Drew was done the day Mo flattented him. He's really not much of an option or upgrade over Culpepper or Harrington et al. He was better once upon a time (as was Culpepper) but that ship has sailed. He still has his occasional moments, even had stretches in Buffalo before Mularkey had to start beating him over the head with a stopwatch, which is why he was still starting anywhere, but those have become fewer and farther between. He has no upside anymore. He has said he will not be a backup or mentor either, though I can't imagine wanting him as a mentor...Tom wasn't easily swayed. On that last drive in XXXVI Charlie told him lets go score but be careful with the ball. Drew chimed in with just go sling it.
It will be interesting to see what transpires over the next few weeks. Romo is as mistake prone as the guy he's replacing for being mistake prone. But given his circumstances that is to be expected. Maybe with some time and experience he can be taught to make better decisions. What really seemed to fry the Tuna was when Drew improvised that goaline INT. He said the play was designed to go to the opposite side of the field to TO. So it was the double whammy bad throw and bad decision. They were about to get back in the game with a TD to tie or a FG to get within 4 and instead on the ensuing drive NY scored a TD. The classic killer 14 point swing.
It was really theatre of the absurd with Romo throwing that INT on his first play from scrimmage to open the second half. But then he did some good things, as Tuna mentioned, and the team seemed to be trying to rally behind him. Drew has simply sucked the life out of them, as he does over time. He looked positively crushed and ten years younger on the sidelines for most of the second half. Even I felt bad for him. But then after the third Romo INT got taken to the house I saw that defiant jaw tighten. Much like when BB named his starter for XXXVI. If this week and the remainder of this season doesn't drive Tuna into permanent retirement, nothing will.
Then of course there is the whole TO factor to be considered. Is it better to have him glaring at Drew or a rookie? He was on his bestest team player behavior in his post game PC - he'll just play hard (and slip and drop critical short throws) for whomever the coaches decide to play at QB.
And last but not least is the smarmy owner always lurking on the sidelines who wants to keep his fans happy. He had to be talked into Drew just like Tuna had to be talked into TO. I never believed reuniting Drew with the guy who drafted him was a good idea. Tuna seemed to think a mature Drew could somehow be rewired, although that was likely hope born of desperation with Romo and Henson as his Jerry Jones hand picked alternative options. Tuna advised Sean Payton to sign Drew Brees. I wonder if he even attempted to convince Jerry to. They haven't had a viable QB in Dallas since Aikman retired. And at the end of the day if you don't have one nothing else you have really matters. Imagine what Dallas could do in the overhyped NFCE if they had Brees to counter the puker in Philly, the big name bust in NY and the ancient JAG in DC.
EDIT to add it was probably poignant for some to see Drew score on the bootleg of all things. Only he didn't. Coughlin should have challenged it if he hadn't already wasted his first challenge trying to salvage another Eli debaucle. Some said it would be a waste of a challenge leaving Dallas on the goal line with 3 shots at the end zone. But as he later proved the goal line is not a given with Drew behind center. In fact he is more likely to hook up on a 50 yard bomb than not make that mindnumbing mistake in the red zone. The shorter the field and the more significant the points the more exposed Drew becomes as a horrendous game manager.
