Associated Press
IRVING, Texas -- Bill Parcells still thinks Vinny Testaverde gives the Dallas Cowboys the best chance to win this week, so he's keeping the 41-year-old as his starting quarterback.
Parcells put off the decision until Wednesday, drawing speculation that he was finally going to turn to one of his youngsters, either highly touted rookie Drew Henson or Tony Romo, who was promoted to second-string last week.
But with Dallas (5-9) still having a slim chance of making the playoffs, Parcells is sticking with Testaverde for Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins. While Testaverde will start, Parcells said Romo will get extra work in practice and may see some playing time.
"I'm of the mindset that I might use Romo," Parcells said.
The Cowboys have been under .500 since the fifth game and every week Parcells has been asked why isn't he using Henson and Romo. He repeatedly said Testaverde was the better option for the upcoming game, adding that going with youth would be an indication to the rest of the team that he was giving up on this season.
While Testaverde has thrown for plenty of yards, he's also thrown 19 interceptions, tied for the most in the NFL, and has the third-worst passer rating in the league. He has 12 interceptions and six touchdowns over the last seven games.
Testaverde has started 13 of 14 games and played the decisive second half of the other. The exception was Thanksgiving, four days after he was hurt against Baltimore. Although he hadn't practiced all week, Testaverde replaced Henson at halftime of a tie game and led Dallas to a victory.
Henson has thrown just 18 passes and Romo none this season, which would seem to make it harder for Parcells to evaluate whether either is capable of taking over next season. Wednesday's announcement is an indication that someone other than Henson or Romo will be the starter going into 2005 -- perhaps even Testaverde.
Parcells already has floated the idea of one or both young quarterbacks going to NFL Europe.
The Cowboys close the season next week with a road game against the New York Giants, then can prepare building for their future. They have two first-round draft picks and plenty of salary-cap room for free agents. Knowing their plans for quarterback would certainly help determine how they spend the rest of their assets.
Henson has been hailed as next in the Troy Aikman-Roger Staubach lineage because of his pedigree: a standout at Michigan who might've been the No. 1 overall pick after his junior or senior year had he not turned to baseball. After failing to stick with the New York Yankees, he decided to return to football late last year and the Cowboys won a bidding war to acquire him.
Romo made the Cowboys in training camp last season as an undrafted rookie from Division I-AA Eastern Illinois. He's spent his 30-game NFL career primarily carrying a clipboard -- he's been the No. 3 quarterback nearly every game, getting on the field only as a holder in a few games this season.
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