NFL Combine 2011: Does Cowboys Interview of Cam Newton Spell Doom for Tony Romo?

The Dallas Cowboys will interview Auburn's Cam Newton at the NFL Scouting Combine this weekend, leading some fans to wonder if Tony Romo's job is in jeopardy. Well, if it is, then there will be another 20 or more starting NFL quarterbacks in the same position.

Hey Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Josh Freeman: Update your resumes. And Matt Ryan, Matt Cassel and Matthew Stafford: You might want to check U-Haul rates.

Newton is quickly becoming a top 10 pick in the minds of most scouts and experts. But that doesn't mean any team ready to interview him is ready to draft him. Most teams interview as many high-profile prospects as possible in their 60 allotted interviews—even if it is unlikely they will be available or of need when each team is drafting.

It doesn't mean that if San Diego chats up Newton for 15 minutes that Phillip Rivers should cut his vacation short for some extra reps in the gym. If Houston wants to learn more about Newton—a prospect with a sordid past—Matt Schaub shouldn't react by having his home appraised.

This is the NFL Scouting Combine. Teams poke and prod players like they are livestock at the state fair. They squabble over eighths of inches in height, hundredths of seconds in 40-yard dash times. They investigate as many prospects as is reasonable and then just keep going.

When a player like Newton—one with a mix of elite ability and a shaky track record—comes along, teams with any possible need must break out the houndstooth cap, pipe and magnifying glass to find any clues that they should avoid or pursue him.

Just the same, Jerry Jones and his staff want a closer look at Newton. Not because Romo is on shaky ground, but because they wouldn't be doing their due diligence if they didn't. Romo is No. 1 with Jon Kitna and Stephen McGee as more than capable backups.

The last time we saw Tony Romo in a full season, he was a Pro Bowler in 2009. He's coach Jason Garrett's man. That isn't changing just because the Cowboy brass sits down with Newton to ask a few questions about his alleged laptop theft and pay-for-play allegations. They want to get a feel for his leadership abilities and intangibles to have a better idea of what to do if Newton is still available when they pick at No. 9—just in case.

Speculating that the Cowboys interviewing Newton means anything beyond just that is getting several steps ahead of the facts at hand. First of all, Newton being available when the Cowboys are on the clock is less and less likely. The Cowboys deeming it necessary and/or worthwhile to trade up for Newton is even less likely.

Romo getting any less sleep tonight over a cover-all-your-bases interview is least likely of all.