FRISCO, Texas – The Cowboys still have plenty to play for in the regular season, even if they've punched a ticket for the postseason. They can clinch the NFC East as early as Sunday night with a win over the New York Giants. A first-round bye and home-field advantage are also within reach.
But, naturally, since they're the first team to clinch a playoff spot with four games remaining in the regular season, Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones was asked Tuesday whether the team would consider resting starters down the stretch if they're afforded that luxury at some point.
"No, I see us more as business as usual," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. "What it does allow you to do is when you've got guys on the fence with injury, not push them. And that just would be smart.
"But I don't know that you gain anything at all with a less than -- you just use good sense, use common judgment. But the other part of that is the obvious. You don't want to take the edge off. Football game is a part of a personality of a team and you want that team to stay very physical as you enter these playoffs."
Jones was asked another hypothetical question: would he be OK with Tony Romo playing in a game if the team had the option to rest starting quarterback Dak Prescott?
"Here's the thing: I want to do what gives us the best chance to have Tony contribute to a championship," Jones said. "And we're speaking about Tony right now. But I do want Tony to be ready to go in case that Dak should have an issue health wise. And that gives us strength going into the playoffs – not from the standpoint of necessarily protecting Dak or protecting your quarterback when you've got the bye cinched or in the playoffs, but from the standpoint of having Tony the readiest to come in and play would be my immediate or quick assessment."
