Way back in September, when the Cowboys were 2-0 and looking like they could win a weak NFC East, Tony Romo broke his collarbone. The injury held him out for eight weeks, during which the Cowboys went 0-7. With the NFC East a shitpile at that point (for the record, it’s still a shitpile), the 2-7 Cowboys were a long shot to make it to the playoffs, but they technically had a shot. All they had to do was overcome the three teams ahead of them in the standings and keep Romo’s fragile collarbone from crumbling into dust. So Romo hurried back, took the reins, and fractured the same collarbone again.
No team has ever made the playoffs from a 2-7 position, but there are still no teams above .500 in the NFC East. For their shitty record, the Cowboys mostly lost close games. Regardless, it probably would have been a smarter long-term proposition to shelve Romo, preserve his health, and think about Joey Bosa or Jared Goff.
Jerry Jones, ever the visionary, did not do that, and he doesn’t regret it. Jones said on his radio show on 105.3 The Fan that getting Romo back into football games with a delicate collarbone was worth it:
“I don’t think push is the word for it. We felt the risk was worth the potential for having him be the impact he can be and really having a fairytale turnaround and doing something that was special. And to me, that’s what we’re about, that’s what sports is about. You shouldn’t ever quit trying to do something extraordinary.”
I understand why Jones and the Cowboys did it, but the potential cost for a very (slim) chance at making a run (through a pretty touch schedule) outweighs the benefits of getting back to the playoffs. Regardless, they only won one game with Romo, so they’re still in decent draft position.
Photo via AP