Don't worry about Tony Romo's heir

— -- LONDON -- Every time Tony Romo slowly rises from a big hit or misses a game because of an injury, the topic immediately shifts to when the Dallas Cowboys are going to draft their quarterback of the future.

Romo has two small fractures in his back, the third time in less than two years he has had a significant back injury, so fans want the Cowboys to draft the next Romo and start the grooming process so the team doesn't have to wade through a collection of Quincy Carters, Drew Hensons and Vinny Testaverdes to bridge the gap.

Sorry, that ain't happening at Valley Ranch.

These Cowboys aren't spending a premium pick on a quarterback until Romo is ready to retire, which is why they passed on Johnny Manziel last April.

The Cowboys have too many holes to draft a quarterback with a premium pick and let him chill on the sidelines with a baseball cap and a clipboard for two or three years just in case Romo gets hurt. Remember, Romo is in the first year of a six-year, $108 million extension.

Manziel or first-round pick Zack Martin this year? Taking Martin is a pretty easy decision. Manziel or second-round pick DeMarcus Lawrence? That's a pretty easy decision, too.

Jason Garrett will tell you the Cowboys respect the quarterback position, which is why developmental quarterback Dustin Vaughan has been on the active roster all season instead of the practice squad where he could get poached.

The reality is teams don't really let young quarterbacks sit on the bench and learn the way Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers or San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick did.

You draft 'em, you play 'em is the NFL's mantra these days. Some guys, such as Russell Wilson, thrive under those adverse conditions, while others, such as Blaine Gabbert, fall apart.

The problem is that no formula exists. It's beyond difficult to find a guy who can produce at a consistently high level at the toughest position in pro sports even if you draft them in the first round.

Look at Manziel. He hasn't been able to beat out Brian Hoyer, a 29-year-old undrafted free agent who had four career starts before this season. Hoyer has the Browns at 5-3 and in the midst of the playoff race, which means it's unlikely Manziel plays this season, barring injury.

The Cowboys also have no interest in developing a potential starter for several years and, if Romo stays healthy, having to either overpay an unknown quantity or let him leave via free agency.

Most NFL starters are taken early in the draft. Following the benching of  Ryan Fitzpatrick by Houston on Wednesday, Hoyer, Romo, New England's Tom Brady, St. Louis' Austin Davis and Buffalo's Kyle Orton are the only current NFL starters who were selected after the third round.

Frankly, the Cowboys had acquired the perfect backup in Orton, who had been a solid veteran quarterback and was still good enough to start for some lower-echelon teams. Orton, though, grew weary of sitting on the bench and decided to force his way out of Dallas. Now, he's 3-1 as Buffalo's starter.

It's doubtful Weeden will be here next year, and not just because he played so poorly against Washington. He was 18-of-33 for 183 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, but if you watched the game you know Weeden was inept until the Cardinals backed off after they took a 28-10 lead.

Weeden has plenty of arm strength and he's a former No.1 pick, so some team will probably give him a shot to be their backup next season. He'd probably fit better in a West Coast offense because in that system the scheme dictates where the ball goes, allowing the quarterback to quickly get rid of the ball instead of dissecting coverages to determine where the ball should go.

This offseason the Cowboys will be scanning the NFL scrap heap for a legitimate backup. This offense is built around the offensive line and the running back, so all it needs is a facilitator who can make sure the ball gets to the playmakers. (Last week, Dez Bryant and Terrance Williams didn't catch a pass until the fourth quarter.)

The Cowboys will be searching for a more polished version of Weeden, a talented young starter who struggled in a bad situation. They're not looking for Romo's replacement, just a guy who can keep the team functioning when Romo has to miss a game or two.