Johnson or Bollinger? You decide

October 31, 12:06 AMDallas Cowboys ExaminerRyan Killian

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Dallas Cowboys Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Photo Illustration by Ryan Killian (AP Photos/Tony
Gutierrez/Matt Slocum)

Election day approaches, and once again the nation faces a tough decision. Two unsavory options are vying for votes, and it’s become a matter of picking the one that will do the least harm.

That scenario is also being played out in Dallas where Brooks Bollinger may usurp Brad Johnson as the starting QB in Tony Romo’s absence.

Let’s check out their résumés and platforms.

Brad Johnson

• Super Bowl Champion
• Two-time Pro Bowl selection

Who is Brad Johnson?
Brad Johnson knows football. The quarterback was drafted in 1992 and has been around ever since. This year he’s started two games for the Cowboys, leading them to a 1-1 record. Though he got off to a rough start by throwing three interceptions in his first game, Johnson showed his veteran leadership last week by completing over 50 percent of his passes with no interceptions. While the team only gained a total of 172 yards, Johnson earned 122 of them through the air. His passer rating of 75.6 was more than 30 points better than the 45.5 he posted in his opening outing, a sure sign that his experience is catching up to him and further improvement will come rapidly.

Teamwork
I don’t believe in putting the team on my shoulders and carrying them through rough patches. Frankly, I don’t have the ability. Rather, I will rely on my ability to check down to my third or even fourth option (depending on which throw is shorter) and in the process will dispense the ball to a wide selection of receivers.

Conservative Values
I won’t put the ball in the air with just a wing and a prayer. Count on me to do whatever it takes to play it safe.

Strong in the Pocket
When others would cut and run, I’ll stand firm. No leaving the pocket and putting the onus on my o-line to keep up. I’ll stand behind them, face the pressure and even take a sack.

Brooks Bollinger

• Big Ten Freshman of the Year
• Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist

Who is Brooks Bollinger?
They might say Brooks Bollinger is a third-string QB. That’s what he was supposed to be in Minnesota, where he ended the summer behind Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson. But John David Booty is the third string quarterback in Minnesota, and Bollinger is a Cowboy. After posting a 3-0 bowl career in college, Bollinger has already found success in the NFL. In nine starts with the 2005 Jets, Bollinger won twice and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player for the month of December. It was the first time he beat out a vet for the job, leaving then 41-year-old Vinny Testaverde to mope on the sideline.

It wasn’t the last. In 2006, he replaced none other than Brad Johnson after a four interception performance for the Vikings. Bollinger came in and completed over 77 percent of his passes before an injury cost him his job—and his season. He still has his career though and is poised to break through once again.

Rugged Individualism
Despite having arm strength that was questioned as far back as my days at Wisconsin, I’ve proven there are other ways to move the ball besides throwing it. I left the Badgers with a QB school record 1,767 rushing yards and will bring that same mobility to Dallas.

Face of Change
I believe you deserve more than the same thing year after year after year. I’ve made a career of dismantling stodgy power structures and breathing vibrancy back into offenses from New York to Minnesota. I can do it in Texas to, especially with such weapons as Terrell Owens and Roy Williams at my disposal.