Romo's focus is where it needs to be
Adam Schein
FOXSports.com
OK. Let's get a few things out of the way right now.
Tony Romo, who has been spotted in US Weekly more than Sports Illustrated this off-season, never puts anything before football.
Romo, in the final year of his contract, deserves a freshly minted mega-buck deal.
And for Keyshawn Johnson to call Romo the "most overhyped player in the league" is absolutely absurd.
Let's go piece by piece.
For anyone to write or say that Romo's celebrity is "out of control", as was written in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram while I was honeymooning, is just, well, foolish.
It isn't as if Romo is missing practice to have lunch at The Ivy. Let's get a grip here.
In fact, in his first off-season as the Cowboys starting quarterback, Romo, always a football gym rat who Bill Parcells first fell in love with because of his work ethic, has never worked harder.
Poll
And when you talk to the Cowboys players this offseason, they gush about their quarterback. Bradie James tells us that you see Romo working longer hours as new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tries to install a game plan featuring more of a West Coast Offense. And James reveals that the signal caller has looked razor sharp in that new offense.
Marc Colombo says that Romo's confidence and work ethic are contagious. Julius Jones reports that you absolutely see a different Romo in minicamps this year, one who walks and talks and practices with the responsibility and moxie of being the quarterback and leader in Dallas. Marcus Spears says the entire team takes its lead from Romo, and he's the player to lead Dallas back to the Super Bowl.
Yeah, judging a Miss Universe pageant (PHOTOS) on an off day in the off-season will come back to hurt the Cowboys when they take on the Eagles in the regular season.
And escorting Carrie Underwood (PHOTOS) to the Country Music Awards on an off day in the offseason is going to hurt Romo's timing with Terry Glenn.
Stop the insanity.
Romo is a good-looking, 27-year-old starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. That's the organization known in circles as America's Team last time I checked. Of course he is going to get attention, just like you would if you were the center for the Lakers or the Yankees' center fielder. And owner Jerry Jones knows, and endorses, the type of fame and publicity that comes with playing the position of quarterback for his ball club.
But trust me — and his teammates: Romo's blinders are on. His focus is on a Super Bowl.
The Dallas Cowboys are rightly thinking grand thoughts for the 2007 season and Romo's practice, play, leadership and development are main reasons why.
And that leads us to Romo's contract, which expires after the season.
The quarterback talking about getting a deal done made headlines yesterday, as it should. After all, he is the Cowboys quarterback.
And Jerry Jones will pay him before the start of the regular season, even more likely before the start of training camp.
Some argue there is risk involved in giving Romo, a career back-up before last season, a long-term financial commitment.
Except that Jones and Wade Phillips have already given Romo the commitment on the field. They didn't draft Brady Quinn. They didn't trade for Josh McCown to compete. This is Tony Romo's team. And after what he did last season and after looking into the crystal ball and believing Romo will only get better and throw fewer interceptions in 2007 and beyond, it's the smart play. It's the only play.
Now, it's Jones' turn to pay him accordingly. It's Jones' time to pay him like the quarterback he is and envisions Romo to be, the one who brings the Super Bowl back to Dallas. And Jones knows that Matt Schaub's contract in Houston (6 years, $48 million) is the starting point.
As far as Keyshawn calling Romo over-hyped, you need perspective there. Sure, Romo making the Pro Bowl was a stretch last year. But who else deserved it in the NFC? Once Donovan McNabb got hurt, there truly was no other legit option after the rightful selections of Drew Brees and Marc Bulger. Romo had a clutch and winning 2006 season, his first as a starter. He saved the Cowboys' season last year. That's not hyperbole. That's fact.
Now he finally gets his chance for 16 games and likely beyond into the playoffs.
And he's ready, regardless of how many beauty contests he judges.
FOXSports.com
OK. Let's get a few things out of the way right now.
Tony Romo, who has been spotted in US Weekly more than Sports Illustrated this off-season, never puts anything before football.
Romo, in the final year of his contract, deserves a freshly minted mega-buck deal.
And for Keyshawn Johnson to call Romo the "most overhyped player in the league" is absolutely absurd.
Let's go piece by piece.
For anyone to write or say that Romo's celebrity is "out of control", as was written in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram while I was honeymooning, is just, well, foolish.
It isn't as if Romo is missing practice to have lunch at The Ivy. Let's get a grip here.
In fact, in his first off-season as the Cowboys starting quarterback, Romo, always a football gym rat who Bill Parcells first fell in love with because of his work ethic, has never worked harder.
Poll
And when you talk to the Cowboys players this offseason, they gush about their quarterback. Bradie James tells us that you see Romo working longer hours as new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tries to install a game plan featuring more of a West Coast Offense. And James reveals that the signal caller has looked razor sharp in that new offense.
Marc Colombo says that Romo's confidence and work ethic are contagious. Julius Jones reports that you absolutely see a different Romo in minicamps this year, one who walks and talks and practices with the responsibility and moxie of being the quarterback and leader in Dallas. Marcus Spears says the entire team takes its lead from Romo, and he's the player to lead Dallas back to the Super Bowl.
Yeah, judging a Miss Universe pageant (PHOTOS) on an off day in the off-season will come back to hurt the Cowboys when they take on the Eagles in the regular season.
And escorting Carrie Underwood (PHOTOS) to the Country Music Awards on an off day in the offseason is going to hurt Romo's timing with Terry Glenn.
Stop the insanity.
Romo is a good-looking, 27-year-old starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. That's the organization known in circles as America's Team last time I checked. Of course he is going to get attention, just like you would if you were the center for the Lakers or the Yankees' center fielder. And owner Jerry Jones knows, and endorses, the type of fame and publicity that comes with playing the position of quarterback for his ball club.
But trust me — and his teammates: Romo's blinders are on. His focus is on a Super Bowl.
The Dallas Cowboys are rightly thinking grand thoughts for the 2007 season and Romo's practice, play, leadership and development are main reasons why.
And that leads us to Romo's contract, which expires after the season.
The quarterback talking about getting a deal done made headlines yesterday, as it should. After all, he is the Cowboys quarterback.
And Jerry Jones will pay him before the start of the regular season, even more likely before the start of training camp.
Some argue there is risk involved in giving Romo, a career back-up before last season, a long-term financial commitment.
Except that Jones and Wade Phillips have already given Romo the commitment on the field. They didn't draft Brady Quinn. They didn't trade for Josh McCown to compete. This is Tony Romo's team. And after what he did last season and after looking into the crystal ball and believing Romo will only get better and throw fewer interceptions in 2007 and beyond, it's the smart play. It's the only play.
Now, it's Jones' turn to pay him accordingly. It's Jones' time to pay him like the quarterback he is and envisions Romo to be, the one who brings the Super Bowl back to Dallas. And Jones knows that Matt Schaub's contract in Houston (6 years, $48 million) is the starting point.
As far as Keyshawn calling Romo over-hyped, you need perspective there. Sure, Romo making the Pro Bowl was a stretch last year. But who else deserved it in the NFC? Once Donovan McNabb got hurt, there truly was no other legit option after the rightful selections of Drew Brees and Marc Bulger. Romo had a clutch and winning 2006 season, his first as a starter. He saved the Cowboys' season last year. That's not hyperbole. That's fact.
Now he finally gets his chance for 16 games and likely beyond into the playoffs.
And he's ready, regardless of how many beauty contests he judges.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:22 PM
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