MARK THOMPSONWASHINGTON D.C.
Still disappointed the Cowboys are out of the playoffs, but thinking about the two conferences, the NFC has had an array of teams in the Super Bowl the last 17 years, while the AFC has had about five teams--particularly New England. I respect the Patriots' dominance, but I don't think they would be nearly as dominant if they played in the NFC. Your thoughts?
Bryan: The Patriots would have found a way to be just as competitive. They're the best in the league when it comes to adapting to whatever style they need to be successful. You can say what you want about the coach, quarterback and cheating -- every fan base around the league wishes they had what the Patriots have.
David:I suppose there might be some difference. The AFC has had some perennial doormats over the past 15 years, while most of the teams in the NFC have had a chance to be competitive in that stretch. Ultimately, I still think they'd be formidable. If you've got great quarterback play and great coaching, you're going to be a factor. The Packers obviously haven't won as many Super Bowls, but they haven't missed the playoffs since 2008, which was Aaron Rodgers' first season as the starter. So maybe the Patriots would have one or two fewer championships, but they'd still be right in the thick of it.
JEFF GALLOLAFAYETTE, CO
It seems as if designating Romo as post-June 1 cut is the most beneficial thing for the Cowboys to do from a salary cap perspective -- as well as being the best thing for Tony, as he could pick his next team. The Cowboys would get no compensation but could they compromise and re-work his existing deal so his base salary is at veteran minimum amount prior to the release? It seems like a win-win for both sides.
Bryan: Sure you can reduce his deal, but you still are dealing with dead money. There is really no easy way to do this and the front office knows this.
David:The more you analyze it, the more unlikely it seems the Cowboys will be able to trade Romo. Or if they do, it won't be for a big price. Other clubs have a lot of leverage in the fact that they know the Cowboys won't want to carry that salary on their books. I don't know how this is going to get done, but I can't imagine it will be easy.
