Ed Werder discusses the other quarterbacks the Cowboys considered bringing in besides Matt Cassel, and whether Cassel could start if Brandon Weeden struggles. (1:24)

Tony Romo has a broken collarbone, and Dallas Cowboys fans are rightfully worried.

America's Team now must turn to Brandon Weeden under center in hopes of remaining atop the NFC East, with former Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore temporarily filling the backup role. Needing insurance, the Cowboys acquired veteran Matt Cassel in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday.

Romo will be eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. Until then, it might be a wild ride for the NFL's glamour franchise. What better opportunity to discuss the franchise's finest clipboard carriers and scout team signal-callers?

Here's one writer's ranking of the top 10 backup quarterbacks in Cowboys history:

10. Randall Cunningham, Bernie Kosar and Rodney Peete

This trio of notables begins our rankings with an unavoidable tie. Cunningham, Kosar and Peete started a combined 325 games for other teams. They started a total of five for the Cowboys.

After 14 seasons with NFC rivals Philadelphia and Minnesota, Randall Cunningham joined the Cowboys to back up Troy Aikman in 2000. TOM MIHALEK/AFP/Getty Images

9. Clint Longley

Longley is best known for stepping in for the injured Roger Staubach and rallying the Cowboys to a 24-23 victory over Washington on Thanksgiving Day in 1974. He also infamously brawled with Staubach at training camp in 1976. He started two NFL games during his career -- one for Dallas and one for the San Diego Chargers -- winning both.

8. Wade Wilson

Wilson enjoyed a 19-year playing career, including three seasons as caddie for Troy Aikman in the 1990s. Wilson has served two tours as the Cowboys' quarterbacks coach, first under Dave Campo, and his current tenure with Jason Garrett. Presumably, if anything happens to Weeden, Cassel and Moore, he could put down the headset and take the field at age 56. However, that's probably not an ideal scenario for the club.

Brad Johnson, shown being crunched by Tampa Bay's Gaines Adams, served as backup to Tony Romo for two seasons. AP Photo/LM Otero

7. Brad Johnson

Anytime you have a backup with more Super Bowl rings than the starter, he makes the list.

6. Eddie LeBaron

LeBaron -- all 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds of him -- was the Cowboys' primary starting QB during the franchise's woeful first two seasons. He went a combined 2-17-1 in 1960 and '61 before settling in as backup to Don Meredith. After his playing days, LeBaron practiced law and worked in the front office of the Atlanta Falcons. He died earlier this year at age 85.

5. Jon Kitna

Kitna humbly backed up Romo from 2009-11 after being a starter with the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and Barcelona Dragons. Already retired from football in 2013, he briefly left his job as a math teacher to suit up for one game with the Cowboys when Romo suffered a back injury. He's now earning nearly six figures as the head football coach at Waxahachie High School south of Dallas.

4. Gary Hogeboom

Hogeboom joined the Cowboys as backup to Danny White in 1980 following the retirement of Staubach. At one point, Hogeboom replaced White as starter in 1984, but coach Tom Landry eventually reversed course. Hogeboom appeared as a contestant on "Survivor: Guatemala" in 2005.

Craig Morton was the starting quarterback in two Super Bowls -- one for the Cowboys and one against the Cowboys. James Flores/Getty Images

3. Craig Morton

After backing up Meredith for four seasons, Morton became the starter in 1969 and guided the team to Super Bowl V the following season. He ceded the starting role to Staubach in 1973 and was traded to the New York Giants a year later. In an ironic twist, Morton quarterbacked the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII against the Cowboys. The Dallas defense harassed him badly, forcing four interceptions, in beating the Broncos 27-10.

2. Jason Garrett

The current Cowboys head coach went undrafted out of Princeton and bounced from the New Orleans Saints to the World League to the CFL before landing with Dallas in 1993. He memorably led Dallas to a 42-31 victory in a spot start against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day in 1994. Garrett filled the third-string QB role for most of his time as a Cowboy, graduating to the backup role in Troy Aikman's final two seasons.

1. Danny White

White patiently bided his time behind Staubach for four seasons, getting his work in as Dallas' primary punter. After Staubach's retirement, White led the Cowboys to the NFC Championship Game in each of his first three seasons as starter. He lost, then regained the starting job from Hogeboom and remained with Dallas through the 1988 season. After his playing career, White became a longtime coach in the Arena Football League.

Also receiving votes: Steve Beuerlein, Drew Bledsoe, Glenn Carano, Babe Laufenberg, Stephen McGee, Kyle Orton, Steve Pelluer, Tony Romo, Clint Stoerner, Kevin Sweeney, Steve Walsh, Brandon Weeden.