Romo asked for chance to compete for starting QB job

Tony Romo tugged at the heartstrings of many when he conceded the Dallas Cowboys' starting quarterback job to Dak Prescott in an emotional press conference, but that concession didn't come without a Hail Mary attempt to win his old job back.

Finally healthy after breaking a bone in his back during preseason, Romo wowed his coaches in practice and privately asked to fight for the job he once held for 10 seasons, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.

"Tony's smart. He's very bright," Cowboys COO Stephen Jones admitted to Breer when asked about the request. "And so when he came out and said it, in the end, I don't think it took him long to figure that wouldn't be a great thing for the team. We've got a good thing, and no one wants Dak looking over his shoulder."

Prescott has the Cowboys in first place in the NFC and eyeing not only a playoff spot but the top seed in the conference. He has led Dallas to eight straight victories while throwing for 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

"We've got supreme confidence that Dak is our future. We've just seen too much," Jones said. "And you may say, 'Well, it's only been nine games.' No, it's the full body of work. And it's not just on the field, it's off the field, too. It's how he handles every situation - bringing us back down two scores in San Francisco; last week, he leads the game-winning drive twice in Pittsburgh; coming back against Philly. He keeps checking every box."

And so Romo will continue to be Prescott's backup. The Cowboys will alter practices to allow Romo to get more reps, but there will be no quarterback competition, at least not at this point.

"As a competitor, does he want it? Yes. He wouldn't be in the NFL if he didn't have that burning in his belly," Jones said of Romo. "He's dying to get out there."