Three more words for the thread:
Does not matter.
Romo is gone. His career with the team ended before November 15. The entire sequence of events that made up the 2016 season is a tragic example of fear defeating logic.
The genie escaped the bottle. After Romo's injury, Prescott proved he was more than capable of running the offense efficiently enough against regular season opponents. The defense performed admirably enough supporting the offense against regular season opponents as well. The combination led to a highly successful winning streak. Thus, a general mindset was born:
Winning = Chemistry = Prescott
The ultimate goal in the NFL is the Super Bowl. Talent wins championships. Coaching wins championships. Luck wins championships. Experience wins championships. Therein lies the error in judgment embraced due to euphoria.
Prescott was
not the reason Dallas did not advance in the playoffs of his rookie season. The defense was not ready for postseason competition. The defense's first half performance against a postseason opponent wasn't predetermined but it was totally foreseeable. The defense was good but it didn't consistently demonstrate postseason caliber play against regular season opponents even during the team's initial winning streak.
Therein lies the rub. Who were the 2016 Dallas Cowboys? Were they talented? Yes, primarily on offense. Was coaching capable enough? Yes, WHEN regular season opponents could not negate the team's offensive scheme. Did the team leprechaun (not Rowdy) remain on board for the magical ride? Yes. Only the Giants seemingly knew how to kick his butt off the ship.
Talent? Check.
Coaching? Check.
Luck? Check.
What's missing? What element could be missing from the Super Bowl contending equation? What
could have been the final
TINY piece that could have offset the team's transparently obvious ticking bomb of a defense in the postseason? What has
every single championship winning team (without exception) had at quarterback in the entire
80+ year history of the National Football League?
...wait. I said talent. Check. Coaching. Check. Luck. Check. What am I missing?
Oh yeah.
Like I said earlier. Prescott was
not the reason Dallas did not advance in the playoffs of his rookie season. The fault lies with a ******* management and coaching decision made prior to November 15.
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/Carney%20hurt_zps1hgddqef.png
You put Prescott back in.
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/Carney%20mistakes_zpsnri6fafg.png
You put Prescott back in.
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/Carney%20chemistry_zps7z2c6j3e.png
Romo would have been a short leash. You put Prescott back in.
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/Carney%20sick_zpsd5hjte6h.png
Is football a TEAM sport?
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/Carney%20yeah_zpsiusuvvx9.png
Was Prescott a rookie in 2016?
http://i356.***BLOCKED***/albums/oo4/DallasEast1701/Carney%20yeah_zpsiusuvvx9.png
Okay. Smh.
/rant