AP

There are plenty of people who think that the Cowboys are in for some rough sledding without quarterback Tony Romo for the next eight weeks of the season and one would imagine that owner Jerry Jones is in that group after he said he felt “lower than a crippled cricket’s ass” in the wake of Romo’s broken collarbone.

A few days have passed since then and we’ve already seen signs that Jones has recovered his optimism. He heaped some praise on Brandon Weeden and traded for another quarterback in Matt Cassel, which might explain why he feels that the Cowboys have “a chance to be a better team” when Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant are back because of the players who will step up in their absence.

Jones acknowledges that it will be a challenge to make good on that opportunity, but, in his inimitable style, says it is one that his team has no choice but to take on that challenge.

“That’s going to be quite the challenge,” Jones said, via ESPN.com. “I do think that we can win, yes, but competition is going to have a lot to say about it. I certainly know that if Tony Romo were not available to us at any time, I know what all of our expectations are. The wagon train has got to get to California, as Barry Switzer used to say. We may burn these wagons as we go, float the Mississippi, but anyway, the wagon train has got to go. Not trying to be cute, but no, the team, the Cowboys, we have figure out ways to excel and win, and when we do, it should be inspirational.”

If the Cowboys do figure out ways to excel without Romo and Bryant, it will make for quite a story whether it becomes an inspirational tale for the ages or not. Simply staying afloat would make for a pretty good story on its own and would likely be enough for the Cowboys to be in position for a playoff bid when their two stars are expected back in the lineup.