"People say you don't know what you've got till it's gone. The truth is, you knew what you had, and you just never thought you'd lose it."
The Dallas Cowboys, now 0-7 without Quarterback Tony Romo, have realized more than ever how valuable he is to the team. With Romo, the team was 2-0 at the beginning of the season but now is on a seven-game losing streak. The Cowboys have struggled mightily over the past seven games and are missing their leader on the field. Good news; Romo is expected to return on November 22 against the Miami Dolphins. Is it too late for Romo to save the day?
With Romo coming off his best offseason in years, the Cowboys never thought they would lose him to injury, but it happens in the NFL. Therefore, with Romo out Cowboys depended on backup Brandon Weeden, who was unsuccessful as a backup last year. After a few losses, Cowboys picked up Matt Cassel, he has performed better than Weeden, but is no match to Romo. This is what happens when a team does not develop or draft a backup quarterback.
To preserve Tony Romo's value, Cowboys need to draft a Quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. Romo is 35 and is not getting any younger; he needs someone he can mentor. Furthermore, should Romo go down because of an injury next year the Cowboys would have a suitable backup. Cowboys should consider Pro-style Quarterbacks Connor Cook (Michigan State) and Cody Kessler (USC) as well as dual-threat Quarterbacks Trevone Boykin (TCU) and Jacoby Brissett (NC State).
As the Cowboys try to salvage this season, their leader will be returning at the perfect time. There are seven games remaining, and the Cowboys are in a weak NFC East; anything is possible. Next week is the first time this season the entire team will be together. Romo makes everyone on the team better, and the game runs smoother when he is on the field. The Cowboys have to win out to potentially make the playoffs, which is a lot of pressure on Romo. This is virtually impossible for any team to do especially a team that has lost seven games in a row.