Will Romo manage to remain upright and start all 16 regular season games?

[tyke1doe]

Too much optimism about the collarbone and not enough realism about his back.

Great observation. I've read fans downplaying the back shot, saying it could happen to anyone. But I don't see quarterbacks getting hit like this and clutching their backs.

Back injuries are nothing to play with, and I am GREATLY concerned about Romo's back this upcoming season.

I know everyone is giddy about Dak, but I don't think we REALLY want to see him leading the offense instead of Romo.

 

[DallasDomination]

I love Romo but he's falling apart and made of glass.. He's a tough guy but his body is not made to last at this point.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I think he should play until he gets hurt. But I have no confidence he will stay healthy.

That's reasonable. Apologies for losing my cool.

 

[Bleu Star]

I agree. Romo will not go quietly. He will fight his body and try to hang on way too long and I'm fine with that. For all his faults, he has earned the right to go out on his own terms. I think that will be with a series of injuries and during one of them, Dak will prove to be too good to put Romo back in. I think it's time for everyone to stop criticizing Romo. I was a huge critic for years but he's given the team and us everything he had. I will enjoy watching him until he can't go anymore. Of course, it will be easier knowing Dak is waiting in the wings.

Same here. I have been a huge Romo critic but I quieted that noise after watching him lay it all out on the line year after year after year. He deserves to go out on his own terms and I just hope it's not this season. Our best case scenario is allowing Dak at least one year to watch Romo work and marvel at his ability to break down/attack complex defensive schemes.

 

[DenCWBY]

I don't see him getting out of the giant game ok unless we run the ball 80% of the time. Some in here just don't get what the back actually provides in the way of throwing motion, running, jumping, spinning and just bending over a center. He wasn't clobbered last night. He was hit pretty average and went down immediately. This isn't like a healing broken limb or pulled muscle. It's your core and science has not learned to fix those like a knee or ankle. Unless medical breakthrough we're probably looking at Romo's last year as a starter. His last game will be sometime this year. Hopefully in February but I highly doubt it.

 

[Cowboys22]

I don't see him getting out of the giant game ok unless we run the ball 80% of the time. Some in here just don't get what the back actually provides in the way of throwing motion, running, jumping, spinning and just bending over a center. He wasn't clobbered last night. He was hit pretty average and went down immediately. This isn't like a healing broken limb or pulled muscle. It's your core and science has not learned to fix those like a knee or ankle. Unless medical breakthrough we're probably looking at Romo's last year as a starter. His last game will be sometime this year. Hopefully in February but I highly doubt it.

I don't agree that that an average hit. It may not have been very hard but it was an awkward way to be hit. His back was bent over and compressed between the ground and 250 lbs of the defender. QBs don't get hit like that very often. I think anyone hit in that fashion would have had some issues and pain.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

He'll be fine.

His back is better than when he put up the best QBR in the league in 2014.

Everyone needs to open their umbrella since they think the sky is falling lol.

 

[Cowboy4ever]

I was scared last night, like every other fan when Romo was laying on the ground. But the fact he was able to come back in the game (if the coach's would have let him), the fact that no x rays were done and listening to him talk after the game, I am relieved. The back is a concern because it is involved in everything the QB does and there is a lot of stress and torque placed on the back the entire game. I honestly feel that 95% of the hits Romo will take this year will be normal, average hits and he will be just fine. It's the other 5% that concern me, like the one last night where his back is torqued hard, or severely compressed as in last night. The ones he can't prepare for. If he and the OL can limit his exposure to those types of hits, then he can can play all year and at a high level. I will say this, Romo needs to do more things to help himself, like getting down or throwing the ball away. That's not his style and it may end up costing him a few more years in this league.

I am excited about Dak, he might be the answer. Time will tell. He has far exceeded my expectations to this point, but he needs Romo to play at least this year. He is not ready yet.

 

[reddyuta]

Honestly I am wondering if can make it through 1 game.

 

[Denim Chicken]

Romo has a back issue, that much is certain.

Doesn't mean he will miss games. Doesn't mean he wont.

I think its going to be about pain management more than a re-injury.

 

[DenCWBY]

I don't agree that that an average hit. It may not have been very hard but it was an awkward way to be hit. His back was bent over and compressed between the ground and 250 lbs of the defender. QBs don't get hit like that very often. I think anyone hit in that fashion would have had some issues and pain.

I get it but a QB is often in vulnerable position when they get hit. TR even worse because how he plays the game. He's a broken play QB which is sustaining plays to make the play leaving him open for being hit. It's why he is so special however also vulnerable to get knocked out. Everyone knows the DC success relies on TR and that will make him even a bigger target.
The way he plays and the way the NFL defenses are designed, it's only a matter of time and TR's is very close.

 

[okstateCowboy]

What percentage of QB's make it through an entire NFL season. Regardless of age the odds of this happening are not great.

Look at Carson Wentz. Dude got his ribs broken on the first preseason game.

This sport is too violent to expect any QB to play 16 games any more.

Eli manning has never missed a game

 

[remdak]

I get it but a QB is often in vulnerable position when they get hit. TR even worse because how he plays the game. He's a broken play QB which is sustaining plays to make the play leaving him open for being hit. It's why he is so special however also vulnerable to get knocked out. Everyone knows the DC success relies on TR and that will make him even a bigger target.
The way he plays and the way the NFL defenses are designed, it's only a matter of time and TR's is very close.

Romo takes alot of awkward hits as well because of his style of play

 

[Aven8]

All I know is after the final cuts we need to find a vet backup for Dak. Because after last night it was looking like Dak and Showers was your two deep, and Showers is awful!

 

[EPL0c0]

It's his back I'm worried about. We saw last night just one awkward movement or hit and he's gonna hurt it again. If he is getting shots to get through a game the long term effects of that can't be good.

Exactly. I think it's why they keep 3 QBs. Not ideal, but necessary. There may be a vet available, but Showers has a year in the system and we see the potential there to be a good backup. I think he'd look better playing behind #1s.

Question then becomes, where can Dallas make up the roster spot? RB is VERY Deep and WRs seem to be OK enough.

If Showers is kept as the #3 QB, I have a feeling he'll have to do like Joe Webb in CAR and play some special teams.

 

[CouchCoach]

No, he will not and the presence of the new backup is why.

Romo is not only hearing the footsteps, his feeling them. There hasn't been a rookie QB cause this much commotion in the history of the Dallas Cowboys. And the accolades and praise continue to escalate and proliferate for Prescott. He is the absolute talk of this draft and I've not seen a player dominate the rookie talk as he has this season. At this point, he would get votes for O Rook of the Year and not have to play a down.

My hope was that Romo would protect himself better this season because he's one of the best I've seen at putting himself in the exact wrong position at the exact wrong time. His Houdini act has been great but Houdini finally tempted fate once too often.

Romo is a risk/reward QB and with the footsteps he's feeling, what do you think he does when danger approaches? Just what he did last night, try to make chicken salad. Not only will he not play all 16, it is probable that he might not play again with the next injury. Booger loves him some Tony but he also sees the potential of Dak, his prize draft steal. Just forget about those failed attempts to get other QB's.

 

[lqmac1]

I think he will get the Dwyane Wade treatment. They might rest him in a few games if we can manage a pretty good lead in the East.

 

[Denim Chicken]

We should think about giving Dak a start on Thanksgiving, though. Romo on a short week is no bueno

 

[RS12]

So I see by the current tally of 16 yes and 84 no that there are more people living in reality on these boards than I thought.

 

[Boyzmamacita]

What worries me is that ANY contact makes Romo stay on the ground for a while. HE IS AFRAID OF CONTACT AT THIS POINT. That's why he gets twisted and contorted - he's constantly worried about the contact and it is affecting his decision of whether (or when) to run, slide or throw it away (which he doesn't do enough). An indececisive QB will get injured quite a bit. I miss the days when he was confident in his physical ability. Those days are gone, but I believe he can still be effective if he makes better decisions that don't lead to the awkward hits he gets getting. I think he can still lead us, but the back issue is concerning and I really feel for him.