Dilemma in Dallas

Vishal Shah '18

The Dallas Cowboys, one of the hottest teams in the NFL, are currently on track for a historic season. After an embarrassing 2015 season, in which they finished with a 4-12 record (only better than that of the Browns and the Titans), the Cowboys appear to have found their secret weapon: rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott not only provides skill and youth at the quarterback position but also works well with Dallas’ rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott, giving the Cowboys their longest winning streak in franchise history.

Despite all of this recent success, a dilemma puts the Cowboys in an awkward position. Veteran quarterback Tony Romo, who has been out of the game due to a string of devastating injuries since 2015, is healthy and is ready to be back on the field. Though Romo has not started a game since Week 13 of last season, during which he suffered a shoulder injury, he is a 36 year-old living legend with a very successful career.

An undrafted rookie from a small school, Eastern Illinois University, Romo took an unconventional path to NFL stardom. Romo is among the all-time leaders in passing touchdowns (21st), completions (29th), passing yards (29th), and passer rating (3rd). ESPN has even called him the best quarterback Dallas has ever seen, which is high praise considering Dallas’ history of incredible quarterbacks, including Hall-of-Famer Troy Aikman.

Following a week ten victory for the Cowboys, the team announced that Dak Prescott, the 23 year-old superstar, would start over Tony Romo, the potential future Hall-of-Famer. This decision has caused lots of controversy among fans, sports analysts, and even Ridge High students.

Chrissie Giberna ‘18 states, “Dak Prescott deserves to start. Romo is too prone to injuries and doesn’t have what it takes to lead Dallas to the Super Bowl.” Chrissie’s opinions do not stand alone. Many people have boarded the Dak Train and fully believe in his ability to lead the Cowboys to their first playoff appearance since 2010.

However, there are others who feel that Tony Romo has had too good of a career to sit on the bench. For example, Derrick Ro ‘19 weighs in, stating, “Romo is one of the greatest quarterbacks that we have seen in our lifetimes. Who knows how Dak will do as a rookie quarterback come playoff time?”

While it is true that Romo has far more experience in both the NFL regular season and the playoffs, Romo, like some of the other greatest quarterbacks, have consistently underperformed under high pressure. Romo is 2-4 in his postseason career, and with his health declining, Cowboys management is not optimistic that his poor playoff performance will suddenly take a turn for the better. The Cowboys have made their decision: Dak Prescott will remain as the starting quarterback.

The Cowboys have been having their best season in nearly thirty years, and Dak Prescott has been the biggest change to the team. Although many fans hate to see Romo sit on the bench, Romo himself expressed hope for the outcome of the season, conceding his role to Dak Prescott on November 15. Romo has also expressed interest in being traded to the Denver Broncos during the offseason in order to become a starter once again.

There is no one more excited to play behind Dak Prescott than Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott. Both rookies, Dak and Ezekiel, have proven a dynamic duo as a top fifteen quarterback and arguably the top running back in the NFL, respectively. Elliott is on track to win the rushing title for the 2016 season, and his pairing with Prescott has made the Dallas Cowboys’ offense formidable.