NFL MVP Tony Romo, JJ Watt, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady: Jerry Jones, Steven A Smith Say Cowboys QB In Race- Top Honor Still Undecided?

NFL MVP Tony Romo? That's the word form his Cowboys teammates as the QB is now among stars such as Houston Texans JJ Watt, Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packer Aaron Rodgers and New England Patriots star Tom Brady in the race for the NFL MVP trophy as the NFL heads towards Week 17, the final games of the 2014-15 regular season. Following the Dallas Cowboys Sunday Night Football demolition of Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, which clinched the NFC East division title for the Cowboys, even noted non-reactionary rent-a-quote machine Steven A. Smith said Romo "deseves top 3 MVP consideration" for the NFL MVP.

"Tony Romo deserves top 3 consideration for MVP." - @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/Gxi6ErEByt

— ESPN First Take (@ESPN_FirstTake) December 22, 2014

After the Cowboys 42-7 win over the Colts, Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones said Romo should definitely be the NFL's MVP, saying "He is for me," according to ESPN Dallas' Tim McMahon.

The quarterback is MVP, said the obviously unbiased and impartial Jones, "because [DeMarco] Murray has certainly carried his share, but Tony's quarterbacking this year was indispensable. We couldn't have had the team, and we have a team that probably right now is in the top four or five teams in the league. That's pretty good qualification of the vote."

Ignoring the Cowboys dismal 3-2 record against their own putrid divison, Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant was more blunt: "Hell yeah, he is. He's the MVP," said the normally cool-headed Bryant. "Look at the performance. He's giving 'em hell in December. Icing on the cake. Give it to him. He's doing a hell of a job."

Romo, who went 18-20 on passing for 218 yards and four touchdowns also got backing from his tight end and "best cowboy of all time" Jason Witten, who said "He's got to be up for it."

He added: "He just makes big play after big play, and he creates a lot of those. I definitely think it's his best season. His name needs to be mentioned. I know some of those other guys have played well, but with this team and what he's done, he would get my vote."

NFL.com's Around The NFL say that while teammate and star running back DeMarco Murray "has been a mainstay in the MVP discussion all year", his recent performances mean that "Romo should merit consideration as well."

ESPN's McMahon also surprisingly lists "Five-time MVP Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos", "two-time MVP Tom Brady of the New England Patriots" and "one-time MVP Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers" as the other QBs who "must be considered worthy candidates" for this year's MVP.

And the International Business Times point out that while "Defensive players fail to get consideration for the MVP because of the Defensive Player of the Year award", Houston Texans defensive juggernaut Watt "may be a reason to challenge that thinking".

NBA and L.A. Lakers legend Magic Johnson also tweeted out his happiness that Romo and Jones' Cowboys will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, saying - in a show of impressive NFL acumen and solidarity with other rich guys - that they'll also be a scary matchup:

Congrats to my friend Jerry Jones and the Cowboys on winning the division and clinching a playoff berth! — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) December 22, 2014

With Romo, Witten, Bryant, Murray and the O-Line, the Cowboys will be a scary team to play against in the playoffs. — Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) December 22, 2014