Dhragon
Deadly Claws of Death
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When a QB like Romo is injured to an extent it affects their play performance, it's a tricky situation where there is no right choice for the QB. If he plays and doesn't play well enough to win, then some of the fan base will cry out about why is he playing if he can't play at 100%. Others will throw out the "no excuses" mantra - though in reality there are usually very valid excuses indeed. The blame is put on the QB.
If the QB pulls himself from the game, ala Cutler in that playoff game a couple years ago, then the fan base immediately questions the toughness and drive of the QB. If the backup QB plays poorly (probably will because of the talent downgrade and lack of reps over the season) then the starter who sat out is blamed for not manning up and toughing it out for the team.
Maybe Romo should have sat out after his Ribs started limiting him further after halftime. Maybe Orton would have closed out the game and got us the win. Seeing Orton in preseason and with him having few starting reps during the week though, I doubt he would have done any better than the injured Romo in the second half. You'd probably had to add at least 1 if not 2 INTs to the QB stat sheet with an unprepared Orton. We probably would have lost by more than a single point. THEN, certain fans would have just blamed Romo for throwing in the towel and not toughing it out.
Romo played poorly in the second half, especially in the last few drives. But despite the "no excuses" crowds loud banter, there was an excuse as to why this was so, and an unprepared Orton would not have solved it. Luckily this "excuse" should be fading away as the ribs get more and more healed. Hopefully, no more excuses will be needed afterwards, real or imagined by some of us. I hope this is the case. If not, then Romo will need a mental flak jacket as well as a physical one to protect himself as ever more and more fans will side with the "no excuses" lot and join the anti-Romo bandwagon. That could end up as tough to play well with as sore ribs.
If the QB pulls himself from the game, ala Cutler in that playoff game a couple years ago, then the fan base immediately questions the toughness and drive of the QB. If the backup QB plays poorly (probably will because of the talent downgrade and lack of reps over the season) then the starter who sat out is blamed for not manning up and toughing it out for the team.
Maybe Romo should have sat out after his Ribs started limiting him further after halftime. Maybe Orton would have closed out the game and got us the win. Seeing Orton in preseason and with him having few starting reps during the week though, I doubt he would have done any better than the injured Romo in the second half. You'd probably had to add at least 1 if not 2 INTs to the QB stat sheet with an unprepared Orton. We probably would have lost by more than a single point. THEN, certain fans would have just blamed Romo for throwing in the towel and not toughing it out.
Romo played poorly in the second half, especially in the last few drives. But despite the "no excuses" crowds loud banter, there was an excuse as to why this was so, and an unprepared Orton would not have solved it. Luckily this "excuse" should be fading away as the ribs get more and more healed. Hopefully, no more excuses will be needed afterwards, real or imagined by some of us. I hope this is the case. If not, then Romo will need a mental flak jacket as well as a physical one to protect himself as ever more and more fans will side with the "no excuses" lot and join the anti-Romo bandwagon. That could end up as tough to play well with as sore ribs.
