July 30, 2012; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Kyle Orton (18) throws during opening day of training camp. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

Hear me out here. There is no quarterback controversy is Dallas. Zero. Nada. Everyone agrees, Romo is the starting quarterback. But I’ve always wondered something about Orton. Why would he come to Dallas to back-up Romo? Why would he come here when he could compete for a starting job somewhere else? After this weekend, the seed of a thought crept into my brain. Did Orton actually come to the Cowboys to get a starting job?

Last year, Orton started his third straight season in Denver. He had the starting job going into the season with incumbent Tebow on the bench. (an alleged fourth string QB in the preseason) But a 1-4 record and a million chanting Tebow fans later, and Orton was on the pine and soon released. I could understand, after suffering an embarrassment like that, wanting to go somewhere that had zero controversy. After playing out the rest of the season with the Kansas City Chiefs, Orton signed with the Cowboys almost immediately, right out of free agency.

When the news hit that we secured the best back-up in the league so early on, I was ecstatic. But a few questions did linger in my mind. Why did Orton sign so quickly without fully researching his starting options? And if he did just want to avoid controversy, why sign a three year deal? Orton is 29 years old. He’s in his prime years to start. Why sign a contract to be a back-up until your 33? The answer is simple: Orton sees a future in Dallas.

July 30, 2012; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Stephen McGee (7), quarterback Kyle Orton (18), and quarterback Tony Romo (9) talk during opening day of training camp. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

But what that future is, only Orton knows. But let’s not forget that Romo is 32 years old. His contract runs out in 2013 due to a restructuring from last summer. And owner Jerry Jones’ patience, along side most of Cowboy Nation, is wearing more than a little thin. Many see this as Romo’s make or break year. But did that have anything to do with Orton’s quick decision to play in Dallas?

Romo is coming off the best statistical season of his career. But let’s not forget that Orton was coming off two great statistical years before being benched. In 2010, Kyle threw for 3,653 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. The year before he had 3,802 yards with 21 touchdowns. But two straight years of not making the playoffs cost him in the end. Sound familiar?

Is Orton pulling a Tebow in Dallas? Who knows? I do know this. If Dallas starts the year off at 1-4 or fails to make the playoffs again, it won’t be Tebow’s name some Cowboys fans will be chanting. It will be Orton’s. And wouldn’t that just be ironic.

But its blatantly obvious that intelligence and maturity or a lack there of seems to supersede quickness, speed and strength when it comes to the most important of issues that the second year wide receiver could have focused on during his time this offseason.

Jan 1, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) runs with the ball after a reception during the second half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Alan Maglaque-US PRESSWIRE

Rumors ran rampant last season regarding Tony Romo’s trust issues with Bryant’s performance within the offensive system. Other than being completely wide open or Tony absolutely needing to get rid of the ball in a hurry and Bryant being the only option in the vicinity of Romo’s, it was said that the trust and dependency upon Bryant never materialized and the reasons could be abundant.

Will the Cowboys miss a player with that kind of reputation on the field? Likely not as much as most would think.

Bryant’s ability to hamper the offense in the ways rumored and inability to be dependable serves two fold by adding extra pressure onto others on the team such as DeMarco Murray, Felix Jones, Miles Austin, Jason Witten and Tony Romo to make more plays when it’s crunch time.

Thinking back the rumors of lack of trust within the system would explain several games where Dez Bryant completely disappeared after first and second quarters.

Dez Bryant was very rarely called upon at the end of games when a big play was needed. Will a player like Dez Bryant be missed? Would the kid from Lufkin Texas even be a Cowboy had current head coach Jason Garrett held the reins during the 2010 draft?

After drafting six of seven former college team captains in this years NFL draft we seriously doubt it unless of course GM Jerry Jones pulled rank on Garrett which could of likely happened.

Dez Bryant will likely receive a “sit down” request from the commissioner Roger Goddell and because of the arrest the commish could dish out up to a four games suspension to Dez Bryant. That is assuming the Dallas Cowboys don’t beat Goddell to the punch. (No pun intended)
Looking at the numbers lets compare Dez Bryant’s current numbers since being drafted in 2010 and playing in 27 games:

Receptions – 108 tied for 47th

Receiving Yards- 1,489 42nd overall
25+ yard receptions 17 tied for 17th
15 touchdowns tying him for 15th

Now let’s look at another very talented receiver that was a phenom coming out of college and a Cowboys former top draft pick.

Michael Irvin’s numbers through his first 27 games:

Receptions – 87
Receiving yards- 1468
Touchdowns- 13
25+ yard receptions 15

Irvin did finish his 1988 rookie season with a 20.4 yards per catch average, which led the NFC at the time and everyone knows the rest of the story with Michael Irvin helping to lead the team to three super bowl wins and eventually being inducted into the Dallas Cowboys ring of honor in 2005.

Compared to fellow wide receivers taken during the 2010 NFL draft, fourth round selection of Tampa Bay, Mike Williams over the past two seasons the Buccaneers wide out has amassed 130 receptions for 1738 yards receiving along with 14 touchdowns. Williams has also managed to participate in 31 of 32 career games.

Sixth round selection Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers was selected to a pro bowl last year and is expected to really burst onto the scene this year to follow up a superb sophomore season in which the Steelers wide receiver hauled in 69 catches for approximately 1100 yards.

Both Demaryius Thomas taken two selections ahead of Dez Bryant while injured much of his rookie year boasts a greater yards per reception average than Bryant and being paired with Peyton Manning this year in Denver could easily help ignite the career of Thomas for the next few years. Not only will Thomas benefit from the Denver acquisition of Manning but 2010 third round selection Eric Decker could also end up being a pro bowl caliber receiver.

Is Dez Bryant worth it? Is the former Oklahoma State Cowboy worth keeping around? Only time will tell but in the mean time let us hope that Dez Bryant works through these issues and the lack there of regarding intelligence and maturity will be the next common football attributes that Dez decides to focus on improving.

Holler at your boy on twitter @j0eo1s

1.  Will the Cowboys make the playoffs?  Yes, in my opinion but likely as a wild card.  That doesn’t mean they won’t necessarily make a Super Bowl run as other teams have shown the way (as recently as last year’s NY Giants).  It all depends on how well they are playing at the end of the season.  Peak at the right time and stay healthy enough and win-loss records don’t necessarily matter anymore. (more…)