Austin American-Statesman

Weeden's task just to 'win a game'

Backup QB isn’t losing focus over talk of limitation­s.

- By Schuyler Dixon

Brandon Weeden didn’t need Dallas owner Jerry Jones to tell him he’s no Drew Brees.

And the Cowboys quarterbac­k certainly doesn’t believe anyone would confuse him with Tom Brady. The backup filling in for Tony Romo, and now carrying the weight of a personal 10-game losing streak into a game against Brady and Super Bowl champion New England, is comfortabl­e with who and what he is.

“I don’t care what my limitation­s are or aren’t, or what Drew can do or what Tom can do or the next guy can do,” Weeden said. “My job is to find a way to get this team to win a game and do our part offensivel­y and get in the end zone and score as many points and give our team a chance to win.”

After the Cowboys (2-2) lost to New Orleans on Brees’ 400th touchdown pass — an 80-yarder on the second play of overtime — Jones called Weeden “limited” while making a comparison to Brees in his postgame comments.

Weeden’s best moment in three starts for the Cowboys, including one last season, was a tying 17-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Williams in the final 2 minutes.

But he never got a chance to have the next breakthrou­gh — a victory — because Brees never let Weeden get the ball again.

His most recent win as a starter was Dec. 9, 2012, against Kansas City in his rookie season with Cleveland, where he spent two seasons after getting drafted in the first round.

“I’ve had my face beat in but I’m there Wednesday ready to go,” said Weeden, who has just 23 starts despite turning 32 next week because he spent five years in pro baseball before playing at Oklahoma State.

Weeden will get at least one more start Sunday against the Patriots (3-0). But the Cowboys have at least four more games following their bye without Romo, who broke his left collarbone in a Week 2 win over Philadelph­ia.

Dallas traded for Matt Cassel after Romo’s injury, and he’s getting closer to taking over the backup role from Kellen Moore, who hasn’t played in a regular-season game. Cassel had 71 starts over seven NFL seasons.

Coach Jason Garrett called Weeden after the trade to tell him the coaching staff was behind him, and Garrett hasn’t hinted at any erosion in that support.

“He has a great demeanor about him,” Garrett said. “He works hard trying to understand what we are trying to do each week. ... He has handled all aspects of it really, really well.”

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States