Cowboys Chat: How Romo’s Remembered and Free Agency Eval
By Reid Hanson
Cowboys Chat discusses Tony Romo, the weakest back-up spot on the team, and how the Cowboys are doing in free agency thus far.
It’s the offseason but as we all know #ThereIsNoOffseason in the NFL. With so much to talk about in this Cowboys Chat, we broke down the conversation into two parts. Here in Part 1 we discuss Romo, the status of the Cowboys’ roster, and where we should be most concerned.
Did Tony Romo’s retirement surprise you?
Yes. I really thought he had the fire to keep playing. I think if Houston had expressed interest, he wouldn’t have retired. But as they were playing it cool and acting like they didn’t need him, he was losing his fire, eventually calling it career.
I think Houston, and to a lesser extent, Denver, will be kicking themselves about halfway through training camp this summer for letting him slip away.
That essentially means the Cowboys are going from having the best back-up QB situation in the NFL, to the worst.
How will Romo be remembered?
This is what everyone seems to be debating right now. I imagine the extremists – lovers and haters – will mellow and people will remember him for what he is: a great QB without postseason success.
Is the hate fair?
Fair? It’s not even logical. Tony Romo is a real life Cinderella story. An undrafted free agent becomes a Pro Bowl QB for America’s Team. He stays out of trouble. He’s not cocky. He’s a good teammate and family man, the list goes on. Who could hate THAT? Turns out, plenty of people.
If Romo played for a different team like the Packers or Seahawks he would be loved and appreciated by everyone. It’s the star on his helmet that brought on most of his haters.
Many experts have been critical of the Cowboys’ lack of activity this offseason. How would you rate it?
“I” for incomplete. I admit the Dallas Cowboys have been painfully methodical in free agency this offseason but there is still a lot of time and plenty of resources to get things done. Primarily the draft.
With so many internal losses, will the Cowboys be able to get back to where they were last season?
Last season was nothing short of awesome. I’d argue that no matter what the Cowboys do this season they could not get back to the successes of last season. When you think of it, there was only one team, THE ENTIRE SEASON, that the Cowboys didn’t beat. Of course, that’s the New York Giants.
But like I said before, there is still so much time to get things done, that making 2017 predictions now is foolish. I will say, all of the free agents that left Dallas were allowed to go. Every one of them is replaceable and all of the cornerstones of the franchise remain.
Related Story: The Cowboys WANTED Their Free Agents to Go
The Cowboys still have their three best offensive linemen – possibly four best depending how La’el Collins plays. They have their top-4 receiving targets. Their top runner and passer. They have their best linebacker, their best five or six defensive linemen, and their best defensive back.
What I’m trying to say is everyone they lost is replaceable.
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What position concerns you the most?
Obviously pass-rusher and defensive back are the most concerning but I have no doubts that the Cowboys will put all of their effort in using the draft to address those two areas. It’s the areas I don’t expect them to address that cause concern.
For that reason, back-up QB frightens the living crap out of me. Tony Romo is gone and behind him the Cowboys are left with only Kellen Moore.
That essentially means Dallas is going from having the best back-up QB situation in the NFL, to the worst.
That’s why I went back a few weeks ago and assessed Colin Kaepernick and his potential fit with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have a scary situation back there and I don’t think they’re planning to do much about it.
In Part 2 of Cowboys Chat, publishing later today, we’ll discuss the always controversial Colin Kaepernick and even a little bit of Greg Hardy.