Dallas, TX

What If… Tony Romo had stayed healthy in 2016?

Published

2 years ago

July 4, 2024

What If… Tony Romo had stayed healthy in 2016?

It’s possible that 2024 will be Dak Prescott’s last season as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. If so, he’ll have had a nine-year run that only a few in franchise history have bettered or even matched. Given that, it’s amazing to think about how improbable Prescott’s career has been. What if his predecessor, Tony Romo, hadn’t been injured during that 2016 preseason?

Prescott was famously taken with a fourth-round pick in that year’s NFL Draft. He didn’t arrive with fanfare; more focus was put on Dallas getting leapfrogged for Paxton Lynch in the first round or their reported interest in Connor Cook before the Raiders snatched him ahead of Dallas in the fourth round. Coming out of the draft, Prescott felt more like a runner-up and a career backup at best; another Stephen McGee to help fill the QB depth chart for a while.

Indeed, Prescott wasn’t even the primary backup upon arrival. Dallas had added Kellen Moore, a favorite of then-offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, the year before and he was the presumptive QB2. On top of that, Prescott did not have a great summer in practice and there was talk of undrafted rookie Jameill Showers outshining him. Even after Moore broke his leg early in training camp, the Cowboys tried to swing a trade for veteran Josh McCown rather than entrust backup duty to one of their rookies.

But then, once preseason action started, Prescott got the hype train rolling. In three games he went 39/50 for 454 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions with a 137.8 passer rating. Prescott also showed off his running ability with 53 yards and two more scores on just seven carries.

Prescott didn’t play in the final preseason game because, the week before, Tony Romo was injured against the Seahawks and ruled out for at least two months. Thanks to his hot August, Prescott was named the starter and helped lead the team to a remarkable 13-3 season. Even when Romo was medically cleared to return, the team stuck with their rookie sensation and embraced a new era for the franchise.

So again, what if Romo doesn’t suffer that back injury? What if he waltzes into 2016 still the starting quarterback? How might Cowboys history have changed?

The biggest question of all is if Romo would’ve made the 2016 Cowboys a better team, and that’s a tough one given what they accomplished without him. 13 regular season wins, a division title, and a competitive showing in their playoff loss to the Packers; there were all about the peak of what Romo did in his best seasons with Dallas.

Even in the playoffs, the rookie Prescott had a strong game going head-to-head with Aaron Rodgers and helped Dallas take it down the final ticks. The Cowboys rallied from a 28-13 deficit going into the fourth quarter to tie it up late, and only a final drive and a 51-yard field goal from Mason Crosby lifted Green Bay to the win that day. Prescott looked the part of a championship-level quarterback that day.

Still, there’s no denying Romo’s experience would have served the team well in moments. He was also a more fearless type of QB, and perhaps some of that moxie would have led to big plays when the more conservative Prescott played it safe. But on the other hand, with only four total picks thrown that year, Prescott’s style might have helped the Cowboys avoid some of the pitfalls that Romo’s risk-taking occasionally led to. Their differences probably balanced out over the season as a whole.

Now this is where it really gets interesting. If Romo had remained the starter, how long would that have continued beyond 2016? And would that have affected Prescott’s career?

One reason that Dallas chose Prescott over Romo was that the veteran was already 36 and decidedly injury-prone. If he’d had a healthy and productive 2016 season, would Romo have moved into broadcasting the following year or given it another go? That’s hard to say without seeing how he would’ve performed the season before, nor can we assume that avoiding that preseason injury means he wouldn’t have been hurt at some other point in 2016. One thing that we do know about Romo, even before that final injury, was that his body was breaking down.

Still, let’s pretend that Romo stays healthy in 2016 and decides to give it one more go in 2017. Maybe he makes it through that year, maybe he doesn’t. Maybe the scenario we saw play out the year before then comes to fruition; Prescott gets his shot and shows he’s a gamer. But if Romo hangs on another two years and then retires, Dallas would’ve gone into the 2018 offseason with a big question mark at quarterback.

True, Prescott would’ve had his big preseason performances to entice the team. But that 2018 QB class of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen, and Lamar Jackson would’ve been tough for the Cowboys to ignore. Depending on how Dallas performed the year before and where their first-round pick might have fallen, could they have chosen their next starting QB here and left Prescott resigned to backup duty?

Or what if Romo makes it through 2016 but then either retires or gets hurt early? Remember, the 2017 season wasn’t a fun one for Dallas. That was the year of Elliott’s suspension, Dez Bryant’s declining play as WR1, the infamous Chaz Green debacle in Atlanta, and a suspect defense incapable of causing turnovers. If this had been Prescott’s entry to the NFL, without that year of experience under his belt, how badly might it have hurt his stock going forward?

One thing is clear; 2016 was the best point possible for Prescott to get his opportunity to start. Elliott was the freshest and most dynamic version of himself, the offensive line was humming behind Tyron Smith, Zack Martin, and Travis Frederick, and other veteran pieces like Bryant and Jason Witten were still viable for a contending team. Even with a relatively poor defense that year, Prescott was able to help lead the other side of the ball to overcome that and post one of the team’s most impressive seasons of the modern era.

If that shot hadn’t come when it did, Prescott may have never been given the reins. He could have stayed on the bench behind Romo for a few years, then been leapfrogged by a high pick in the 2018 draft. Or if he’d had to play in 2017 in less ideal circumstances, it could’ve prompted the team to start looking elsewhere. After all, he was only a former fourth-rounder anyway. It’s not like they saw him as their QB of the future when they took him.

So if 2024 does prove to be Dak Prescott’s finale with the Dallas Cowboys, it will cap nearly a decade of quarterback play that could’ve easily never happened. Prescott wasn’t brought in as the heir apparent to Tony Romo, but circumstances opened the door and his performance forced that transition to occur. It’s amazing how a franchise’s fate can alter on such a narrow margin, but that’s what makes Prescott’s run one of the great “What Ifs” in Cowboys history.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas ISD will offer free pre-K starting next school year

Published

10 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Dallas ISD will offer free pre-K starting next school year

Starting next year, every 3- and 4-year-old in Dallas ISD will be able to enroll in pre-K tuition-free.

The district’s board adopted a new universal free pre-K plan at a board meeting Thursday. The proposal passed by an 8-0 vote, with no discussion.

Currently, the district offers free pre-K to students who qualify under certain federal, state and district guidelines, and charges tuition to all other students. Under the policy adopted Thursday, the district will drop its tuition rate for non-qualifying students to $0 beginning with the next school year.

The district’s current pre-K tuition rate is $5,000 a year for full-day classes for 3- and 4-year-olds, and $2,500 a year for half-day classes for 3-year-olds. During a March 12 board briefing, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde told the board that about 267 families are paying pre-K tuition this year.

Elizalde told The Dallas Morning News this month that it costs the district more to manage those families’ tuition payments than those payments bring in. The district’s pre-K classes have enough open seats that district leaders don’t expect to have to hire more teachers after the new policy goes into effect, meaning the financial impact to the district is expected to be minimal.

Dallas ISD isn’t the first North Texas school district to offer tuition-free pre-K. Fort Worth ISD implemented universal free pre-K more than a decade ago, and Arlington ISD offers free, full-day pre-K for all 4-year-olds and half-day classes for 3-year-olds that are free to students who qualify with a tuition rate of $2,295 for those who don’t.

Dallas ISD’s pre-K registration for the 2026-27 school year opens April 1.

The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.

The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, Judy and Jim Gibbs, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks, and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.

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Dallas, TX

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is confident about cost estimates to repair, rehab City Hall and insists the process has been transparent

Published

22 hours ago

March 27, 2026

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Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is confident about cost estimates to repair, rehab City Hall and insists the process has been transparent

Mayor Eric Johnson said he hasn’t made up his mind about the future of Dallas City Hall, the iconic I.M. Pei-designed landmark, but remains confident in the cost estimates to fix it.

City‑hired experts said it will cost $329 million to repair the nearly 50‑year‑old building and about $1 billion to rehabilitate and modernize it for the next 20 years.

Johnson said he trusts the numbers.

“I believe that those numbers are accurate,” Johnson said. “I just want to say that right up front, because I do know that there’s questions about whether or not these numbers are or have been inflated, or should we trust these numbers? I don’t know where we’d get another set of numbers that would be more trustworthy.

“These companies that have looked at this are very reputable, and so, I believe the numbers. I really believe that our jobs as a council and as a city are to do the best thing that we can, the best thing we can for our taxpayers. Not a good thing, but the best thing with the taxpayers’ dollars.”

The mayor said he, like everyone else, is waiting for more information. Earlier this month, he and eight council members voted to have the city manager determine how much it would cost to move City Hall to another building and compare that to staying and making repairs.

The city manager is also evaluating whether the current site could support private development. That report is due to the council no later than May, and the Finance Committee may be briefed on May 26. The full council could vote in June.

Development potential enters the conversation

Many people have floated the idea of a new arena and entertainment district downtown for the Dallas Mavericks, though no proposals exist.

Former mayors Ron Kirk, Tom Leppert, and Mike Rawlings have urged city leaders to move City Hall, saying it could attract billions in new development.

Johnson said he wants data, not instinct.

“I can’t govern the city based on a hunch or instinct or gut feel. I have to look at data. I would like to see what comes back and what they say this site could unlock,” he said. “Does my gut tell me that the best use of this part of downtown, is not to be a government center, which I think is kind of a dated concept in and of itself, to have a cluster of government buildings right in the middle of what could be the most vibrant part of your downtown that by definition closes at 5 p.m.

“My gut tells me that’s not a great idea. But I want the city manager to go through the exercise of actually exploring what private development options there would be. What interest would there be in this site? If there are really great economic development opportunities for the city that would be unlocked by us leaving this site, I would be very, very compelled by that.”

Preservationists push back strongly

Residents and preservationists have been vocal in their opposition. Former Mayor Laura Miller told CBS News Texas she doesn’t want City Hall sold or torn down and believes the process has lacked transparency and been “riddled with self‑interest.”

Johnson rejected that.

“I’m not sure why former Mayor Miller feels that way because I can tell you that the process has been the definition of transparent,” he said. “It’s just not true that this process hasn’t been transparent. You can go back to what I initially sent out, a memo. I put it in writing. I distributed it publicly, saying to the council, I want a committee to look at options for City Hall.

“So, that was very transparent. The meetings that were called subsequent to my request were all open to the public. Discussions were had at those meetings, and every single thing that has happened has been compelled by council action.”

Emails raise questions about engagement

The Dallas Morning News recently reported on 5,000 pages of emails related to the project and others, raising questions about how engaged the mayor has been.

Johnson dismissed the criticism.

“I’m fully engaged in everything that goes on around here. I’ve been fully engaged, and honestly, I’m going to decline to go quibble with the Dallas Morning News,” he said. “I don’t even know what these emails that they have found say. I do know what I do every day, which is I wake up early in the morning, come to this building, and give this city everything I have.

“I work tirelessly on behalf of the city, and I do everything I possibly can to make sure this city is represented well here, locally, nationally, internationally.”

Sports negotiations happening in parallel

The debate over City Hall comes as city leaders negotiate with the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars to keep both teams in the city. Johnson said he cannot discuss negotiations publicly.

“Keeping the Dallas Stars and keeping the Dallas Mavericks playing in the city of Dallas is one of the highest priorities of my administration, and it has been since I got here,” he said. “I can tell you this: We are going to do everything we possibly can to make these deals work for both of those teams and keep them in the city. I am confident that we will work this out.”

Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 Sunday morning on CBS News Texas on air and streaming.

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Dallas, TX

3 takeaways as the Mavericks lose a fun one, 142-135, at the Denver Nuggets

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

3 takeaways as the Mavericks lose a fun one, 142-135, at the Denver Nuggets

The Dallas Mavericks (23-50) dropped their fifth straight game Wednesday, falling 142-135 to the Denver Nuggets (45-28) in a game that felt within reach early before completely getting away from them late. Dallas had a few solid stretches to start, showing some offensive rhythm and energy, but couldn’t sustain it as Denver’s shot-making and overall execution took over. Cooper Flagg continued his strong stretch with 26 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while P.J. Washington added 19 points and 15 rebounds with steady production inside. On the other side, Jamal Murray put together a dominant performance with 53 points, and Nikola Jokić orchestrated everything with 23 points, 21 rebounds and 19 assists, as the Nuggets controlled the game from the middle quarters on.

The Mavericks hung around for stretches in the first half, but a Jamal Murray explosion ultimately tilted the game, as the Denver Nuggets took a 68-59 lead into halftime in a game that quickly started to feel like it was slipping away. Dallas opened with solid energy, getting contributions from multiple spots, as Naji Marshall scored efficiently and Cooper Flagg made his presence felt early as both a scorer and a playmaker, helping keep things within reach. Flagg had a noticeable impact in those opening minutes—knocking down pull-ups, attacking downhill, and creating looks for others—while Marshall’s shot-making kept the offense afloat during key stretches.

But every time the Mavericks made a push, Murray had an answer. He completely took over the second quarter, piling up 33 first-half points on 11-of-15 shooting and 6-of-9 from deep, hitting pull-ups, step-backs, and tough contested shots that Dallas simply couldn’t slow down. At the same time, Nikola Jokić quietly controlled everything else, finishing the half with 11 assists and 9 rebounds, consistently creating easy looks and keeping Denver’s offense flowing even without scoring much himself.

Dallas had some bright spots, though. There were moments especially in the third where Dallas strung together a few stops and got downhill, but it never turned into anything real, as missed shots, turnovers, and Denver’s instant responses kept resetting the margin.

If this game didn’t make it obvious, nothing will Dallas desperately needs a guard who can defend at the point of attack. Jamal Murray didn’t just have a good night, he had complete control, getting wherever he wanted and scoring however he wanted, finishing with 53 points on 19-of-28 shooting and 9-of-14 from three. There was no real resistance at the top of the defense no one who could consistently stay in front, disrupt his rhythm, or even make him uncomfortable. Once he got downhill or into his pull-up game, it was over, and that kind of pressure completely breaks a defense before it even has a chance to rotate.

This is where roster construction starts to matter. Dallas has length and some versatility in the frontcourt, but without a guard who can actually contain the ball, none of it holds up. You can’t ask your bigs to clean everything up every possession, especially against elite shot-makers. That’s why this draft becomes so important. It’s not just about adding talen it’s about adding the right kind of player. Someone who can fight over screens, stay attached, and at least make life harder for guys like Murray at the point of attack.

Because nights like this aren’t just about one player getting hot they expose a structural issue. And until Dallas finds a guard who can defend at that level, this is going to keep happening.

Someone seeds to close, eventually

The Mavericks have played a ton of close games this season, but the results just haven’t followed, and that’s something that continues to show up late in these losses. Too often, possessions in crunch time turn into rushed shots, stalled actions, or empty trips, while a single defensive breakdown on the other end swings momentum the other way. It’s not just one game it’s been a pattern, and it speaks to a team that’s still learning how to execute when everything tightens up.

That said, context matters right now. Dallas isn’t necessarily trying to squeeze out every late-game win at this point in the season, and losses like these actually help their lottery positioning. There’s value in being competitive and getting those reps without sacrificing long-term upside, especially in a strong draft class.

But long term, this is something to watch especially with Cooper Flagg. He’s already showing flashes as a primary creator, but closing games is the next step: controlling tempo, getting to the right spots, and making the right reads under pressure. It’s okay that it’s messy right now given where the team is, but if the Mavericks want to take a real step forward next season, turning these close games into wins has to be part of that growth.

Cooper Flagg continues to shine

Cooper Flagg continues to look more and more like the centerpiece of what Dallas is building, and nights like this are a big part of why. He finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, impacting the game in just about every way despite the result. What stands out isn’t just the production it’s how he’s getting it. He’s initiating offense, pushing in transition, making reads out of drives, and consistently putting pressure on the defense as both a scorer and playmaker.

This stretch has been especially encouraging. Over the past few games, Flagg has been steadily trending upward, not just in scoring, but in overall control of the game. He’s starting to look more comfortable as the primary option, picking his spots better and showing more patience when defenses collapse. Even when shots don’t fall, he’s still influencing possessions through rebounds, assists, and defensive activity.

There are still things to clean up, especially late-game execution and shot selection in tighter moments, but that’s expected at this stage. The important part is that the flashes are becoming more consistent. For a team leaning into development, Flagg isn’t just putting up numbers he’s showing real signs of growth as a lead initiator, and that’s the biggest takeaway moving forward.

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