It's been a disastrous season for the Dallas Cowboys. At 3-8, there's not a lot hope for "America's Team." Tony Romo has missed eight of the 12 games this season because of a collarbone injury, and now he has a hairline fracture that will keep him out for some time.

As crazy as it may seem, the Cowboys have chosen not to place the veteran quarterback on the injured reserve list despite the fact that he recently suffered his second major injury of the season, against the Carolina Panthers. Many NFL experts believe the Cowboys should place Romo on IR because it would save a roster spot, and it would preserve Romo's health for at least another season.

Owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones does not agree with that philosophy.

Although the Cowboys are 3-8, they are still only two wins behind the Washington Redskins and New York Giants for first place in the division. The NFC East has been the worst division in the NFL this year, which leaves a small door open for the Cowboys. A very small door. If the Cowboys can finally get on a roll and win a few consecutive games, a playoff spot may not seem so incredible after all. By keeping Romo on the active roster, it means the Cowboys would have him available if they do in fact make the playoffs.

The risk here is obviously health. Even if the Cowboys somehow do luck into making the playoffs, they are risking Romo's future. Romo has dealt with numerous back problems, collarbone injuries, and many other issues that have caused him to miss games. The last time Romo played a full season and had a winning record was in 2009. The Cowboys are an embarrassing 0-7 with Matt Cassel and Brandon Weeden starting this season. The Cowboys remaining schedule also isn't very favorable. In 2010 Romo suffered a broken collarbone in Week 7, but the team did not place him on IR until Week 15.

One could argue the Cowboys have nothing to lose at this point. Romo isn't getting any younger, and with the division as bad as ever, saving one roster spot for an unproven player could be detrimental. If (and this is a huge "if") the Cowboys did somehow make the postseason and Romo was still on IR, it would mean they would have to win four playoff games without their star quarterback.

As far as the future is concerned the Cowboys have to start looking for a new franchise quarterback. Romo only has two years remaining on his contract and the injuries are piling up. They haven't drafted a quarterback in the first round since 1990 when they selected Troy Aikman. Only the Kansas City Chiefs have gone longer without picking a quarterback in the first round, 1983.

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