Around the NFL: Cowboys approaching tough decision

By Ryan Gerstel, Eagledelphia contributor

Romo almost healthy: The Cowboys are nearing a franchise-altering decision regarding their starting quarterback.

Tony Romo was a full participant during Wednesday's practice for the first time since suffering a back injury during the preseason, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport.

If Romo is able to complete this week's practices, then his rehab will officially be over, making him officially available for the Cowboys' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday.

"We just have to see where he is," Head Coach Jason Garrett said before Wednesday's practice. "Tony's practiced four days over the last couple of weeks and has been involved in part of practices on each of those days. We'll do something similar with him today. He'll start in individuals and see how he does. He'll be working some scout-team reps like he did last week.

"We'll just take the situation day-by-day. We have a number of guys who are injured on the team, and that's what we do … We will evaluate his situation day-by-day."

The Cowboys' decision will be difficult only because Dak Prescott has performed like one of the league's best quarterbacks halfway through the season, leading the team to a 7-1 record.

The 23-year-old has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,012 yards, 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

Whatever decision they make, the Cowboys know who their quarterback of the future is. Owner Jerry Jones has said that the team will ride the hot hand, which is probably the best course of action.

Kaepernick: "It didn't really matter" who won election: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made headlines again Wednesday when he admitted to reporters that he didn't vote on Election Day.

His argument was that he didn't believe that either candidate would change the current system that "oppresses people of color."

"I've been very disconnected from the systematic oppression as a whole," Kaepernick said, via ESPN. "So, for me, it's another face that's going to be the face of that system of oppression.

"And to me, it didn't really matter who went in there. The system still remains intact that oppresses people of color."

The President-elect, Donald Trump, has criticized Kaepernick's decision to protest the national anthem in the past.

"I think it's personally not a good thing. I think it's a terrible thing," Trump said in a radio interview back in Aug. "And, you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him. Let him try. It won't happen."

Kaepernick responded to Trump's comments a month later with the following:

"That's a very ignorant statement, that if you don't agree with what's going on here, that if you want justice and liberty and freedom for all, that you should leave the country," Kaepernick said. "He always says, 'Make America great again.' Well, America has never been great for people of color, and that's something that needs to be addressed. Let's make America great for the first time."

Despite Trump's comments, Kaepernick had ill-feelings towards the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, as well, which contributed to his lack of interest in Tuesday's election.

"To me, it was embarrassing to watch that these are our two candidates," Kaepernick said. "Both are proven liars, and it almost seems like they're trying to debate who is less racist, and at this point, I was talking to one of my friends who goes, 'You have to pick the lesser of two evils, but in the end, it's still evil.'"

Kaepernick shared the same feelings as a lot of Americans, as approximately 46.6 percent of the population didn't cast a vote Tuesday.

NFL not changing marijuana policy, yet: As marijuana legalization spreads across the country, the NFL is getting outside pressure to remove the recreational drug from it's banned substance list.

For now, the league is sticking with their current policy, but the NFLPA is looking into the use of marijuana as a natural pain reliever. NFLPA assistant executive director of external affairs, George Atallah, said the committee will "look at all ailments facing our members with marijuana only one substance of a much bigger issue."

Under the current policy, a reading of 35 ng/ml of marijuana warrants a violation which includes suspensions and fines.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy released a statement saying that a group of appointed medical advisors is looking into the possibility of medical marijuana using the "most current research and scientific data."

"We continue to follow the advice of leading experts on treatment, pain management and other symptoms associated with concussions and other injuries," McCarthy said, via ESPN. "However, medical experts have not recommended making a change or revisiting our collectively-bargained policy and approach related to marijuana, and our position on its use remains consistent with federal law and workplace policies across the country. If these advisers determine a change would be in the best interest of our players, we would discuss it."

In a recent poll conducted by ESPN's NFL Nation, 61 percent of NFL players said that they would take fewer painkillers if marijuana was an allowed substance, while 59 percent of players worry about the long-term effects of painkillers.

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