Leading up to training camp, Blue-Star takes an in-depth look at the Dallas Cowboys' quarterbacks:
The Good: Romo, 29, made some major strides in 2009, earning a second Pro Bowl nod and, more importantly, leading Dallas to their first playoff win since 1996.
There's no reason to think, with the emergence of Miles Austin and addition of Dez Bryant, that Romo won't continue in the right direction next season. In the most hopeful of all scenarios for Dallas fans in 2010, Kitna won't see a live snap in the regular season--as he didn't in 2009.
With 26 touchdown passes, just nine interceptions--one of just four NFL QBs with a single digit interception total--and the aforementioned playoff win, Romo proved many of his critics wrong last year, and built a solid foundation for 2010.
The Bad: There's not too much to criticize about Romo's 2009, but that's not to say he was perfect by any means. He struggled woefully through the home-opening loss to the Giants, as well as the playoff loss to Minnesota--though, in the latter case, he spent the afternoon getting pounded so consistently, it was hard to tell if he was truly playing badly or not.
There are plenty of questions after Romo, however. Kitna will turn 38 in September, and developed a kind of inexplicable case of the yips last pre-season with respect to snaps, and McGee remains a project for the team. Outsiders have more or less no idea what either can do at this point in a regular season game--and it's safe to say they don't want to find out in 2010.
The (Near) Future: Barring the sudden invention of infallible cyborg-quarterbacks, Romo is your starter in 2010.
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Despite McGee earning some praise for his development this off-season, Kitna will remain the team's go-to-guy, should Romo get hurt. Aside from that, Matt Nichols, an undrafted free agent from Eastern Washington, will fight in camp for a spot on the practice squad.
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