(Image Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

BY MATT NOONAN

Just one week after suffering cracked ribs and a punctured lung in a win over San Francisco, Tony Romo says he's ready to play. The Dallas Cowboys quarterback will start in Monday night's game against the Washington Redskins. But an SB Nation blogger questions that decision:

“... if I'm the Cowboys, I do not start Romo. Their offensive line got absolutely shredded by the Niners, so knowing Romo will be taking shots, it doesn't make sense to trot him out there...I just don't see why you put your QB at long term risk in Week 3.”

The Cowboys hope to minimize that long term risk, and have outfitted Romo with a Kevlar vest to protect his ribs. The guys at NFL Today on CBS decided to put the vest to the test:

“In order to help protect him, he has been outfitted with a protective pad made by unequal technology. Here is Boomer showing the pad there. FLASH. And, it is resilient enough to be hit by a baseball bat.”

Vest or not, Romo knows he has a giant target on his back – or rather, his chest. Earlier in the week, Redskins corner Deangelo Hall told local media he'll be aiming for Romo's injured ribs.

The threat has fired up commentators and players. ESPN's Bill Plaschke says Hall's comments were out of line, and that they may cost him:

“By making Tony Romo a target, all Deangelo Hall is doing is making himself a target. He's making himself a target for the Cowboys to hurt him. He's making himself a target for the officials. You don't think the NFL saw that quote? You don't think they're going to be watching him, and every step he takes toward Romo?

You don't want to bring attention to yourself like this. Just do it, if you're going to do it – and we know you're going to do it. Just do it and don't talk about it.”

From the other side, former Cowboy wide receiver Michael Irvin tells NFL network he doesn’t mind Hall talking about it -- and says it's just part of the game:

“Deangelo Hall verbalized something that everybody thinks in this game. There is no way that you don't think if an opponent is stepping on the field – and he is hurt – that you need to make sure and find out just how hurt he is.”

Romo is expected to take the field on Monday Night Football at 8:30 ET

Transcript by Newsy.