Current Situation
A broken clavicle. The diagnosis of the injury that took Tony Romo out of the lineup on Sunday, his current timetable for return is unknown, the obvious reality being the Dallas Cowboys starting Quarterback will definitely miss several games.
That is actually the optimistic view, without getting into the obnoxious guessing game of rehabilitation times that currently plague the Dez Bryant situation, we could not see Tony again until late November. Which is why the play of Brandon Weeden will be highlighted each and every week until Tony is able to return.
Sunday was a replica of the efficiency Weeden showed last year when he was forced into action against the Washington Redskins. Despite his numerous detractors, he has shown the ability to be effective within the Cowboys offense. He showed his arm talent on several Slants to Cole Beasley and Terrance Williams; he has a strong arm which allows him to make all of the throws needed within the offense.
There is no question he will be the starting Quarterback until Tony returns. He has over a year within this offense, has received valuable reps on Wednesdays, and is familiar with Scott Linehan. Oh right, how could I forget…
The Cardinals game.
Many fans choose to judge Weeden by that game – which was against one of the top defenses in the NFL a season ago – where hardly anyone on the offense performed well.
I assume the vast majority of those reading this article are Dallas Cowboys fans and are quite familiar with the unjust scrutiny Tony receives for every bad performance. Well, allow me to break it to you.
You are treating Brandon Weeden exactly the same way!
He does not have the track record of Tony, nor is he as talented, but to really suggest Tim Tebow is a better Quarterback is beyond ridiculous. He would not come in off of a College Football set and have more success leading an unfamiliar offense than Brandon Weeden.
Be realistic.
Yes, Weedon did have a terrible game against the Cardinals, but I could say the same for DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant, and the vaunted Offensive Line. Let’s spread the blame and not place it solely on Weeden’s shoulders.
Available Veteran Quarterbacks
The Cowboys could decide to promote Kellen Moore to the 53, he is an intelligent Quarterback that makes sound decisions and is comfortable with the Scott Linehan offense. The issue with that is Moore does not have any regular-season playing experience.
If Will McClay and Jason Garrett decide they want a veteran backup for Brandon Weeden that may have a shorter learning curve with Scott Linehan’s offense, there are several options out there.
Jason Campbell
Familiar to Cowboys fans from his time spent with the Redskins, Campbell has seen action in 86 NFL Regular Season games. He has been contemplating retirement, having declined several reported offers from teams this past offseason. He would provide a veteran backup that could be another reference point for Weeden.
If he is willing to participate in a workout, I see no reason why he shouldn’t get a look. He spent the 2014 Season with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was also a teammate of Brandon Weeden while with the Cleveland Browns.
Matt Flynn
While only having 7 career starts, Flynn is a veteran that spent time with the New England Patriots and the New York Jets during the preseason. He is a veteran that has been extremely sporadic with his play, but in this emergency scenario, he could be an answer.
Josh Freeman
Once was a highly thought of young Quarterback, after being selected in the 1st round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009 he never fully lived up to his potential. However, he had very productive 2010 and 2012 campaigns. He spent the Preseason with the Miami Dolphins.
Other names are out there such as T.J. Yates, Joe Webb, and Tavaris Jackson but I do not feel they are as good as the three options highlighted above. I imagine the Cowboys will move quickly to bring someone in if they decided to go that route, as they will need to quickly become familiar with the playbook.
