Posted on 09/12/2006 11:15:13 AM PDT by Dysart
IRVING -- Tony Romo was huddled with a few reporters when Drew Bledsoe walked into the locker room and put something inside his locker before turning around to face more reporters.
Odd.
Odd because it was Monday. Bledsoe doesn't talk to the media on Mondays. He's a Wednesday guy.
"I know," he said.
But this particular Monday was a special Monday. For the wrong reasons.
"I felt it's important [to talk] after a game where things don't go well. I feel like I need to address some of these issues and admit that I made some mistakes in the game," Bledsoe said. "That's very important. It's more important for me as a quarterback and a leader on the team to say [I] didn't play as well as I wanted to. I'm going to play better next week, and we're going to move on."
And there will be a next week.
Speculation over a quarterback change from Bledsoe to Romo this season died when Bledsoe started Week 1. The speculation received a booster shot Sunday after Bledsoe's three-interception performance in a 24-17 season-opening loss to the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
But Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said Monday no change will be made, and any questions surrounding a change aren't legitimate.
"Not right now," he said.
Parcells spread the wealth on "Who Can We Kick Monday?" It wasn't just at quarterback, where Bledsoe finished with a passer rating of 45.8.
Parcells said he has not lost any trust in the 14-year veteran. And one bad game is no reason to throw the keys to Romo.
"Don't make anything out of this because Bledsoe is starting next Sunday. So that's it," Parcells said. "But we'll see what goes on next Sunday. I told you I was getting Romo ready to play. And at some point in time, I'm hopeful I will be able to play him this year. Now, I don't know when, where or under what circumstances. But that shouldn't be the story for today because it's a non-story."
Unlike two years ago when Vinny Testaverde played all 16 games with Romo and Drew Henson pining for time during a 6-10 season, this is different.
Parcells' commitment to Bledsoe is week-to-week. He hasn't made, nor is it realistic to think he will, a seasonlong commitment to Bledsoe.
It's obvious he likes Romo better than he has liked any backup since he's been here. That's not saying much considering that cast includes Chad Hutchinson and Henson.
But Parcells has never favored a quarterback controversy. The only time he ever has juggled quarterbacks when an injury wasn't involved was in 1983. That was his first year as a head coach, and he interchanged Scott Brunner and Jeff Rutledge with a young Phil Simms on the bench.
As a veteran, Bledsoe, 34, knows what is being said and written. At least on the surface, he ignores the conjecture and speculation that he is a backup waiting to happen.
"I know it's there. That's the nature of the beast," Bledsoe said. "That's the position I play. It's not something I spend any time on. There is no positive in it. I focus on what I'm doing and what we're doing as a team and go forward from there."
Veterans who have played for Parcells aren't surprised. One vet said even if Parcells likes, respects and has a commitment to you, it doesn't make you immune from him pushing you with competition. Especially if he likes the competition at all.
In the middle of this "non-story" story is the "competition": Romo. An undrafted three-year veteran who has never thrown a regular-season pass has fallen into the always-popular role of The Backup. He recently signed a contract extension, and the Cowboys believe he can be their quarterback of the future.
So does he.
"I think any time you have a couple quality players at a specific position, it's always going to happen," Romo said of speculation that he will play.
Whether that future is this month, next month or next season remains to be seen. Romo wants to play. He also doesn't want to cause a scene.
"I don't know if it's awkward," said Romo, whose locker is next to Bledsoe's. "You're just waiting your turn when your time comes down the road. You're trying to be ready at all times."
Being ready will have to be enough. So says the quarterback. So says the owner/general manager. So says the coach.
For now.
"I think you're trying to get me to say at some point in time I'm going to get Romo in. That time is not now, OK?" Parcells said. "Is that clear enough?"
COWBOYS' DUELING DUOS
With thoughts of Tony Romo dancing in fans' heads, here is a look at some of the more memorable quarterback controversies in the Cowboys' past:
1968: Don Meredith/Craig Morton
There was a controversy in training camp, but Meredith started every game his final NFL season.
1971: Craig Morton/Roger Staubach
They alternated plays the first half of the season before Staubach took over solo duties.
1984-85: Danny White/Gary Hogeboom
Hogeboom was traded to the Colts after the '85 season, which led to another QB battle.
1986-87: Danny White/Steve Pelluer
White was nearing the end, and Pelluer was just a fill-in who was in there before Troy Aikman.
1989-90: Troy Aikman/Steve Walsh
It may seem ridiculous now, but there was a time this was legitimate.
2000: Troy Aikman/Randall Cunningham
People actually wanted to see an aging Cunningham replace an oft-injured Aikman, who was in his last season.
2002: Quincy Carter/Chad Hutchinson
That this team won five games with these two vying to be the team's quarterback of the future may reflect Dave Campo's best coaching job.
2004: Vinny Testaverde/Drew Henson
Parcells started Henson for one game, and he lasted one half before Vinny was back in.
I'm open to hearing why you think so.
But... What's a Bledsoe season without a QB controversy?
Both Bledsoe and Brett "Maybe we just aren't that Good" Favre are turnover machines. I really think that despite being down in the INT column after week 1, Favre will rally and easily lead the NFL by Week 2, and never look back.
Farve is well on pace to break the all-time career record for most interceptions. I think he only needs 20 more this year.
Flozell Adams is a solid veteran offensive tackle -- a position where the Cowboys are already thin to begin with. He has made the Pro Bowl. He is also coming off a major knee injury and is not yet 100%. He should get better in the coming weeks.
Favre is barely a shell of what he used to be. He is already retired in all but fact (as John Madden pointed out late last season). Bledsoe still has a few good seasons left in him, despite yesterday's awful performance. I wouldn't trade Bledsoe for Favre straight up. I wouldn't even trade Romo for Favre straight up.
Who has had two very good years, but underachieves as a rule; no reason to think that trend will turn around now. He will lose his starting job to Fabini/McQusitan sooner that you think unless he steps it up pretty soon.
I wouldn't even trade Romo for Favre straight up.
I wouldn't either. I like Romo a great deal, but he's not ready to take this team on a playoff run just yet.
Farve is one of the few QB's who CAN throw off his back foot when pressured and still complete the pass. In fact, he's probably not a textbook passer that you'd want to have your kid emulate (Son, enjoy Brett Farve but understand that he's not to be copied).
As a die-hard cowboys fan I for the life of me can not figure out why they have not gotten a QB in the last 6 years or so to replace Troy. This was and has been the one crucial part of the team that has been missing and preventing them from going forward.
Drew's best days are long gone...keep him as a back up and for the love of all that is good in this world...Bill...bring us a QB.
Even worse than Marino's last one against the Jag's in the playoffs? ;)
I have seen him throw 4-5 picks in a game. Doesn't matter how hard you throw if it goes to the wrong color jersey.
Favre is a gunslinger. The chief advantage that he has is his mental outlook. He doesn't fold-up mentally after throwing a pick. Bledsoe, OTOH, seems to get down on himself very easily.
There's another factor: it's the system that you play. Teams play one of several basic offenses in the NFL. That limits you to a selection of QB's who might be available at any given time -- unless you are prepared to wait for a new QB to learn your playbook.
Philly, Green Bay & SF all play a version of the "West Coast Offense". This is why the Eagles snapped up former 49ers QB, Jeff Garcia, to backup McNabb. He could play immediately if McNabb went down.
He may be a gunslinger but he averages 18 picks a year. Yes, he has thrown a lot of TDs in his time (28 avg/year) but that's not a big spread.
At this point, I wouldn't trade Vinny Testaverde straight up for him!
Replacing Troy Aikman isn't exactly easy. In fact, it's impossible. The only place you find these guys is in the draft and even then only if you have the first overall pick.
Bledsoe is no Aikman, although he was a number 1 overall pick. The Cowboys were fortunate even to get him when they did.
I think we mostly agree. Flozell Adams does underachieve, and this keeps him from being a great player. Still, he is very good most of the time, especially when he is healthy.
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