Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jesse Holley admitted Friday that free agent Peyton Manning is a god at playing quarterback, and every team in the NFL should take at least a glance at him – even the Cowboys.
But according to Holley, that's where it should end. The reserve receiver, who caught seven passes last season, says Dallas has a "very, very good quarterback" already in Tony Romo.
"I'm pretty sure that Peyton Manning will not be a Cowboy," Holley told The Ben and Skin Show on Dallas' 103.3 [KESN-FM]. "We have a very, very good quarterback in Tony Romo here in Dallas, who's still young, who has a lot of football left in him, who is a franchise quarterback, who will be here for years to come.
"This is our guy. This is who we started with. This is who we'll finish with. … Here in Dallas, we're led by Tony Romo."
Holley went on to say that fans that want Manning in a Cowboys uniform don't understand the business side of the NFL, adding, "It's not even smart financially when you have someone in place already that's a franchise quarterback."
But what about the leadership qualities that Manning would bring? On the same radio show last month, Cowboys defensive end Jason Hatcher couldn't name the leaders on the team and said a vocal leader like Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was something the Cowboys needed.
Could Manning be that leader for Dallas?
Holley said it's not necessary because Romo is the "leader of our team."
"You see what Peyton Manning does every single Sunday," Holley explained. "You see the way he goes about his business, and that's the Peyton Manning way. That's the way he works. That's the way he orchestrates his band, but that's not the way Tony Romo works. We understand the way Tony works, and Tony does a great job at being a leader. He knows where things are supposed to be, where guys are supposed to go.
"Yes, he may not be the most boisterous guy, and shouting and yelling, but just like Peyton, he can point out the Mike linebacker. Just like Peyton, he can make an audible at the line of scrimmage. Just like Peyton, he can change the play in the huddle. Just like Peyton, he can make the throw. And just like Peyton, he can win games.
"Put the film on, and you'll watch Tony out there pointing, moving guys around, putting guys in places, making audibles. Peyton may have had more control of that offense, complete control of that offense and our structure is a little bit different, which may not fit Peyton Manning here in Dallas.
"[Romo] is still the leader of our team, and we understand him, and it works well for us. Just because it may not look like the way Peyton Manning does it, or Tom Brady does it, or Eli (Manning) does it, or Aaron (Rodgers) does it, it works well for us."
