2011 NFL Draft: 10 Reasons the Dallas Cowboys Need to Replace Tony Romo

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo’s left collarbone may be healed, but his ego might be a little bruised. Early this offseason reports surfaced that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was interested in drafting former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton, and things only snowballed when the Cowboys interviewed Newton at the combine.

Now the rattle on the fence to get rid of Romo has swelled to a steady shake. Is it time for Dallas to finally part ways with the now aging quarterback?

Here are 10 reasons Jerry Jones needs to replace Tony Romo.

Romo's Age

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 31: Injured quarterback Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cowboys Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Romo will turn 31 years old this year, and the clock is starting to run out of time on his NFL career and his time in Dallas. He’s about to enter his fifth full season as the Cowboys' starting quarterback, and if he can’t get it done in the next year or two, it will be time for Jerry to pull the trigger on replacing Romo.

Indecision

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MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys drops back to pass against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Romo can look great at times, as evidenced by his play against the Eagles in 2010, when the team won its first playoff game since 1996. But then Romo can look awful. Remember the game against Buffalo when he threw five interceptions?

Dallas needs a quarterback who can make better decisions, and if Jerry wants a Super Bowl soon, he may be forced to make a change.

Leadership

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 25: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys leaves the game after a left shoulder injury in the second quarter against the New York Giants at Cowboys Stadium on October 25, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martin

Throughout Tony’s tenure as quarterback in Dallas there has always been a question mark regarding the way Romo leads his team. This is, after all, his team.

When Dallas started to fall apart last year, there were questions as to whether Romo would say anything to straighten the locker room out. After the Cowboys suffered a devastating playoff loss to Minnesota and the offensive line broke down, questions arose again about how Tony would respond.

Cowboys Offensive Line

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DALLAS - SEPTEMBER 15: The Dallas Cowboys offensive line during play against the Philadelphia Eagles at Texas Stadium on September 15, 2008 in Irving, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

If Jerry continues to put Tony behind an aging, depleted offensive line, then Romo is destined for failure. As long as Romo sees the field vertically, then the calls for him to be replaced will only continue to get louder.

Tony's Ego

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ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 02: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys on the sidelines during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Cowboys Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Romo seems to be concerned about how he’s viewed in the media and by fans. Well, not about how he dresses, but that’s another article.

Romo says all the right things in the media, but they don't seem to translate to on the field success. Yes, he has a ton of passing yards, but he has only turned in one playoff win.

Cam Newton

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Cam Newton passes the ball during a drill at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

While I’m no fan of replacing Romo with Cam Newton, you have to admit that Newton has done a fantastic job of forcing his draft stock upward. Newton is nothing short of a two- to three-year project, and if Jerry wants to look toward the future, Cam is at least a weapon to consider.

Cowboys Running Game

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 25: Runningback Felix Jones #28 of the Dallas Cowboys rushes the football during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 25, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated th

Currently Dallas has three of the National Football League’s most talented running backs on its roster in Tashard Choice, Marion Barber and Felix Jones.

While there is no guarantee that all three will be back in 2011 maybe, just maybe, if Romo were to leave, that would open up more opportunities for the running game.

Jason Garrett

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 25: Head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys watches from the sidelines during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 25, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated

It may not matter who quarterbacks the Cowboys, but Garrett is obviously a pass-happy type of play-caller. But when backup quarterback Jon Kitna was under center, the offense did see more balance, and the running game seemed to get better.

A Need to Look Toward the Future

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HOUSTON - AUGUST 28: Quarterback Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys warmups before playing the Houston Texans in a preseason game at Reliant Stadium on August 28, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Whether Jerry decides to replace Tony isn’t really the key question—it's when. Jones has to start searching for Romo’s replacement whether he wants to or not. If Jerry wants to set the team up for success going forward, Dallas will have start the search for the future.

Tony’s Social Life

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PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 11: Professional football player Tony Romo hits from the sixth tee box at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am- Round Two at the Spyglass golf club on February 11, 2011 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Ge

Remember Jessica Simpson? What about Carrie Underwood? Maybe Tony’s golf game is the problem.

Tony usually has a busy offseason that includes women and golf. While he’s engaged now and his dating life has been put to bed, maybe he needs to do the same to his golf game.