Dak takes over in 2018.

Injury will make that decision one way or the other.

 

[Diehardblues]

Jerry, as always, is a whole different layer to this.

Romo is simply far superior to Dak right now. But that's just right now. There's nobody better to raise us a new QB than Romo doing it by example and in person each week and during the offseason. They seem to be fast friends.

I'd love to see Romo become our QB coach when he's done. He's said he has aspirations to coach . I could see him running our sidelines one day and Garrett in the skybox.

Often over achieving players make greater coaches than naturally gifted athletes because they have to out work everyone.

 

[Idgit]

I haven't once said Tony is not the better QB. Much of my argument centers around Jerrys decision making ability. And I enjoy playing Devils advocate. I like putting it out there for discussion.

But I certainly am concerned Jerry will make the best decision for Cowboy football moving forward. And I'm not afraid to take on these very difficult decisions and unpopular topics which none are more sensitive than # 9.

Thanks for your comments !

The only reason I don't worry about Jerry's decision making in this case is because I think the QB decision is still a no-brainer. After next season, or after the next big injury is when I'd pull the plug on the Romo era from a contract-basis. And that's because it gives Dak plenty of time to learn the position at the NFL level, it's the right breaking point in Tony's contract, and, if all goes well, it ought to be nearing the point where Dak's abilities and youth are a better balance for Tony's experience and quickness. It also gives Tony a respectable amount of time for a farewell run if the team can pull it off.

Otherwise, I would be concerned with Jerry's decision making because, of course, this is exactly the sort of club decision he wants his fingerprints all over. As it is, I"m looking forward less to the fan fallout in either direction than I am to Jones meddling here in 2016.

 

[Diehardblues]

My gut is, Romo is your starter this year and next. Dak takes over in 2018.

Injury will make that decision one way or the other.

That makes sense. I'd say Romo's contract is a determining factor. Assuming he can still play . We're going to find out soon.

Most players don't know when to hang it up. Will Romo or will we have to carry him off. And will Jerry let him play as long as he wants to without better results ? This is where I don't trust Jerry.

 

[Diehardblues]

The only reason I don't worry about Jerry's decision making in this case is because I think the QB decision is still a no-brainer. After next season, or after the next big injury is when I'd pull the plug on the Romo era from a contract-basis. And that's because it gives Dak plenty of time to learn the position at the NFL level, it's the right breaking point in Tony's contract, and, if all goes well, it ought to be nearing the point where Dak's abilities and youth are a better balance for Tony's experience and quickness. It also gives Tony a respectable amount of time for a farewell run if the team can pull it off.

Otherwise, I would be concerned with Jerry's decision making because, of course, this is exactly the sort of club decision he wants his fingerprints all over. As it is, I"m looking forward less to the fan fallout in either direction than I am to Jones meddling here in 2016.

We'll see how much of a no brainer it is for Jerry if we have more success with Dak and Romo doesn't appear to be himself. Going to be interesting.

Personally the situation excites me as a Cowboy fan that we have choices. No doubt they have come unexpectably. But welcomed nevertheless.

 

[noshame]

Not one team in the NFL would start Dak over Romo. Not one.

Cowboys ring any bells?

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Not going to hate on Diehardblues in particular, but, boy you're not kidding about Cowboys fans and how much they suck. They fawn all over NFCE rivals every season, roll over on the Cowboys at the drop of a hat, complain about the stadium, the money the owner spends on the franchise, turn on great veteran players at the drop of a hat and act pious about it while they're doing it, they're slow to recognize talent in the players we do have and just generally complain about the team all the way through otherwise competitive seasons. They take crap from fans of other teams who haven't won anything, and expect the worst leading into every single game. Plus, because the bandwagon is so large, we're just whiney and entitled and have a high percentage of fans who know very little about football to begin with. Call them on it, they'll tell you they're no different from NFL fans anywhere, but they are different because they're a lot more entitled and have such a high percentage of know-nothings who happen to think they know something because the team won some Superbowls once.

The past two offsesaons have highlighted this divide between those who like the game, those who love it and those who consume it.

The number of false narratives that have been entrenched in people's minds despite countless efforts to discuss otherwise, with informed analysis, is astounding....

1) The preseason is a perfect barometer
2) Rushing efficiency is the key
3) Failure to keep the defense off the field was the difference in 2015 vs 2014
4) It's the RB not the line
5) Jones is a jag
6) Romo has been a source of our mediocrity (actually they are right here....we'd have been a 3 or 4 win club without him)

I could go on and on. And some of the least informed are unfortunately the loudest voices.