By Mikael DeSanto
Sports Assignment Editor
The Dallas Cowboys have a decision to make, and it is not one they are taking lightly. That decision is who to start at quarterback going forward.
Now normally a football fan would say “that’s easy, obviously Tony Romo.” But the problem is Romo has been injured all year, and his replacement, Dak Prescott, has been doing a pretty good job.
Under Prescott, the Cowboys have jumped to a 7-1 record, as he’s led the team to seven straight wins, and they currently lead the NFC East division. However, it does appear that Tony Romo is healthy now, or at least is close.
But owner and general manager Jerry Jones has still not made a commitment to either player, calling it a situation that they will “play by ear.” So who should it be, Dak or Tony?
A Case for Dak
First of all, it is worth mentioning that he was drafted in the fourth round of this year’s NFL Draft.
He has the chemistry of this year’s team on his side. While Romo has been out, he has established himself among the team’s offense, which has produced 223 total points through Week 9, the third most in the entire NFC.
His individual stats are nothing to scoff at either. In eight games, he has thrown for 2,020 yards, 12 touchdowns and only two interceptions, creating one of the more devastating one-two punches for rookies, along with running back Ezekiel Elliot, in recent memory. He has also run for 125 yards and four touchdowns.
But there is a problem: He is a rookie. Throughout NFL history, we have seen players who appear to be ready to take over a team and lead them into the Promised Land, so to speak. But then they get hurt, or they fail to match their previous productions, and they eventually fall off. Here’s looking at you, JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf. Now that’s not saying Prescott will end up like either of them, which would be difficult. But might it be better to go with the player who is more of a known commodity.
A Case for Tony
The man has experience and knows this organization better than anyone on the roster, except Jason Witten most likely. While Prescott may have the chemistry right now, Romo has the undeniable chemistry with the team over the last decade.
Since throwing his first NFL pass, Romo has compiled 34,154 yards, 247 touchdowns and 117 interceptions in 149 games, a total hurt by two seasons where he played six and four games, respectively. He also has postseason experience, despite the knock against him being he can’t win in the playoffs, having played six games with eight touchdowns and 1,316 yards.
However, he is coming off a season where he broke his collarbone not once, but twice, which had happened earlier in his career as well. He has also been susceptible to back injuries, with a ruptured disk, two transverse process fractures and a vertebra fracture over the last 3-4 years.
So there is a major question about his health in returning from the vertebra fracture, which he suffered in the preseason, and his health long term. How long can he keep playing, especially if one hit could do serious damage to an already weak back?
It is for that reason, and the success of this year’s team, that Dak Prescott should remain the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
The Mississippi State product has gone from the guy brought in just in case, to the guy who has helped turn the team into one the best in the NFL, and is making a strong case for being the future of the Dallas Cowboys.
Now we’ll just have to see what happens.
desantmj13@bonaventure.edu
