Romo: Jones will find right coach
Associated Press
KAPOLEI, Hawaii -- Though the Pro Bowl is usually short on drama, there's a good reason to watch until the end this year: Tony Romo will be holding for the NFC's kicks.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback gets his first chance Saturday to play after his infamous playoff flub on a short field goal late in the Cowboys' loss at Seattle. From that moment, Romo couldn't wait to get back on the field -- and he's been all smiles at practice this week, soaking up the sunshine and his new teammates.
"It's always good to get that taste out of your mouth," he said. "You've got to move on. Eventually you've got to get on and get ready for the next season, and that's what I'm doing."
And while the Cowboys anxiously wait to hear who will replace coach Bill Parcells, their Pro Bowl players feel confident with whomever owner Jerry Jones hires.
Indianapolis quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell became the 10th and likely last candidate to interview for the job vacated when Parcells announced his retirement last month after 19 years in the NFL. Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was interviewed by Jones on Tuesday.
San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who called plays for Dallas' Super Bowl teams in 1992 and 1993, is considered the front-runner to become the seventh coach in Cowboys history.
"I'm not sure who it's going to be. I'll be ready with whoever," Romo said. "Jerry will pick a good guy."
Romo said he doesn't favor one coach over another. He wouldn't even say if he preferred Turner over Rivera, saying, "I'm good either way."
Punter Mat McBriar, one of seven Cowboys selected to Saturday's Pro Bowl after the last-minute addition of center Andre Gurode, said he's certain the person hired will do a good job with all the talent on the team.
"We've just about got all the pieces," McBriar said. "We made the playoffs, but we didn't do anything and that was disappointing, so I know all the guys are hungry. It's a big decision whoever they choose, but they'll make a good run."
McBriar said many players were "sort of shocked" that Parcells decided to retire.
"I really thought he'd come back and help us along, because we really have quite a team," he said. "We just sort of underachieved a little."
The Cowboys started 8-4 with a two-game lead in the NFC East before losing four of their last five, including the final three, culminating with a playoff loss in Seattle when Romo couldn't place the snap. Romo was devastated, sitting near the goal line of Qwest Field, chin buried in his chest and his hands covering his facemask.
But Romo is making his first Pro Bowl appearance after taking over for Drew Bledsoe in late October and passing for 2,903 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
"It's just fun. It's good to meet the guys, hang out and have your peers tell you that you're a pretty decent player," he said.
McBriar, who led the NFL in punting with a 48.2-yard average, is also making his Pro Bowl debut -- and a homecoming of sorts. The former University of Hawaii standout is probably the only punter in Pro Bowl history to be interviewed by a pack of reporters.
He said he feels "blessed," with how his career has turned out considering he never played football until he got to Hawaii. The only exposure to football he had as a child in Australia was when his parents brought a football home from the United States.
"I'm just so blessed," he said. "I don't know what I've done right. It's so cool."
McBriar said he plans to golf, bodyboard, see friends and hit the old college hangouts he used to frequent, such as a musty pizza joint along University Avenue.
He also has tour guide duty this week for his teammates, including Romo, offensive tackle Flozell Adams, tight end Jason Witten, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and safety Roy Williams.
"Bring it on. I'll definitely take the guys and show them around," he said.
KAPOLEI, Hawaii -- Though the Pro Bowl is usually short on drama, there's a good reason to watch until the end this year: Tony Romo will be holding for the NFC's kicks.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback gets his first chance Saturday to play after his infamous playoff flub on a short field goal late in the Cowboys' loss at Seattle. From that moment, Romo couldn't wait to get back on the field -- and he's been all smiles at practice this week, soaking up the sunshine and his new teammates.
"It's always good to get that taste out of your mouth," he said. "You've got to move on. Eventually you've got to get on and get ready for the next season, and that's what I'm doing."
And while the Cowboys anxiously wait to hear who will replace coach Bill Parcells, their Pro Bowl players feel confident with whomever owner Jerry Jones hires.
Indianapolis quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell became the 10th and likely last candidate to interview for the job vacated when Parcells announced his retirement last month after 19 years in the NFL. Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera was interviewed by Jones on Tuesday.
San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who called plays for Dallas' Super Bowl teams in 1992 and 1993, is considered the front-runner to become the seventh coach in Cowboys history.
"I'm not sure who it's going to be. I'll be ready with whoever," Romo said. "Jerry will pick a good guy."
Romo said he doesn't favor one coach over another. He wouldn't even say if he preferred Turner over Rivera, saying, "I'm good either way."
Punter Mat McBriar, one of seven Cowboys selected to Saturday's Pro Bowl after the last-minute addition of center Andre Gurode, said he's certain the person hired will do a good job with all the talent on the team.
"We've just about got all the pieces," McBriar said. "We made the playoffs, but we didn't do anything and that was disappointing, so I know all the guys are hungry. It's a big decision whoever they choose, but they'll make a good run."
McBriar said many players were "sort of shocked" that Parcells decided to retire.
"I really thought he'd come back and help us along, because we really have quite a team," he said. "We just sort of underachieved a little."
The Cowboys started 8-4 with a two-game lead in the NFC East before losing four of their last five, including the final three, culminating with a playoff loss in Seattle when Romo couldn't place the snap. Romo was devastated, sitting near the goal line of Qwest Field, chin buried in his chest and his hands covering his facemask.
But Romo is making his first Pro Bowl appearance after taking over for Drew Bledsoe in late October and passing for 2,903 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
"It's just fun. It's good to meet the guys, hang out and have your peers tell you that you're a pretty decent player," he said.
McBriar, who led the NFL in punting with a 48.2-yard average, is also making his Pro Bowl debut -- and a homecoming of sorts. The former University of Hawaii standout is probably the only punter in Pro Bowl history to be interviewed by a pack of reporters.
He said he feels "blessed," with how his career has turned out considering he never played football until he got to Hawaii. The only exposure to football he had as a child in Australia was when his parents brought a football home from the United States.
"I'm just so blessed," he said. "I don't know what I've done right. It's so cool."
McBriar said he plans to golf, bodyboard, see friends and hit the old college hangouts he used to frequent, such as a musty pizza joint along University Avenue.
He also has tour guide duty this week for his teammates, including Romo, offensive tackle Flozell Adams, tight end Jason Witten, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and safety Roy Williams.
"Bring it on. I'll definitely take the guys and show them around," he said.
posted by The Gryphon at 8:03 PM
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