Dear Jerry Jones,

Before you get any ideas of bringing back Tony Romo to the Cowboys’ starting lineup the moment he is cleared, let me remind you about the importance of the past NFL Draft:

The gathering in Chicago in April was to identify the next franchise players in the Dallas Cowboys organization, not just one franchise player. Selecting Ezekiel Elliott with the fourth overall pick was a tremendous first impression you made, but given the history of Cowboys’ Super Bowl victories, franchise players for your organization come in threes.

You will recall Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett and Drew Pearson in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as well as Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin in the 1990s. Cowboys fans across the country are well aware of the nuclei behind your franchises’ greatest teams and have long awaited another such centerpiece.

It shall be noted that some of these greats were not drafted very high. Staubach was a 10^th-round selection and Pearson went undrafted, yet they formed two-thirds of the first great nucleus for your organization.

So far, one of your fourth-round selections has played at a Pro Bowl level and has not thrown an interception in his first 155 career attempts, a rookie record. Dak Prescott has won four of his first five games and has the eighth-highest completion rate (69 percent) as a rookie this season.

Per team standings in the NFC East division, the Cowboys are LEADING with a 4-1 record … again, with Prescott at quarterback and Elliott at running back. This is a rare achievement for such a rookie duo in the league.

Of course, they have not done this alone.

In the absence of wide receiver Dez Bryant, fifth-year slot man Cole Beasley — who also went undrafted from backyard SMU — ranks tied for 10^th in receptions with 27. Beasley does not rank very high in many receiving categories, but numbers can be deceiving considering how effective he is in converting third- and fourth-down plays into first down. Terrance Williams has a higher per-catch average in yards than Beasley (14.8 to 12.3), but Beasley has 11 more receptions, making him the go-to guy and de facto third piece to the current nucleus you have.

We’re fully aware of the effect Jason Witten, Dez Bryant and Romo have had on your franchise. While they have produced great numbers individually in recent years, the truth is that Witten is playing in his final seasons with Dallas and Romo has been hurt badly. Cowboy fans have waited for years to find a quarterback who at least could match Romo’s efficiency.

Your admiration for those three players has not wavered, and I totally understand that. But the fact of the matter is, we are seeing the future of the franchise now, and although we’re not a full season in with Prescott, Elliott and Beasley, the latter trio is producing results now.

While Romo’s career has been great, Prescott’s start has been much sweeter. I liken it to adding the frosting that makes the frosted flakes.

Please be advised of two things:

First, it would be terribly irresponsible of you to break such a rhythm of a young quarterback whom you surrounded with highly skilled players with much more football ahead of them for your franchise. For only the fourth time in 10 seasons, Dallas has won at least four of its first five games, and much of the credit should go to the synergy Prescott, Elliott and Beasley bring.

Secondly, regardless of Romo’s health, Prescott has an opportunity to start on the biggest stage of his career to date on Oct. 30. The Cowboys will host the Philadelphia Eagles in a Sunday night game, and the Eagles will bring the second overall draft pick from April, quarterback Carson Wentz. As you may be aware, Wentz and Prescott were neck-and-neck in consecutive passes without an interception to begin a career until Wentz’s ill-fated pass against the Detroit Lions. Also, Dallas and Philadelphia are first and second in the NFC East.

I am sure you will consider the marketability of this game, as many of your team’s games have set all-time television records in terms of viewership.

Cordially yours, ICM

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I.C. Murrell can be reached at 721-2435 or at ic.murrell@panews.com. On Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews