Kyle Orton Gives the Cowboys a Functional Plan B

Considering Tony Romo’s physical predicament, Kyle Orton truly is the Cowboys’ back-up quarterback.

With Jason Garrett saying his starter is “not overly comfortable” on Wednesday, it’s almost impossible to envision him playing on Sunday.

Unfortunately, this isn’t unchartered territory.

I covered the team for the Fort Worth-Star Telegram when Troy Aikman went down with injuries at crucial times. In 1990 the Cowboys needed a couple things to happen to sneak into the playoffs, one of them being their own victory against the Falcons in Atlanta. Turns out a win wouldn’t have gotten them in. Good thing.

Because with Aikman out that day at Fulton County Stadium, replacement Babe Laufenberg was awful. Sacked three times. Completed only 10 of 24 for 129 yards and two passes picked, one for a touchdown by Deion Sanders as the Cowboys lost, 26-7.

Turned out to be the last game of Laufenberg’s underwhelming NFL career.

Late-game, back-up heroics have occurred in Cowboys’ history, however.

Sports Connection

Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.

Baltimore Orioles honor bridge collapse victims before Opening Day

March Madness: ‘South Carolina is the team to beat' in women's tournament

In ’91 Steve Beuerlein stepped in for Aikman and went 5-1 to lead Dallas to the playoffs and a Wild-Card win in Chicago. We all know about Clint Longley’s emergency rescue against the Redskins in ’74, and Garrett’s own record-setting performance in the second half of a Thanksgiving victory over the Packers in ’94.

In ’93 Aikman was out a couple games, including when he was knocked silly in the NFC East Championship Game against San Francisco. In stepped Bernie Kosar, who had been cut by the Browns earlier in the season. Kosar went 5 of 9 with a game-clinching, 42-yard touchdown to Alvin Harper as the Cowboys rolled to Super Bowl XXVIII.

With Orton, the Cowboys have a chance with their Plan B. Call it Plan Barely.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us