Please, not Moore of the same.
While the Dallas Cowboys focus their “search” for Scott Linehan’s replacement as offensive coordinator on quarterbacks coach Kellen … yawn … Moore, it’s obvious to players, coaches and every fan with two working ears who they should pursue.
Altogether now … Tonnnnnny Romo!
Of course, it will never happen. The Cowboys’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns would be crazy to leave his cushy, primo job in CBS’ broadcast booth. He’s paid around $5 million. Only works weekends. Plays golf regularly. And, in case you missed it, just put on a dazzling display Sunday in the AFC Championship Game and in two weeks will “play” in his first Super Bowl when CBS televises Patriots versus Rams.
As the Cowboys’ quarterback, Romo was regularly criticized for throwing for 350 yards and that one interception in a 38-35 loss. As CBS’ lead analyst alongside Jim Nantz, he predicts plays with uncanny accuracy and contagious enthusiasm and is universally lauded.
Not that it wouldn’t be a hoot.
Romo, of course, is close with Jason Garrett and eternally loyal to Jerry Jones. With him as offensive coordinator, the Cowboys might not be as predictable and boring as a metronome with their conservative second-and-10 hand-offs designed merely to make third downs more manageable.
Aggressive and, at times, overly ambitious as a player, Romo as an analyst is an absolute brilliant football mind.
Late in the fourth quarter of the Patriots’ pulsating overtime win over the Chiefs, Romo excitedly said “Gotta get this ball to Gronk! He’s having trouble off the line, so spread him out. To one side. By himself. Get single coverage, throw it up and let him go get it!”
As if Bill Belichick’s hoodie had a Bluetooth connection to Romo’s headset, sure enough, there went Rob Gronkowski split out left by himself, and there went a key completion to the tight end, who out-jumped his single coverage.
In overtime, the Patriots faced consecutive third-and-10s. Before they broke the huddle, Romo exclaimed, “The backs have to chip the edge rushers, give Tom a little extra time, then find Edelman in the middle.”
Bingo. The running backs helped block. Tom Brady was allowed enough time. Julian Edelman was free between the hashmarks.
This, however, is where the dream ends. We’d all love kale to taste like chocolate, beer to eliminate love handles and an offensive coordinator who sees – and designs – a successful play on a crucial drive.
But Romo’s cozy with his gig and his family and his Skechers.
He might be able to foresee the findings of the Mueller investigation, whether this is Dirk Nowitzki’s final season and the final score of Super Bowl 53 before kickoff. He is not, however, going to call plays for the Cowboys.
Sorry, but jussssst as we were about to kiss Emily Ratajkowski, 189-year-old poet Emily Dickinson jolted us awake with a bark to take out the trash.
You ordered the Romo. You’re likely to get less, in the form of Moore.
This is the reality of what we know:
*Despite producing three NFL rushing champions (DeMarco Murray and Ezekiel Elliott) in five years, Linehan was fired last Friday.
*The offense – too predictable between the 20s and yet too cute in the Red Zone – was one of the league’s worst at turning long drives into touchdowns and at scoring points on the road.
*Former Cowboys quarterback and 14-year NFL veteran Jon Kitna is coming to Dallas as the new quarterbacks coach.
*That means a promotion – to somewhere – for Moore.
As Garrett and his staff head to Orlando this week to coach in the Pro Bowl, decisions must be made about the Cowboys. They might create a new position of offensive passing game coordinator, building on the success of the role on the other side of the ball this season with Kris Richard. If so, that new job will likely belong to Moore. Still, how much power would Moore wield and how much of the play-calling would Garrett reclaim?
There also could be other candidates, such as tight ends coach Doug Nussmeier (10 years as a college OC at Alabama, Michigan and Florida), Scott Turner (Norv’s son, who coaches Cam Newton in Carolina), Dan Campbell (former Garrett teammate currently assistant head coach in New Orleans), Todd Haley (former Cowboys receivers coach with NFL head coaching experience) and James Coley (University of Georgia OC who was on Nick Saban’s staff with Garrett for the Dolphins).
Despite what seems to be an obvious, glaring need for a fresh set of eyes – and plays – on Dallas’ offense, the favorite is Moore. Cowboys backup quarterbacks have some decent NFL coaching pedigree, with Troy Aikman’s No. 3 Bill Musgrave building a 10-year career and a guy named Garrett ascending to top dog at The Star in Frisco. Jones and the Cowboys may not be satisfied with a division championship and one playoff win, but they are certainly convinced their momentum is headed in the right direction. Comfort and familiarity, in that realm, is seen as an asset.
Moore played for six years, his shining moment a 435-yard, three-touchdown performance in the Cowboys’ 2015 season finale. He had strong ties to Linehan, and apparently has a positive relationship with quarterback Dak Prescott. Hard to imagine him, however, breathing life into an offense that – despite Elliott, two Pro Bowl linemen and the addition of Amari Cooper – was generally more stale than attorney Ben Abbott’s chemistry with David Irving.
You want an offensive overhaul with Romo. But what you’re likely to get instead is more power for Garrett, a promotion for Moore and only a slight – potential even invisible – tweak to the philosophy and playbook in 2019.
Desperately needing to think outside the box, the Cowboys are apparently set to stay in house.
