Roethlisberger Replacing Dak A Cowboys 'Option,' Says Florio

FRISCO - We really should be open to every "what-if'' possibility as it regards Dak Prescott, beyond just the sensible "sign him to a long-term deal'' possibility.

"Draft a replacement?'' Sure.

"Tag him for one year and then say goodbye''? Sure.

"Dump him in favor of Ben Roethlisberger''? Wait. What?

This odd "what-if'' comes courtesy of what we will label "the fertile mind'' of Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com, which is mastering the art of not just aggregating rumors (a necessary evil of today's sports journalism, as you are reading in action right now) but also being the originator of the ridiculous rumor that ends up getting aggregated (yes, you are reading the result of that right now as well).

Writes Florio: "The Steelers, fully aware that they may not have enough around quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to justify bringing him back for another year, suddenly seem to be ambivalent about an ongoing relationship. So if (and it’s still a fairly big if) the Steelers decide to sever ties with Big Ben, he’ll become a free agent.

"The question then becomes whether he’d continue his career with another team.''

Lots of questions. Lots of "if's.'' But not enough questions or "if's'' to slow the PFT train!

"It’s a topic he’s never addressed,'' Florio writes. "It’s a topic that, before Wednesday’s comments from G.M. Kevin Colbert, was never relevant. Now, it’s moving closer toward that category.

"If Ben would be willing to explore another year or two with another team, the question then becomes whether another team would want him.''

What does any of this have to do with the Dallas Cowboys? Florio actually lists 12 candidates for the future services of Roethlisberger, who is about to turn 39 and is coming off a notably lackluster season.

Oh, and, if you believe the essence of this story, might be unwanted by the Steelers team that knows him best. But ... the Dallas Cowboys would want him?

Florio writes that the "potentially viable options'' - a full dozen "viable options,'' mind you - include "the Cowboys if they let Dak Prescott walk.''

Forget for a moment that, while acknowledging the "never-say-never'' NFL world in which we live, there is simply no evidence of a Dallas connection with Big Ben. Under what circumstances would the Cowboys "let Dak walk''?

Dak is arguably their best player and inarguably their most valuable commodity.

We can, and have, brainstormed our way to a dozen scenarios that would have Prescott playing elsewhere in 2021. These scenarios feature Dak signing his tag and then leaving in trade in exchange for a similarly-talented QB. These scenarios feature Dak signing his tag and then leaving in exchange for premium draft picks. (Jets, are you listening?)

These scenarios do not feature "letting Dak walk'' in order to have him replaced by Ben Roethlisberger. Which means either we're not brainstorming hard enough ... or the people who are conjuring up this idea think they're "brainstorming'' when they are actually suffering from a "football aneurysm.''

CONTINUE READING: Aikman On Dak Prescott & Dallas Cowboys: Reloading Or Rebuilding?