Sep 1, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones on the set of ESPN College Gameday before the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Michigan Wolverines at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

-There was a recent article written that revealed when Jimmy Johnson was hired as the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys; he informed his wife that he had two choices, stay married to her, or coach the Cowboys, and we all know which one he chose.

- Under that heading, I hardly think the future of the Cowboys lies in a 72 year old Defensive Coordinator, unless he cuts all ties with his Grand Children and Great Grand Children.

-Things aren’t complicated enough, we have to switch defenses now from the 3-4 to the 4-3?

-I am not interested in the built in 2013 excuse that it’s a new defense and the players needed time to learn it. This will be what is said, if the defense ranks in the middle of the pack or worse, and does little to turn its lack of turnover woes around.

-In a 60 minutes interview in 2010, Jerry Jones said that he asked God to give him a third Super Bowl and I won’t ask for another one. I have to wonder if this is all about God keeping Jerry to his word. How else could you explain Tony Romo fumbling an easy field goal in the playoffs against Seattle and all the other bad Karma around this team since the 1996 Super Bowl victory?

-DeMarco Murray needs to find a way to stay healthy or he is a bust. Healthy enough for six or seven games a year is not enough, even for a very talented third round pick.

-Miles Austin is miles away from his breakout season and contract awarded year. In 2013, he needs to find himself again or he will be cut at the end of next year.

-I hate when people say Tony Romo is another Danny White. Everyone forgets, White won playoff games and it was the defense that gave up the “the catch” to Dwight Clark preventing him for playing in a Super Bowl in the 1982 season. Romo is nowhere near Danny White’s achievements and he may never get there; never mind Roger Staubach or Troy Aikman.

-I wonder how Tony Romo’s teammates feel about him, really. After all the public statements of love from Jason Garrett and Jerry Jones it really boils down to whether his teammates believe he can take them to the promised land. I am starting to sense they have doubt, even his best friend, Jason Witten.

-Jerry should not be commenting on the firing of Rob Ryan. This should have been done by Jason Garrett only. I wonder how much input Jason had in deciding Ryan’s fate and the subsequent decision to hire Monte Kiffin. Jerry does everything he can to emasculate Jason by treating him like a kid, as opposed to a valued, respected, senior member of his management team. As long as Jerry continues this behavior, Jason will never be totally respected by his players.

-Last week I saw on the internet that Congress rejected the Death Star petition calling for the US to build  the famed planet shaped weapon from the Star Wars movies. This development leaves me little hope that the proposed Jerry Jones petition forcing him to sell the Cowboys will ever be heard by Congress. I knew it was a long shot but it did give me A New Hope when I first heard about it. How sad is it that I believe it less likely that the  Cowboys will win a Super Bowl in 2014 then the US actually building a Death Star. Since Jerry won’t listen to anyone else, I thought I would give Yoda a try; and what words of wisdom would the little green guy say to the owner, “hire a GM Jerry, you need to do.”

Oct 21, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten (82) tries to stay in bounds before being pushed out by Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis (58) during the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. The Cowboys defeated the Panthers 19-14. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

In one of the greatest moments in Dallas Cowboys franchise history; in the Third Round of the 2003 draft, the Dallas Cowboys select Jason Witten from Tennessee.  With all that is wrong with today’s Cowboys, there is something very right about Jason. He is as deserving as any player ever to wear the Cowboy star on his helmet.

It’s so easy to forget his 2012 record breaking season (most receptions in a single season 110 and 18 in a single game by a tight end) and the amazing career he has had thus far for the Cowboys. Why? That is how he wants it. For him, it truly is a team game to win or lose and it’s all about winning a Super Bowl.

Bill Parcells knew he had something special in Jason. Confirmation came pretty quickly when in his rookie season playing for Bill he broke his jaw. He would miss only one game and he had three plates inserted.

Parcells knew that kind of toughness is something you can build a Championship team around. Bill’s blueprint for a Super Bowl always included a strong defense, led by an outstanding Linebacker, and a go to guy in the trenches for his Quarterback. Jason Witten was his Mark Bavaro and later on in 2005 DeMarcus Ware would be his Lawrence Taylor.  If only he could have stayed to finish the plan.

Jason was recruited by the University of Tennessee as a Defensive End prospect but once he switched to Tight End he quickly flourished. He never lost that Defensive End mentality. That was never more evident than in 2007 when he ran for a 53 yard reception against the Eagles after losing his helmet. Even the biggest Cowboy haters reluctantly had to smile at that play.

The greatest testament to his dedication and courage happened this year in a preseason game against the Raiders in mid-August. After being tackled he suffered a lacerated spleen; a very serious medical condition. The Cowboys not wanting to risk his health and legal issues told Jason the only way he could play to start the season was if he could find a Doctor to medically clear him against the Giants.  It wasn’t easy but he found one.

He was not effective in that Giant game, catching only 2 passes for 10 yards but his courage inspired the team and the Cowboys won the opener 24-17. His next two games would not be any better for him; catching a combined 66 yards on 6 receptions against Seattle and Tampa Bay respectively. He definitely was not healthy but you have to wonder if some of it was mental. Perhaps, and rightly so, he was hearing his wife’s voice. To risk your life for football, when you have a wife and two kids? That must have been really tough on him, probably more than the injury itself.

Nonetheless, in true Witten fashion not only does he overcome the slow start of the first three games; he ends up breaking the all-time NFL single season record for Tight Ends.  Amongst his personal achievements you can also add being an 8 time pro bowler and the Cowboy record for most career receptions with 806.

This year around the Cowboys there is a lot of talk about a window. Is it closed, cracked, still open? I can tell you this, Jason Witten is now 30 and even though I live in New York City, when he retires and they put his name up in the Ring of Honor I will be there at the Stadium. I owe that to him in appreciation for all he has left on the field and given me as a fan.  A much bigger debt is owed by his teammates, coaches and the Owner. So before the window does close, go help him win a Super Bowl Championship.

July 30, 2012; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones watches opening day of the Dallas Cowboys training camp. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

To me the answer is simple Mr. GM, President and Owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones. The first decision that needs to be made for the 2013 team is the following.

Keep Romo or let him go. Then you can go from there.

In order to make an educated decision we should take a look back and learn from history. Not Cowboy history, but teams that have been successful in the last decade or so.

In the last 9 Super Bowls the winning Quarterbacks have been the following:

Tom Brady won 2

Eli Manning won 2

Ben Roethlisberger won 2

Aaron Rodgers won 1

Drew Brees won 1

Peyton Manning won 1

Wow what a group. Although, Ben Roethlisberger does not often hear the word Elite said around his name, you would be hard pressed to find any fan who would not want him leading their team with the game on the line within the last 2 minutes of any playoff game or Super Bowl.

I think we would all agree Romo does not belong in this class of Quarterbacks. So if the decision is to keep him anyway then perhaps looking back to a Super Bowl 10 years ago would help provide some answers. That would be Super Bowl 37.

This was the first super bowl in which the number one ranked offense, The Oakland Raiders, played the number one ranked defense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers prevailed with Brad Johnson at the helm by a score of 48 to 21. Brad Johnson, elite Quarterback? No but that defense sure was.

One year later in Super Bowl 36 we once again find our elite quarterback at the helm, Tom Brady, as the Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams, 20-17.

And then there was Super Bowl 35, the Baltimore Ravens played and won by a score of 34-7 over the New York Giants.  The quarterback for the Ravens was Trent Dilfer. Elite, hardly but once again there was that league leading  Raven defense in many categories (2^nd best in allowing yards) led by none other than Ray Lewis. On defense, it does not get any more elite than Ray Lewis.

So it seems pretty simple, not a lot of algorithmic calculations here for my MoneyBall NFL calculation for Jerry Jones.

If you want to win a Super Bowl; you better have an elite quarterback and if you don’t, you better have an elite defense.

The Cowboys have neither and thus mire in mediocrity and will continue to do so unless they begin to get this concept. Their offense can play exceptional at times but falters way too often; the same goes for their defense even when it’s healthy.

Now back to our choice.

Keep Romo = you better build a number one defense.

Cut Romo = only if you can get an elite quarterback to replace him.

Elite Quarterbacks are a valued commodity and not easy to find and unfortunately we missed a great crop of young talented quarterbacks in 2012.  So the best course of action in the near term might be to re-sign Romo and build an elite defense through free agency and the draft.

The good news is on the defensive front, the Cowboys may not be far off with young and upcoming stars such as Sean Lee, Bruce Carter and Morris Claiborne; along with existing key players, DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer (he will be re-signed) and Brandon Carr. However, they desperately need help at the Safety position and must add more talent and depth on the Defensive Line.

In the end, Cowboy’s Defensive Coach, Rob Ryan, had it right all along.

In week seven, when Middle Linebacker Sean Lee, the defensive leader of the Cowboys, was diagnosed with a season ending injury, it was rumored that upon hearing the news, Rob Ryan cried. I suspect a big part of his tears was the realization that it was now going to be up to the offense lead by Tony Romo. Unfortunately, we all now know how that ends; millions of Cowboy fans crying along with Rob, including Tony Romo himself.