IRVING, Texas (AP) – Drew Bledsoe put his hands behind his hips, arched his back and grimaced, partly from the pain and perhaps partly to brace himself for the questions he knew were coming – about his lousy outing in the Dallas Cowboys’ season-opening loss and about the inevitable cries for backup Tony Romo to take his place.

Bledsoe usually speaks to reporters on Wednesdays, but made an exception Monday because of the circumstances. He said he was merely being accountable, like a starting quarterback should.

He didn’t emphasize the words “starting quarterback.” Still, his message was clear: This remains his team.

And if you don’t believe him, then take it from coach Bill Parcells: This remains Bledsoe’s team … “right now.”

Parcells defended his longtime quarterback Monday, insisting that plenty of others were to blame for a 24-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He said Bledsoe will definitely start Sunday night against the Washington Redskins and that calls for him to turn to Romo are premature.

However, Parcells’ loyalty to Bledsoe has its limits. By qualifying most of his comments with “right now,” he opened the door to the exact speculation he was trying to deny. Maybe that’s why he got so testy about it.

“I told you I was getting Romo ready to play. And at some point in time, I’m hopeful I will be able to play him this year,” Parcells said. “Now, I don’t know when, where or under what circumstances. But that shouldn’t be the story for today because it’s a non-story.”

Asked about it again, Parcells said, “Well, I tell you what let’s do – you write what you want, I’m going to explain it the best way I can.”

… I think you’re trying to get me to say at some point in time I’m going to get Romo in. That time is not now, OK? Is that clear enough? Do you want me to repeat it?”

There’s no denying Bledsoe had a bad day. After taking a 10-0 lead after two drives, the Cowboys didn’t score again until late in the game, when they were already down by 14 points. He threw two interceptions in between, then a third on Dallas’ last-gasp drive.

“I think that he could have played better and I’m hopeful that he will,” Parcells said. “But I am going to give him an opportunity to do that.”

Dallas committed nine penalties, many of them drive-killers. One of the worst was offensive interference on tight end Jason Witten, wiping out his go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. The Cowboys ended up trying a field goal and Shaun Suisham, filling in for inactive Mike Vanderjagt, missed. Jacksonville scored on its next possession and was in control the rest of the way.

“If we go out and play with focus and eliminate the mistakes, we’re going to be hard to beat,” Bledsoe said. “But if we go out and make mistakes and get in our own way, then we can lose to anybody.”

Bledsoe is being scrutinized more than last season for several reasons, starting with higher expectations. Dallas went 9-7 last year, has a strong defense and added Terrell Owens on offense.

Another reason is Bledsoe’s track record. He hasn’t been the starter on a playoff team since 1998. He’s 0-for-his-last-6.

Then there’s the perceived readiness of Romo, who has been on the Cowboys three years without throwing a pass in a regular season game.

He’s earned Parcells’ trust on the practice field and validated it in the preseason, earning a contract extension. That’s heightened anticipation among fans, turning this week’s buzz into Bledsoe vs. Romo instead of how close Dallas came to winning its opener on the road against a team that was 12-4 last season.

“Any time you have a couple of quality players at a position, that’s always going to happen,” Romo said. “At the same point, it’s a long season. All I’m here to do is help this team win, whatever capacity that is.”

The easiest way for Romo to get into a game is if Bledsoe gets hurt, which appeared to be the case in the fourth quarter Sunday, when Bledsoe was throwing passes on the sideline to keep loose. He insisted Monday that his back is fine.

Bledsoe also insists he learned long ago to ignore whatever is being said about him, good or bad. He knows he can’t do anything about it until Sunday night.

“In this league and, really, probably just in life, how you respond to things defines who you are,” he said. “I’m looking forward. I’m preparing to play the next game. I’ve got plenty on my plate in terms of going out and competing with the Redskins and hoping to lead this team and get us where we want to go.”

And if he can’t, Parcells can always let Romo try.

AP-ES-09-11-06 1752EDT