Cowboys coach Jason Garrett says Brandon Weeden is the starting for now, but new arrival Matt Cassel will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job.
“Brandon is going to be our starting quarterback this week,” Garrett said.
But what about the other eight weeks or so that Tony Romo will miss? When Garrett was asked if Weeden is looking over his shoulder at Cassel, Garrett acknowledged that he’ll have to compete with Cassel for the starting job going forward.
“I was very direct with him. Every player on this team is competing each and every day for their spot on the team, for their role on the team. That’s starters, that’s backup guys, that’s everybody. He knows that, everybody knows that. Having said that, 100 percent support behind Brandon as our starting quarterback. We’re always trying to make our team better, 365 days a year we’re looking at who’s available to help us make our team better, and we just feel like in this particular case, with Tony being out, it was important for us to get a veteran quarterback here, and having the opportunity to get Matt Cassel, I’m excited to bring him to our football team,” Garrett said.
Weeden said he’s excited to play with Cassel, but acknowledged that he has to perform if he wants to remain the starter.
“I’ve got to go out and play well. If I do that, everything will take care of itself,” Weeden said. “It’s my job to go out and execute and take advantage of this opportunity.”
So while Garrett is promising “100 percent support” for Weeden, that support only extends so far. If Weeden stinks, Garrett is ready to hand the reins over to Cassel just as soon as Cassel knows the playbook. That’s life for a backup quarterback in the NFL.