How should Cowboys handle QBs before playoffs start?
We posed the following question to the Paste BN Sports NFL staff: You are the Dallas Cowboys. The No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs is clinched. How do you handle the quarterback situation during the final week of the regular season?
Here are the responses:
Jarrett Bell
It's almost time to get Tony Romo some reps — and stay sensible. It's Dak Prescott's job. I'd try to get Romo some second-half snaps at Philadelphia in Week 17, just to knock some rust off and minimize the risk with Prescott. The injuries to quarterbacks Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota that put such a damper on the weekend underscored the obvious risk factor for teams headed to the playoffs, if anyone needed a reminder. You never want to play scared, or coach scared, but you also want to be smart. Why were the Raiders throwing while up by 19 points in the fourth quarter? That's when Carr got hurt. So there's something to be said about play selections and game situations. Be smart. Then there's the matter of Romo's history. What, he's left injured in three of the last five games he's played? The Cowboys might have the best quarterback depth in the playoffs, with great insurance in Romo. Yet for as much as they need to preserve Prescott, they need to keep their insurance intact, too.
Lindsay H. Jones
Jason Garrett might have three quarterbacks on his roster, but he has two realistic options on whom to play in the final gamea of the regular season: rookie starter Dak Prescott, or veteran backup Mark Sanchez. Sure, fans would probably love to see Tony Romo, who was Wally Pipp’ed by Prescott this season. But if the Cowboys want to have any realistic chance of unloading Romo (and his hefty contract) this offseason, they cannot risk exposing him to another injury.
So let Prescott play.
Garrett should not let the devastating (but freak) injuries suffered by Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota impact his decision to keep Prescott in the game and allow him and this young Cowboys offense to continue to develop. Pull him late in a blowout, sure, but let him start. As a rookie, he needs as much game experience as he can get.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
This doesn't have to be complicated for Dallas. Inserting Tony Romo into the lineup in Week 17 could help get the veteran back into rhythm, as well as prevent Dak Prescott from being subjected to a possible injury. If Jerry Jones and Jason Garrett send a clear message that this is a one-week plan, Romo's performance won't serve as a disruption. The Cowboys don't need a reminder about how a quarterback injury can change a season, but injuries to Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota reinforce how quickly a season can fall apart.
Tom Pelissero
One way or another, the Cowboys should get Tony Romo on the field. He's had nearly as many surgeries (three) as starts (four) in the past two seasons. The Cowboys know what he looks like in practice, but that's a lot of game time missed. You don't want to be the 2010 Chicago Bears, who found out during the NFC Championship Game that their No. 2 QB (Todd Collins) had nothing left and benched him after two series. Sure, you can argue an injury would erase whatever trade value Romo has. But what signal would send to interested teams if you're so scared of Romo's health that you won't even risk giving him a few dozen snaps to knock off the rust?
Lorenzo Reyes
I’m playing both Dak Prescott and Tony Romo. Yes, I do want to help Prescott avoid the rookie wall — especially since he has been in the middle of a non-stop football marathon since his final season at Mississippi State. But I also want to keep him sharp, both mentally and physically. Once the Cowboys come out of their first-round bye, they will be facing the best teams in the NFL. Time to shake off rust won’t be available.
So my plan would be to install the game plan with Prescott to start, and then remove him from Sunday's game against the Eagles at halftime — regardless of the score. That way Prescott gets a breather, and Romo gets valuable in-game reps to get him back in shape in case he’s needed in January. The best of both worlds.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 16