Maddox might be the perfect backup to Bledsoe

By Andy Targovnik  |   Monday, June 12, 2006  |  Comments( 16 )

Dallas Cowboys
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Bill Parcells probably remembers it well. He was coaching the New York Jets on opening day of the 1999 season versus the New England Patriots. Just the previous year, the Jets rode Vinnie Testaverde's arm to the AFC championship game. On the heels of their 1998 success, this 1999 Jets team was primed to go all the way to the Super Bowl.

Then it happened. Curtis Martin fumbled. Testaverde took one step towards the loose ball, fell to the ground and grabbed his left Achilles tendon. Testaverde's season was over. When Parcells looked on the sideline for a replacement, he saw Ray Lucas, Rick Mirer and Tom Tupa. For all intent and purposes, the Jets' season was over.

Flash forward seven years. Parcells coaches the Dallas Cowboys and the backup quarterback situation is eerily similar to the 1999 Jets. If the thirty-four year old Drew Bledsoe were to sustain an injury, who would the Cowboys put under center? Tony Romo? He's yet to throw an NFL pass. Drew Henson? All you need to know is that he's behind Romo on the depth chart.

Sign a free agent you say? Kerry Collins is available but he wants to start. Even if he were interested in backing up, the Cowboys probably couldn't fit him under the salary cap.

The player that makes perfect sense is Tommy Maddox. Signed as a backup to Kordell Stewart in 2002, Maddox got his shot to play and led the Steelers to the playoffs. He was subsequently named Comeback Player of The Year. Maddox, who lives in Spring Lake, Texas, might be the perfect fit for this Dallas Cowboys team that wants to win now.

First, unlike Collins, signing Maddox would be salary cap-friendly. Second, Maddox has done his best work as a backup when there were low expectations on him. He could come in, tutor Romo, and be a safety valve should anything happen to Bledsoe.

What do the Dallas Cowboys have to lose? In the worst case, he'll bomb out in training camp and everybody can go their merry way. In the best case, he'll play like he did in Pittsburgh when he replaced Stewart. If the Cowboys are competitive and Bledsoe goes down in week 8, wouldn't it be nice to have Maddox as an option?

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CommentsComments: 16  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
JD		02:09 PM
06/12/2006
I agree with Mickey Spagnola from Dallascowboys.com, even though we haven't seen Romo throw an NFL pass, Parcell's seems really...
No.2
T Double		03:09 PM
06/12/2006
Ummmmm...No! What do the Cowboys have to lose? The season. There was a reason that the Steelers cut him as the backup to...
No.3
Dave in Nebraska		05:46 PM
06/12/2006
While Maddox would provide a "sense" of security, I don't think he would prove to be any more successful than Romo or Henson if...
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