Romo's injury could lead to compelling Dallas offseason
Tony Romo still gives the Dallas Cowboys hope.
Only instead of those dreams relating to a playoff appearance this season, they're now about having a realistic shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
We can disregard the possibility of Dallas repeating as NFC East champions or reaching the postseason. A year in which Super Bowl hopes gradually spiraled downward hit rock bottom as the third quarter expired in Thursday's 33-14 home loss to Carolina.
That's the moment when Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis landed on Romo's left shoulder and re-injured the quarterback's previously fractured collarbone. Romo immediately grabbed for the injured area just like he did when he was first hurt in a Week 2 win over Philadelphia.
The reaction of Charlotte Jones Anderson in her family's luxury box said it all. The daughter of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was caught on camera with her hand across her forehead shielding a face masked in distress.
On Friday, the bad news became official. Romo's collarbone has a hairline fracture and he will miss the rest of the season.
The Cowboys (3-8) could have remained in contention for the division crown even with the loss to Carolina because of Romo's talent and the rest of the NFC East struggling so badly. Not anymore.
After a 2-0 start, the Cowboys were 0-7 without Romo earlier this season — and that's when the squad still bought into the possibility of salvaging the season. Such hope is gone knowing what likely awaits with Matt Cassel under center for the final five games.
The epitaph that can be written of the Cowboys' season won't reflect well upon Jerry Jones and the rest of his team's front office.
Romo's injury makes his absence an easy excuse for Dallas to cite when explaining this year's mess. But the seeds for regression from a 12-4 campaign in 2014 were planted last March when the team declined to re-sign reigning NFL rushing leader DeMarco Murray.
Jones believed a committee approach would adequately compensate for Murray's production. Nope. Of the three running backs expected to carry that workload, just one, Darren McFadden, remains. Projected starter Joseph Randle was cut last month and Lance Dunbar (knee) went on injured reserve in Week 4.
Randle, whose off-field issues were no secret to Cowboys management, wasn't the only misfit Dallas made the mistake of trusting to carry the team. Greg Hardy has proven an embarrassment on so many levels that the defensive end would have needed to register 30 sacks this season to justify his signing amid the lingering stench of a domestic-violence scandal.
The Cowboys also clearly misevaluated their quarterback depth. Although he spent more than a season as Romo's understudy, Brandon Weeden lost the team's confidence so quickly that he was benched after three starts and ultimately released.
Matt Cassel has proven to be a slight upgrade, but only so much can be expected since he was acquired through an in-season trade with Buffalo. His late arrival required offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to greatly reduce his playbook.
There were other bumps as well.
The fact Romo was reinjured so quickly raises questions about why the medical staff wasn't more cautious like in Green Bay when Aaron Rodgers suffered the same fracture in 2013. Star wide receiver Dez Bryant missed six weeks with a broken foot. What was touted as the NFL's best offensive line took steps back under new position coach Frank Pollard, who replaced the departed Bill Callahan (Washington). Middle linebacker Rolando McClain was suspended four games under the NFL's substance-abuse policy and returned rusty. Plus, there was the impact of injuries to key players like cornerback Orlando Scandrick, middle linebacker Sean Lee and rookie defensive end Randy Gregory.
Dallas will likely be an underdog in each of its remaining five games starting with a Dec. 7 road matchup with Washington (4-6). Assuming the oddsmakers are right, the Cowboys will secure a high spot in the 2016 draft — the proximity will depend on the fortunes of other moribund clubs like San Diego (2-8), Tennessee (2-8), Cleveland (2-8), San Francisco (3-7) and Baltimore (3-7).
If there's the chance to draft a new franchise quarterback, the Cowboys must re-evaluate Romo's short- and long-term future. He's still capable of leading Dallas to a Super Bowl title if healthy, but Romo also will be 36 next season with a high salary and growing injury history.
Romo's latest physical setback also may impact Hardy's future with the Cowboys. Dallas was willing to tolerate Hardy arriving late or missing team meetings as well as his embarrassing behavior with the press and on social media when the team was in contention for the playoffs. One more Hardy misstep with the Cowboys fading from the playoff picture finally could convince the franchise to release him.
The Cowboys have produced plenty of memorable Thanksgiving Day moments since hosting their first game in 1966. Another one happened Thursday — even though it's one Romo and the Cowboys would rather forget.
