Cowboys re-thinking quarterback plan for Giants
By Jaime Aron
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
IRVING — Even on a rare "victory Monday," the Dallas Cowboys found themselves inching toward controversy. At quarterback, no less.
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips opened the door by hesitating on whether backup Brad Johnson will remain the starter Sunday against the New York Giants in what should be the final game Tony Romo misses because of a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand.
The only other quarterback on the roster is Brooks Bollinger. He's started 10 games in his six-year career, nine with the New York Jets in 2005 and one last year for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings cut him after he went 6 of 18 for 62 yards in a loss to Dallas in the preseason finale, and the Cowboys signed him a few weeks later. He was the emergency quarterback the first seven games, moving up to No. 2 on Sunday, but he has yet to take the field.
How could Johnson lose the job despite guiding Dallas to a win over division-leading Tampa Bay?
Well, he guided the offense to only 172 yards, the fewest ever in a game the Cowboys won, and he wasn't even close on some throws to open receivers.
In postgame interviews, Phillips and team owner Jerry Jones praised the 40-year-old backup for managing the game, especially for keeping Dallas turnover-free for the first time this season. Those misfires must have looked a lot worse on the game film, because Monday afternoon Phillips danced around the quarterback questions.
He started with a simple "no" when first asked if there would be a discussion about making a change. When asked if it was a possibility, he said, "Well, we'll talk about that as it comes along. I haven't had all the meetings today yet, as far as where we are as far as everything is concerned. But, you know, Brad, winning the game is the key thing with a quarterback."
Directly asked if Johnson would start against the Giants, Phillips rephrased the previous answer. "We'll see. I would expect that. I don't know why it would change."
Asked why he wouldn't just say Johnson was the starter, Phillips said: "OK, he's going to start." Everyone laughed, including Phillips.
Phillips said it was too early to know if tight end Jason Witten (ribs) and cornerback Anthony Henry (thigh) will play against the Giants.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
IRVING — Even on a rare "victory Monday," the Dallas Cowboys found themselves inching toward controversy. At quarterback, no less.
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips opened the door by hesitating on whether backup Brad Johnson will remain the starter Sunday against the New York Giants in what should be the final game Tony Romo misses because of a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand.
The only other quarterback on the roster is Brooks Bollinger. He's started 10 games in his six-year career, nine with the New York Jets in 2005 and one last year for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings cut him after he went 6 of 18 for 62 yards in a loss to Dallas in the preseason finale, and the Cowboys signed him a few weeks later. He was the emergency quarterback the first seven games, moving up to No. 2 on Sunday, but he has yet to take the field.
How could Johnson lose the job despite guiding Dallas to a win over division-leading Tampa Bay?
Well, he guided the offense to only 172 yards, the fewest ever in a game the Cowboys won, and he wasn't even close on some throws to open receivers.
In postgame interviews, Phillips and team owner Jerry Jones praised the 40-year-old backup for managing the game, especially for keeping Dallas turnover-free for the first time this season. Those misfires must have looked a lot worse on the game film, because Monday afternoon Phillips danced around the quarterback questions.
He started with a simple "no" when first asked if there would be a discussion about making a change. When asked if it was a possibility, he said, "Well, we'll talk about that as it comes along. I haven't had all the meetings today yet, as far as where we are as far as everything is concerned. But, you know, Brad, winning the game is the key thing with a quarterback."
Directly asked if Johnson would start against the Giants, Phillips rephrased the previous answer. "We'll see. I would expect that. I don't know why it would change."
Asked why he wouldn't just say Johnson was the starter, Phillips said: "OK, he's going to start." Everyone laughed, including Phillips.
Phillips said it was too early to know if tight end Jason Witten (ribs) and cornerback Anthony Henry (thigh) will play against the Giants.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:47 AM
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