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.

December 17, 2011; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers mascot, Caption Fear, dressed up for Christmas during the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Around the rest of the NFL there’s barely a story behind Peyton Manning and the
Broncos.  No one is talking about the ridiculously huge mansion that Tom Brady
moved into let alone how much longer Brady plans to play.  There is some
interest in the ‘conspiracy’ that is Drew Bree’s contract talks, but its just
some.  Even the Tebow / Sanchez tandem story has died down.  Everyone in the
sports world prepared to endure the quiet wait before the NFL training camps
open in late July.

Then out of the quiet, some unassuming positive comments get made supporting
Tony Romo from Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin and others.  Then
Brett Favre tells Deion Sanders in an interview what most fans have been saying
for years, Tony Romo reminds Favre of himself.  My thought here was, good to
here some positive praise.

Then, the backlash.  Why on earth would sports media outlets seek out rebutle to
positive praise? But they did and they found it in the likes of Steven A Smith
of ESPN and Chris Canty of the New York Giants among others.

Mr Smith was so riled up about Brett Favre’s comments, which were Favre’s own
opinions about himself, that he felt the need to blast those comments and Romo
in the process.

While i dont agree with Steven, I understand he has a job to do and he does have
to counter Skip Bayless, which has to be annoying.  Chris Canty’s comments, on
the other hand, pissed me off quite frankly!

The former Dallas Cowboy team mate flat out blamed Tony Romo for Dallas not
getting to a Superbowl in an interview recently. Really? You and the rest of the
Cowboys D had no hand in our failures each year? I guess we are going to forget
about the Dallas Cowboys defense, that you were a part of, letting the Giants
score a touchdown (arguably the deciding points) with less than 50 seconds left
in the first half of that infamous 2007 playoff game? Were you taking a breather
on the sideline Canty? Or were you right there  letting the Giants march?
Please.  Maybe we should of stuck with Drew Bledsoe? Or Drew Hensen maybe?

I’m gonna go as far as to say to Canty, that Tony Romo’s talent and popularity
allowed a national showcase for you to display your talents which enabled you to
cash in for more than you were worth with when signing with the New York Giants.
Don’t think they aren’t  regretting it.

Listen folks, we were having such a nice dead zone. Quiet time before training
camp, filled with hopeful anticipation for the season. Not unlike the night
before Christmas. Why all the piss and vinegar all of a sudden?  On the other
hand, I guess we could thank Chris Canty for the extra bulletin board material,
like an early Christmas present.

Artie Cappello

Jan 1, 2012, Oakland, CA, USA; Fisheye view of NFL referee Clete Blakeman conducts the coin toss before the NFL game between the San Diego Chargers and the Oakland Raiders at the O.co Coliseum. Chargers captains are safety Eric Weddle (32) quarterback Philip Rivers (17, linebacker Takeo Spikes (51) center Nick Hardwick (61) and fullback Jacob Hester (22). Raiders captains are punter Shane Lechler (9) running back Rock Cartwight (25) and defensive tackle Richard Seymour (92). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

For those of you who are not familiar with the new NFL OT rule, League owners have voted to change Overtime rules for the whole 2012 season. The postseason overtime rules that were implemented in 2010 will now be used all year. Instant sudden death is out.

Each team must possess or have the opportunity to possess the ball unless the team that has the ball first scores a touchdown on its initial possession, (as the Denver Broncos did in their 2012 playoff win in Pittsburgh).   If that doesn’t happen then regular play continues in sudden death until a winner is determined, and the game automatically ends upon any score (by safety, field goal, or touchdown).

The major issue I have with the new system is that a coin toss is really still deciding the game.  The team the wins the toss still has a distinct advantage because they can go deep on their first series and take a shot at a game winning long TD pass as Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas showed in the AFC wild-card game, this is a distinct advantage gained with receiving the ball first in sudden death.

My solution is to eliminate the coin toss altogether, have the team that wins important in game statistics possess the ball first in Overtime.  Those statistics should be:  (1) Time of Possession, (2) Total Yards Gained, (3) Total First Downs, (4) 3^rd Down Conversion %, (5) Forced Turnovers.   Then that team gains a reward for their play during the game, the coaching stafg gets to decide whether to receive the OT kickoff and then play a regular much less confusing and traditional OT period that all NFL fans have become accustomed to.

Just think, If Donavan McNabb re-enters the league, he may hurt himself trying to figure out that yes there still is an NFL Overtime period after an NFL game, and that it now contains even more confusing new possession rules.  Does the NFL really want to be responsible for confusing the Ex-Eagles QB even more then he was in November2008 after the Bengals game, in addition to having its 2012 season games debated forever, I hope  the answer is a resounding No Toss.