With veteran Jon Kitna on the injured reserve and likely retiring at the year’s end, Stephen McGee will step into the backup role for at least the next three games--and according to Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones, there’s a good chance McGee will hold onto the no. 2 role moving into 2012.
This would be a departure for the Cowboys, who have always backed up starter Tony Romo with seasoned veterans--first Brad Johnson, and then Kitna. McGee’s only real game experience has come from the preseason, and a week 17 match-up against Philly last season. But the game against Philly was enough to inspire confidence at Valley Ranch, following a very Tebowian performance from the Texas A&M product.
McGee was 11 for 27 in that game, for a touchdown and a late touchdown drive to win, 14-13.
"We feel great that Stephen McGee had a chance to play in regular-season games at the end of last year," head coach Jason Garrett said recently, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "That was a real positive thing. We have a lot of confidence in Stephen."
The game inspired some confidence in McGee, himself, as well--which is good, as he is now one unfortunate play away from getting onto the field and charged with leading the Dallas offense.
"I think the little experience that I got was huge in just kind of feeling the flow of the game, the tempo and the speed of the defenses in a real game," McGee said. "That kind of experience is invaluable for a guy like me."
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