Founder's Choice: From Aikman to Romo

A lesson in realizing the wilderness can be a lot deeper than you thought possible.

Today’s piece is the next in our “Founders Choice” series and probably the last one I can fit in this summer. This one has been requested from a few different founding subscribers, but I believe Timothy Raub started things a while back when I wrote a piece about what might be the exit strategy of Dak Prescott and he responded with a comment. His comment started a conversation that reminded people of the long path between Troy Aikman and Tony Romo. In other words, life without a “franchise QB” can be a lot more hopeless than you can imagine unless you wander through it to remember. It is one of those very clear “be careful what you wish for” if you want to bid Dak goodbye, because you just might find out. Perhaps as a cautionary tale, let’s do that today.

Before we take this journey of 2,149 days in the wilderness, we must first talk about the two ends of said journey. When you leave home for college, we would submit that both places are good places to be. One is where family has helped you grow and feel loved, and the other is where you find the next level of becoming an adult and gather skills to take on life. Both places are good places to be, but that journey in between – which could mean finding the money or the actual distance – is the tough part sometimes.

Well, professional football is no different, and while the Dallas Cowboys have had great fortune with QBs compared to others, the wilderness is still hopeless and dreary. In watching the new Hard Knocks last night, it isn’t hard to see how the Bears have already decided that Caleb Williams is the best QB the Bears franchise – well over 100 years old – has ever had. Imagine the absurdity of considering a guy who has never taken a snap as your best QB EVER. What does that suggest in terms of those who came before him?

Now, consider someone like Dak Prescott who has won a lot of football games and gone to the playoffs many times – he has already had more playoff years than Tony Romo – and finished 2nd in the NFL MVP race last season with an All-Pro berth, too, but would have a hard time being considered a historically significant QB for the Cowboys franchise when they have had Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. They have also had Don Meredith, Danny White, Romo, and even a dash of Craig Morton. I think we can pretty safely assume that very few teams can match the “all-time best 5 QBs” with the Cowboys.

Dallas has been blessed and loaded. There is always another guy ready to go.