Jerry Jones: Tony Romo's Status Depends On His Pain Tolerance

The good: Tony Romo's new back injury isn't related to his surgery, and it won't end his season. The bad: That's only true if you believe Jerry Jones.

Jones gave a vague update on Romo's status this morning on his radio show and said the quarterback will be a game-time decision Sunday against the Cardinals. According to the owner/GM/amateur doctor, it'll depend on how much pain Romo's willing to take.

(How can you still be evaluating but know "nothing medicinally" will hold him out?)

(Jones is hanging Romo out to dry with this. If Romo doesn't play, he'll get branded a wuss. If he does, and sucks, he'll be Same Old Romo.)

Of course, Romo's going to want to play, but is it wise for Dallas to let him? The Cowboys are 6-2, so they're not exactly struggling to keep their season alive yet, and the NFC East has only one other legitimate contender in Philly. Romo's been excellent this season, and he has been healthy, too, and though I'm not a graduate of the Jerry Jones School of Speculative Drunk-Ass Sports Medicine I can say with some confidence that those two things are related. An injured quarterback is going to rush throws so as not to get hit by the pass rush. He wants to preserve his body. It's only natural.

The Cowboys have the best running back in the league, an acceptable backup quarterback (by the standards of backup quarterbacks) in Brandon Weeden, and stellar receiving options in Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams. There's no reason to hurry a less-than-healthy Romo on the field right now, especially with a game against the Jacksonville Bye Weeks in two Sundays, and an actual bye week after that. But these are Jerry Jones's Cowboys. Reason don't go 'round here.

Photo: AP