Dallas Cowboys Need No Part Of Tony Romo Wednesdays

The Dallas Cowboys were fortunate to learn something last year concerning quarterback Tony Romo. Following multiple back surgeries heading into 2014, the franchise learned that he really doesn’t need to practice on Wednesdays.

Having said that, I completely agree that NFL football players need to practice, just like in any other sport.

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Try taking taking a couple of weeks off from Little League baseball, as I did back in the 1980s, and then try to hit the best pitcher in the league in your first game back. As simple as that example is, imagine how critical reps are at the professional level.

No, Romo wasn’t not practicing because of laziness or any other reason associated with effort, obviously. The fact is, Romo probably played a little sooner than he should have when he lined up under center for last season’s home opener against the San Francisco 49ers – and it showed.

As the season progressed, Dallas also learned that its offensive line, among the greenest in the league, was one of the best, especially where running the ball was concerned.

Expect the Cowboys to have the same approach and success in the coming season. This line will feature two players, in particular, that have a combined two Pro Bowl appearances despite just three seasons of activity in the NFL – this doesn’t include two-time Pro Bowl participant Tyron Smith.

Think about that for a minute.

If things go expected for the Cowboys offensive line in 2015, Romo could really be in for a great season, with or without practicing on Wednesdays, typically the first day of preparations for an upcoming opponent during the regular season.

Even if Romo’s back is completely healed and there’s no issues whatsoever as a result of his previous injuries or surgeries, it still makes sense to keep Romo as fresh as possible during the regular season.

Since Romo first took the starting job from declining veteran Drew Bledsoe back in 2006, the former Eastern Illinois star has been the season-long starter in Dallas for eight seasons. He’s been available for all 16 regular season games just four times.

Fifty-percent might pass courses in Spanish schools, but it’s not very good elsewhere. The Cowboys made the playoffs just once during those four seasons in which Romo didn’t play in each game. This occurred last season.

Aside from the back issue, for whatever those really are now, there’s also the fact that Romo has had punctured lungs, broken collarbones, numerous hits to the head and jammed fingers over the course of his underrated career.

Romo just turned 35 years-old in April. He may not be a dinosaur by NFL standards just yet, but he’s no spring chipper either. Romo has thrown 4,210 passes in his career and he can probably expect to throw another 1,000-plus before he calls it quits.

It’s simply good business to take advantage of the situation the franchise is in right now. This includes a young, strong offensive line, fantastic continuity regarding the offensive playbook and a small army of running backs in place to pick up where things left off a year ago.

Save Romo’s arm from the wear and tear of as many practices as possible while also giving a future quarterbacking candidate, like Dustin Vaughan, for example, the additional reps that can only help the franchise determine sooner than later whether or not he’s a successor.

Just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should – but there’s always exceptions.

Next: Dallas Cowboys Cornerback Carousel Spins Into Training Camp

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