Tony Romo Injured Again, Out for the Season
Romo has missed all but parts of four games this season with left shoulder injuries, after being injured in Week 2 in the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles, and then after returning after missing around two months was injured again in the second game of his comeback, leaving the Cowboys with Matt Cassel as the starting signal caller for the remainder of the season. Cassel is the replacement for Romo not because he was more successful than the now departed Brandon Weeden, but because he did manage to look more like a real National Football League quarterback when he was losing. “We don’t spend a lot of time talking about other teams in our division and what the standings are, but oftentimes you have to provide a perspective about where we are, where we want to go and how we want to do it. So that certainly will be part of the message when the players come back in on Wednesday”.
Dallas got on the scoreboard with 1:22 left in the opening period when Dan Bailey connected on a 21-yard field goal that came at the end of a 13-play, 77-yard drive that took 6:47. The issues are not consistent, but instead seem to change from week to week. Running back, defensive end and linebacker are all positions where they could choose to go with a top-10 selection. They are in the race only because the rest of the NFC East is so bad. The reality is that the Cowboys have to bring hope to a franchise that’s already showing signs of future financial slippage, and finding a new quarterback is just one of the key steps towards preventing future problems, like home games not selling out at AT&T Stadium and decreased merchandising sales and opportunities. That fact and the fact that they have won just two playoff games since that Super Bowl XXX win over Pittsburgh are fairly well documented.
Cassel has played five games for the Cowboys this season, which included four starts, and has 87 completions for 902 yards with five touchdowns, also having five interceptions. Whichever direction Jones goes, the 2016 draft looms large for the Cowboys. The win against the on Sunday had many believing a run was possible. Cassel gives the Cowboys the best chance to win because he is veteran and their only quarterback on their current roster.
The Cowboys have a bevy of other needs besides quarterback that they could choose to address with their first pick next April.
Romo will not need surgery after getting hurt in the third quarter of Thursday’s 33-14 loss to Carolina. This is their guy no matter what, so if they are going to make a run, it has to be with him. Might as well see what you have going forward for next season. Tanking is a rather despicable ploy, and not one that actually happens that often. It is just a very unusual year for the Cowboys. “We do think that’s an injury that will heal”.
Maybe that deal Jerry Jones is reputed to have made with a crossroads demon to win those three Super Bowls is finally coming due for payment. Playing for nothing, especially when the aspirations were so different a few months ago, make the finish to the 2015 season, unless a miracle happens, even more depressing for the team’s fans.