Staubach and Aikman know what Romo is going through

Quarterback controversies aren’t a new thing for the Dallas Cowboys.

In franchise history some of the biggest names, those honored by the Cowboys in the ring of honor, have been in the midst of quarterback questions.

ESPN.com’s Todd Archer examined some of those past decisions on Monday.

In 1972, Roger Staubach suffered a separated shoulder in the preseason that forced Craig Morton into the starting lineup. Coach Tom Landry stuck with Morton, even when Staubach became healthy. Staubach had led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl win the previous season.

In 1991, Troy Aikman suffered a sprained MCL during the game in which the Cowboys ended the Washington Redskins’ run at a perfect season. Steve Beuerlein went 4-0 as Aikman’s replacement, and coach Jimmy Johnson went with Beuerlein in the playoffs, even though Aikman was healthy enough to play in the postseason.

I guess it’s clockwork, every 20 years or so the Cowboys have to make a quarterback decision facing a franchise quarterback.

So, how will they handle this debate between Dak Prescott and Tony Romo?

Aikman said it’s a big decision, but the ultimate determining factor could be a Super Bowl.

“You never know unless you go on and win the Super Bowl,” Aikman said. “You never quite know what the outcome otherwise would’ve been, but I certainly understand why Jimmy did what he did. The team had won five straight, and he wasn’t going to mess with that. So that’s kind of where I am. In this league, it’s hard to get that kind of momentum going within any club, and when you have it going, I think you better take a hard look before you start doing things that may jeopardize that.”