How Tony Romo still casts a shadow over the Dallas Cowboys

Despite retiring over a month ago, quarterback Tony Romo still hovers over the Dallas Cowboys. Can the Cowboys and Dak Prescott escape the Romo shadow?

Despite opting for retirement, and running to the CBS booth, the shadow of quarterback Tony Romo still casts over the Dallas Cowboys.

Surely, this bit of news comes as no surprise. Romo, who turned 37 last month, can still fire the football with the best of them. His golf swing, too, is still a reliable hobby.

Though Romo is shooting test screens with fellow booth buddy Jim Nantz, his days of firing footballs in the NFL is still on hold. Romo’s “retirement” these days sure feels more like a break.

While the rest of the Dallas Cowboys have advanced over the bridge to 2017, Romo has stayed behind, but is ready in a pinch should his services be needed.

This predicament is both a good and bad thing, depending on your lenses. Obviously, should the worst case happen with Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have a very capable veteran ready to play.

Romo is the insurance card. Sure, an expensive one, but leaving the door slightly open for his return ensures the organization’s operations can run without a hitch.

Of course, some might say this situation could be problematic for Prescott, the Cowboys’ current starter. Prescott, who struck gold by winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year last season, will be scrutinized through Romo’s legendary play, a legacy large and wide that hangs over the ball club still.

But Dak being Dak, thrived when Romo was on the bench. Number nine won’t be there in uniform on Sundays, but his ghost will still hang around the sideline. And, I think, that is good for both Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys.

Sure, Romo helped coach a young Prescott during his rookie campaign. But I also feel that Dak’s brilliant play came from the fact that he had to outplay Romo’s legendary status to keep his job. Competition is great thing, especially if we’re talking about the quarterback spot.

Dak Prescott won’t get a dose of Romo talk on the sidelines, but the fuel from competition might defer any sophomore slump scenarios.

The question now is this: Is owner and general manager Jerry Jones doing the right thing by not calling this a retirement? Is having a virtual Tony Romo around a good thing for the Cowboys?

You’re not alone if you feel that the Cowboys should cut the ribbon and walk over this Romo idea. But I don’t necessary completely agree. Romo’s legacy is alive and well. He deserves another shot to play, should the situation call for it.

Though the quarterback feels slighted by how his job was taken, he’s still ready should the boss call. This of course means that Cowboys Nation still has to hear about Romo’s shadow from time to time.

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That is a small price to pay should the Cowboys actually need Romo to come to the rescue. Catastrophe struck the ‘Boys in 2015. It happened once. It could happen again. But luckily, the Cowboys still got good old number nine.