IT MAY SURPRISE you to learn this but I am not Jerry Jones. However, there’s no way the Dallas ownership can bench rookie quarterback Dak Prescott in favour of the returning Tony Romo.
Prescott has killed the controversy before it even had a chance to really catch fire with his performances under centre this season.
Sure, against the Packers, he may have thrown the first interception of his fledgling career — but not before setting an NFL record for passes (176) without a pick — but he outplayed Aaron Rodgers in all facets of the game in an impressive 30-16 win at Lambeau Field.
In one of the most hostile environments in football, Prescott was 18 for 27 for nearly 250 yards and three touchdowns.
Without his top receiver — an injured Dez Bryant — he outplayed Rodgers whose title as the best quarterback in football is surely an infringement of the trade description act at this stage.
It’s always dangerous to try and encapsulate a game in one single play, let alone an entire career, but this throw at the end of the first half, which essentially ended the game as a contest, is evidence of just how good Prescott is and how great he could be.
A little @dak.
— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2016
A little @Brice_Butler...
One BEAUTIFUL @DallasCowboys TD. #DALvsGB https://t.co/BuCRgAlNRJ
He’s only facing a four-man rush, but Prescott steps into the pocket like a ten-year veteran, and places a perfect pass where only his receiver can make the grab as Brice Butler does with ease.
This score was the highlight of a 97-yard drive which Prescott engineered in less than a minute. And this was after a fumble and an interception should have dented his confidence significantly.
There are obvious comparisons to be made here to Tom Brady.
The Patriots turned to the former Michigan quarterback after Drew Bledsoe got injured in 2001 and though Brady struggled initially he soon found his stride and went on to be named Most Valuable Player at Super Bowl XXXVI while Bledsoe was quietly shipped out to the Buffalo Bills that off-season.
Interestingly enough, Tony Romo — the previously untouchable starting QB for the Cowboys — got his own start after Bledsoe was benched at the start of the second half of a 2006 game against the New York Giants.
Since then, barring injury, Romo has been the man under centre for ‘America’s Team’ and, at the start of this season, was widely expected to waltz back into the starting line-up when he recovered from the compression fracture in his back.
Even up to last week, Jerry Jones said that there was no question that Romo would return to the team but, after Sunday’s performance, the 74-year-old is beginning to change his tune.
“We know what Tony Romo can do for us. We know we’re going to have the ability to see Tony Romo get as healthy as he can possibly get. And at the same time look way into the future with a Dak Prescott. And maybe we don’t have to look that far, we can look after the bye week. All of that’s a good problem to have.”
Dallas go into their bye week with a 5-1 record and then face the Eagles, Browns, Steelers, Ravens and Washington with four wins or more from those five games likely giving them a playoff spot.
This is being spun by the Cowboys and Jones as an opportunity to get Romo as fit as he can possibly be. But, if he keeps winning and playing as well as he has been, why would they pull Prescott from the line-up?
After all, you only have to look at Brady and the Patriots to show you can win in the National Football League with a young quarterback.
