Point-counterpoint: Cowboys should let Stephen McGee start at least 1 of last 2 games

[sbk92]

From Staff Reports


YES

BILL NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News | brnichols@dallasnews.com

Stephen McGee should start against Arizona. Dallas' season is over. Why not prepare for the future and get an accurate measurement of McGee? Jon Kitna has been exceptional in place of Tony Romo. But nobody knows if McGee can be the Cowboys' future quarterback. He would enter the off-season with zero snaps in two seasons. It would also benefit the Cowboys to see McGee handle the pressure of a real game so they know what they have when the next draft rolls around. Saturday's game features two teams with no shot at the postseason. But for the Cardinals, this game has significant meaning in the development of rookie QB John Skelton, who makes his third start.

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NO

DAVID MOORE / The Dallas Morning News | dmoore@dallasnews.com

I know this stance won't be popular. To me, the key phrase here is that the Cowboys "should let" McGee start. Let? McGee needs to earn his chance. Can anyone make the argument that he gives the Cowboys a better chance to beat Arizona or Philadelphia than Jon Kitna? No. McGee is in a tough spot. A team can play a backup for a series or two at other positions to see how they respond. It's not that easy at quarterback. McGee can continue to develop and give the team a sense of the quarterback he can become without starting these games. Tony Romo didn't throw a pass his first three seasons in the NFL, and he turned out OK.

 

[Midswat]

McGee is the third QB and can get his work in during the pre-season.

 

[cboys72]

Garret wants to wants to win, that's obvious, so Jon will be starting the rest of the way unless injured...

 

[SixisBetter]

Garret wants to wants to win, that's obvious, so Jon will be starting the rest of the way unless injured...

Yep.

Garrett can't get off the gas at this point.

Garrett's trying to get this '72 Gremlin of a football team to the finish line,and he has to at least pass the other Gremlins.

McGee's only the backup because of circumstance.

If this season were to be in the same sewer w/Romo at the helm,and Romo had played well,would there be a cry amongst the media monkeys to play McGee?

 

[Plymkr]

Stop this silly nonsense. Start Kitna.

 

[sbk92]

If this season were to be in the same sewer w/Romo at the helm,and Romo had played well,would there be a cry amongst the media monkeys to play McGee?

I don't know about the media, but I would still want to.

You'd have to convince me why a meaningless win in a wasted season would mean more than evaluating a young player.

And you can't do that.

The winning/losing culture thing is a bunch of crap. This is a loser season regardless of the outcome of the next two games. Wins now don't carry over to next year. Teams are up one year, down the next. It happens all over the league anymore.

So treat these next two games as preseason games and evaluate what you have and what you'll need in the offseason.

 

[Midswat]

I don't know about the media, but I would still want to.

You'd have to convince me why a meaningless win in a wasted season would mean more than evaluating a young player.

And you can't do that.

The winning/losing culture thing is a bunch of crap. This is a loser season regardless of the outcome of the next two games. Wins now don't carry over to next year. Teams are up one year, down the next. It happens all over the league anymore.

So treat these next two games as preseason games and evaluate what you have and what you'll need in the offseason.

You make a point, and I can honestly see both sides of the coin.

But the culture in Dallas has been shit for a while. We are a flawed organization.

Jason Garretts mantra every step of the way thus far has been to put your best foot forward.

If McGee is out performing Kitna in practice, then I say give him the nod.

But Kitna has been playing well . . . so I highly doubt that to be the case.

To start McGee without outperforming Kitna sends a contradictory message to what Garrett has been preaching since he took over.

 

[SixisBetter]

I don't know about the media, but I would still want to.

You'd have to convince me why a meaningless win in a wasted season would mean more than evaluating a young player.

And you can't do that.

The winning/losing culture thing is a bunch of crap. This is a loser season regardless of the outcome of the next two games. Wins now don't carry over to next year. Teams are up one year, down the next. It happens all over the league anymore.

So treat these next two games as preseason games and evaluate what you have and what you'll need in the offseason.

Yeah,I see what you're saying,point taken.

But it's like Midswat said,and my point as well.

Garrett will want to play up to the Fuhrer,and keep his message to the team intact.

 

[sbk92]

I don't fault Garrett for doing what's he doing. Hell, I don't even know if he's doing it. He may have no say who starts at QB. But even if it is his call, he should be worried about his own job first. I'd do the same thing.

That doesn't mean I think it's the most productive thing to do for the team in preparation for next season.