Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott Can Handle High Bar Tony Romo Set

Dak Wanted Change As A Fan, Made Change As A Pro

For Prescott, unlike all the other before him, it looked easy to replace Romo. The man who once criticized Romo in a 2012 tweet was up to the task of replacing the man who had a history of infuriating fans with some ill-timed interceptions. The criticism from Dak came after the Cowboys lost to the Washington Redskins and saw their season end without a playoff berth. The exchange was highlighted by Jean Jacques-Taylor of ESPN:

"“I’m DONE taking up for Romo #hadenough” Later, he tweeted, “@JaceyPunches No! He doesn’t finish & None of those INTs were Bc of the O-line. #noexcuses” Finally, Prescott tweeted “@jaceypunches Nah Jacey!! You’re suppose to Throw it over the guys head. That was the most embarrassing one of them all #stoptakingupforhim"

Of course, the two laughed it off, but Prescott was feeling the way many fans felt. And unlike all the other fans, he was able to do something about it. Funny thing about fans though, they have short memories.

Many Cowboys fans won’t remember the frustration from that loss. Or the other season ending losses. They also won’t remember the playoff games that ended with Romo promising to do better next time. Instead, fans will remember the 34,183 yards he threw and the 248 touchdown passes. They will also remember how often Romo carried a bad team and at least would give them a fighting chance.

They will remember this because they should. Romo was an incredibly talented player and, as an undrafted quarterback, he was one of the biggest overachievers ever. What they shouldn’t do is compare Prescott to Romo any longer. But they will.

While the players are similar in that they were both regarded as long-shots in the NFL and can both improvise on the field, their similarities end there. Prescott is 13 years younger than Romo and is the future of this team. There was no decision to be made, regardless of how bad owner Jerry Jones wanted Romo to win a Super Bowl. Tony Romo had his time, and now it’s Dak Prescott’s turn.

Prescott is also a stronger leader than Romo. There was a time not too long ago that the media constantly ripped Romo for his lack of emotion and inability to lead a team. That will never be said about his heir. Prescott has the ability to relate to everyone on the team and in just one season he managed to rally an entire franchise around him. They believed in him and he made them believe in themselves.

Must Read: Dallas Cowboys: 5 Surprise First-Round Targets in the 2017 NFL Draft

Sure, Romo set the bar high for Prescott as he broke just about every single record for a quarterback in the storied history of Dallas. But the young man will be up to the challenge in 2017 and beyond