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By DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News
The Cowboys are set with starting quarterback Tony Romo (8) and backup Jon Kitna (3). But is the club content with third-stringer Stephen McGee (7)?
Need meter: Three out of 10 stars.
On the roster: Tony Romo ; Jon Kitna; Stephen McGee.
Tony Romo floated his theory early in the 2010 season that the Cowboys were snakebit. Eight days later, his season ended with a fractured collarbone.
Maybe he was right.
A quarterback who missed only three games since taking over as the starter in October of 2006 missed the final 10 games of last season. Romo completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns in the six games he started, but interceptions were an issue. He threw seven with an inordinate number first bouncing off the hands of his receivers.
Questions persisted about what sort of contribution Jon Kitna would make since the 38-year-old quarterback had not thrown a regular-season pass in more than two seasons. He started off slow then found the fountain of youth, leading the Cowboys to four victories in six games. The only quarterback who started the season as a backup to have a bigger positive impact on his team was Philadelphia's Michael Vick.
The Cowboys also got a glimpse of No. 3 quarterback Stephen McGee over the final six quarters of the season. He took a conservative game plan and engineered a second half comeback against Arizona that fell short and won the regular-season finale at Philadelphia with a late scoring drive.
What the Cowboys should do
The team actually feels better about this position than it did entering last season now that Kitna has shown he can win games if Romo goes down. The question is what to do with the third quarterback spot.
Did McGee show enough in his second season to earn the team's trust, or should the Cowboys find another young quarterback to develop? The sense here is that the team would be content entering next season with McGee on the depth chart.
Interesting fact
Kitna led the club with 2,365 yards passing. Do you remember the last time the Cowboys leading quarterback threw for fewer yards? That was in 2002 when Chad Hutchinson led the way with 1,555 yards.
Who's available
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks: He wouldn't be interested, but would be the only possible upgrade from Kitna.
Matt Leinart , Houston Texans: Has he been humbled enough that it makes sense to take a chance?
Alex Smith , San Francisco 49ers: Another young talent who has struggled.
Jake Locker , University of Washington: Will likely go in the first round of the draft.
Andy Dalton, TCU: He's not a first round pick, but is there more of an upside with him than McGee?
The Cowboys are set with starting quarterback Tony Romo (8) and backup Jon Kitna (3). But is the club content with third-stringer Stephen McGee (7)?
Need meter: Three out of 10 stars.
On the roster: Tony Romo ; Jon Kitna; Stephen McGee.
Tony Romo floated his theory early in the 2010 season that the Cowboys were snakebit. Eight days later, his season ended with a fractured collarbone.
Maybe he was right.
A quarterback who missed only three games since taking over as the starter in October of 2006 missed the final 10 games of last season. Romo completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 11 touchdowns in the six games he started, but interceptions were an issue. He threw seven with an inordinate number first bouncing off the hands of his receivers.
Questions persisted about what sort of contribution Jon Kitna would make since the 38-year-old quarterback had not thrown a regular-season pass in more than two seasons. He started off slow then found the fountain of youth, leading the Cowboys to four victories in six games. The only quarterback who started the season as a backup to have a bigger positive impact on his team was Philadelphia's Michael Vick.
The Cowboys also got a glimpse of No. 3 quarterback Stephen McGee over the final six quarters of the season. He took a conservative game plan and engineered a second half comeback against Arizona that fell short and won the regular-season finale at Philadelphia with a late scoring drive.
What the Cowboys should do
The team actually feels better about this position than it did entering last season now that Kitna has shown he can win games if Romo goes down. The question is what to do with the third quarterback spot.
Did McGee show enough in his second season to earn the team's trust, or should the Cowboys find another young quarterback to develop? The sense here is that the team would be content entering next season with McGee on the depth chart.
Interesting fact
Kitna led the club with 2,365 yards passing. Do you remember the last time the Cowboys leading quarterback threw for fewer yards? That was in 2002 when Chad Hutchinson led the way with 1,555 yards.
Who's available
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks: He wouldn't be interested, but would be the only possible upgrade from Kitna.
Matt Leinart , Houston Texans: Has he been humbled enough that it makes sense to take a chance?
Alex Smith , San Francisco 49ers: Another young talent who has struggled.
Jake Locker , University of Washington: Will likely go in the first round of the draft.
Andy Dalton, TCU: He's not a first round pick, but is there more of an upside with him than McGee?
