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Ed Werder: Cowboys Jerry Jones foolhardy about Tony Romo

By Steven Mullenax

Oct 11, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks to injured starting quarterback Tony Romo before the game against the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones talks to injured starting quarterback Tony Romo before the game against the New England Patriots at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Longtime ESPN Reporter Ed Werder says Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is foolhardy when it comes to quarterback Tony Romo’s future.

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones made headlines in late February when he announced that the Cowboys draft plans would be influenced by the fact he believes his soon to be 36-year old quarterback, Tony Romo, will play another 4-5 seasons. For many, that statement by Jones all but indicated Dallas would not be looking to find Romo’s successor with the fourth overall selection in next month’s draft.

But according to longtime Cowboys analyst and Dallas-based ESPN reporter Ed Werder, Jones is wrong in his estimate of how long Romo will be under center in Dallas. Here’s how Werder responded recently when he was asked about the Cowboys 73-year old owner’s belief his quarterback can play through 2020.

"“That’s just optimistic, team-builder, salesman, advertising mogul Jerry [Jones] hoping that that is the outcome when I think most people would agree that’s not likely,” Werder told Barry Horn on SportsDay DFW’s Ballzy podcast recently. “I think making your personnel decisions based on believing that Tony Romo at 36 after a succession of back injuries, now he’s fractured his collarbone three times in five years, I think that’s wishful thinking that you’re going to get 4-5 years out of Tony Romo. I think it’s foolhardy to plan that way. It’s wishful to think it’s possible.”"

Werder did go on to say he believes Romo will play another two to three years at most. And that he’d consider drafting a quarterback with the fourth overall pick if he were the Cowboys.

Most draft analysts seem to agree that the top two quarterbacks in this class are California’s Jared Goff and North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz. One, if not both, young prospects are expected to be available when the Cowboys number is called early in the first round.

But it’s hard to deny Jones’ logic as well. The Cowboys have a rapidly closing window with Romo. And using their fourth overall pick on a player who will likely be on the sidelines for the next two or three years doesn’t help this team win now. But selecting a quarterback fourth overall next month could help secure the team’s future beyond Romo.

The Cowboys could try to have their cake and eat it too in this draft as well. Dallas has been linked to other prospects at the quarterback position, whom will likely be available in later rounds. Players like Memphis’ Paxton Lynch, Michigan State’s Connor Cook and Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott.

Depending on their evaluations, the Cowboys might believe they could grab a difference maker at another position fourth overall and still find their future franchise quarterback on the second or third day of the draft.

Next: Ranking every top-10 pick in Dallas Cowboys' history

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