Cowboys Roll in London
By Ben Rogers | @BenRogers
105.3 THE FAN -- It was a week of traveling, distractions, appearances, time zone changes, jet lag, medical speculation, tourism, thick English accents, potential curfew controversies and much more. But once the dust settled, the Cowboys ended a 2-game losing streak by taking care of business against a bottom-feeder Jacksonville team that is not even close to being in their league.
Tony Romo looked like an old, broken down wagon with a wobbly wheel… and that was just when he was trying to walk. Yet he somehow wobbled his way to yet another heroic outing, playing injured and willing his team to victory with a stellar 20-for-27, three-touchdown performance. This guy is so incredibly good and so ridiculously underappreciated. At this point the anti-Romo contingent is merely embarrassing themselves with each misguided rant.
Having said that, why was he in this game so late? The Cowboys were up 31-7 in the 4th quarter and their battered QB was still taking hits and running around for his life with two broken bones in his back. If that wasn't a foolish gamble by Jason Garrett, I don't know what is. Had he been knocked out for the season during that meaningless 4th quarter, Jason Garrett should've been fired on the spot. Fortunately for the Cowboys, when Romo was sacked with 8 minutes to go while up 24 points, he was able to peel himself off the field.
Although Romo lacked his normal zip, which forced coaches to modify the game plan accordingly, he wisely found ways to get the ball to his best player frequently when the game was still competitive.
What else does Dez Bryant have to do to get paid? He's matured significantly and has shown Jerry no reason to fear off-the-field issues. On the field, he was as dominant as we've ever seen him on Sunday in London with 6 catches for 158 yards and 2 TDs -- in the 2nd quarter alone. Yet all we hear are rumors of lowball, team-friendly offers from the Cowboys.
Bryant told me last week that he'd be "highly disappointed" if the Cowboys hit him with the franchise tag. Then he grabbed my arm to reiterate, "HIGHLY." Bryant isn't the type of guy to play a game of contract chicken. You don't want him aggravated, distracted or worried about getting hurt without long-term security. You want him thinking about abusing cornerbacks, not his contract.
Although he recently switched representation to Roc Nation Sports Agency, perhaps he should've switched to Teddy KGB from the movie 'Rounders' who delivered one of my favorite movies lines of all time: "Pay that man his money."
And so the Cowboys reach the bye week with an impressive and improbable 7-3 record. A team very much in need of rest is about to get a breather that will enable them to get refreshed for the final stretch. From Rolando McClain to Tony Romo, this break couldn't get here fast enough. By beating the lowly Jaguars the table is now set to make this season far more magical down the road.
The Ben and Skin Show airs weekdays from 3-7 p.m. in Dallas-Fort Worth on 105.3 The Fan.
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