Undoubtedly, Romo can't afford to drop the ball
By CLARENCE E. HILL JR.
Star-Telegram staff writer
Leave no doubt.
If Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had one mission for 2007 that would be it.
While there is no shortage of Romo backers after a fairy-tale 2006 season in which he came out of nowhere to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs, questions remain.
Even by his most ardent supporters.
Certainly Romo's performance in just 10 regular-season starts last year was enough to wake up the echoes of the great Cowboys quarterbacks of yesteryear and get long-suffering fans believing they had another superstar in the making.
The sentiment is even stronger inside the walls of the Cowboys' Valley Ranch training complex.
From his teammates to new coach Wade Phillip and his staff to owner Jerry Jones, everyone believes Romo has the stuff to be the answer at quarterback.
They believe it because of Romo's work ethic on the practice field and in meeting rooms. And not just last season, when he replaced Drew Bledsoe in the starting lineup, but back to when he joined the team in 2003 as an unknown, undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois.
He has moxie. He has an air of confidence. He has natural leadership skills in addition to the physical tools that all great ones possess.
But ask the Cowboys if they know for sure if they can count on Romo heading into today's season opener against the New York Giants and then comes a pause.
"I don't want to say it's assured he will be a perennial All-Pro," Jones said. "I can't see that. I don't see it. I've got the suspicion he is going to be playing at the level and playing at that level from this point forward. I have seen enough to be positive about it. But I wouldn't say we are totally home free when it comes to our quarterback spot."
Into the spotlight
Jones believes the Cowboys have the makings of a Super Bowl team. He admits that Romo's play is crucial to a special season. The Cowboys are steeped in tradition and America's Team popularity, thanks to five Super Bowl titles. But the Cowboys have only one playoff win since their last title in the 1995 season and none over the past 10 seasons.
Blame abounds for the Cowboys' decade of failure, from bad players to bad coaching and bad personnel decisions by Jones. The Cowboys have had mostly poor quarterback play since Troy Aikman's departure after the 2000 season. Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Clint Stoerner, Ryan Leaf, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe each had chances to lead the Cowboys before Romo got his chance at halftime of an Oct. 23 meeting against the Giants last season.
"I am in at halftime like I normally do and [quarterbacks coach Chris] Palmer comes over and says, 'Romo, you are in,'" Romo said. "He says it kind of mad."
"You go and try to do the best you can. A blur is a good word, because I was kind of thrown out there."
Romo's first pass -- an interception by Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce -- and two more interceptions in a 36-22 loss were no indication of the magic to come.
The Cowboys won four of their next five games, with Romo throwing 10 touchdowns and two interceptions and posting a 115.6 passer rating.
But Romo's numbers declined over the final five games. He had six touchdowns, seven fumbles and eight interceptions and a passer rating of 77.4.
Still, Jones says he has seen enough to be convinced that the Cowboys are in better shape at quarterback than at any time since Aikman's exit.
But to Jones, it's not about being better than Carter or Bledsoe. It's about being the right quarterback for the Cowboys for the foreseeable future.
Jones said Romo has taken steps to improve, but the Cowboys owner doesn't deny he needs confirmation.
That is evident in Jones' attitude toward a contract extension for Romo, whose contact expires after this season. The Cowboys hoped to get something done before the season, but obviously that's changed.
"I have had more success in my life overpaying for quality than underpaying and taking risk," Jones said. "What that means is you will make a sounder decision the more you know. You may pay more, but you make a sounder decision and possibly a better decision. And when he does have some good performances, it will be readily apparent, then I will be able to make a more assured statement. And the statement is the check."
Skeptics still remain
Considering the money that could be on the table for Romo, the pressure is immense. Romo, who will earn $1.5 million in 2007, is looking at contract numbers between $48 million and $62 million over the next six years.
But for Romo, it's more than about the money. It's about proving that he belongs and that he should be trusted with the Cowboys' future.
"It is not something we worry about because we have seen him in practice and we believe in him," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "But he definitely has something to prove. He has to prove that last year didn't just happen and that he wasn't just a one-time wonder."
Said receiver Terrell Owens: "Last year he made the Pro Bowl. This year, he wants to make it legitimately. We want to help him do that."
Listen to Romo and he will say he was selected legitimately last season. But he also knows that his underdog story and how he ended last season -- botching a snap on a potential game-winning field goal in the playoffs against Seattle -- fostered a number of doubters. Critics say he is too careless with the ball, he doesn't manage a game well, and he gets rattled by the blitz.
"He is not satisfied with what he did. He keeps working to be great," tight end Jason Witten said. "Nothing has been given to him."
Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson have made a point of working with Romo on ball security and understanding the importance of not making a bad play.
"I know by some of things I am doing I am a better quarterback," Romo said. "I can tell that by feel. I am improved. I am better. I feel pretty confident. But you have to go out and prove it."
And leave no doubt.
Star-Telegram staff writer
Leave no doubt.
If Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had one mission for 2007 that would be it.
While there is no shortage of Romo backers after a fairy-tale 2006 season in which he came out of nowhere to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs, questions remain.
Even by his most ardent supporters.
Certainly Romo's performance in just 10 regular-season starts last year was enough to wake up the echoes of the great Cowboys quarterbacks of yesteryear and get long-suffering fans believing they had another superstar in the making.
The sentiment is even stronger inside the walls of the Cowboys' Valley Ranch training complex.
From his teammates to new coach Wade Phillip and his staff to owner Jerry Jones, everyone believes Romo has the stuff to be the answer at quarterback.
They believe it because of Romo's work ethic on the practice field and in meeting rooms. And not just last season, when he replaced Drew Bledsoe in the starting lineup, but back to when he joined the team in 2003 as an unknown, undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois.
He has moxie. He has an air of confidence. He has natural leadership skills in addition to the physical tools that all great ones possess.
But ask the Cowboys if they know for sure if they can count on Romo heading into today's season opener against the New York Giants and then comes a pause.
"I don't want to say it's assured he will be a perennial All-Pro," Jones said. "I can't see that. I don't see it. I've got the suspicion he is going to be playing at the level and playing at that level from this point forward. I have seen enough to be positive about it. But I wouldn't say we are totally home free when it comes to our quarterback spot."
Into the spotlight
Jones believes the Cowboys have the makings of a Super Bowl team. He admits that Romo's play is crucial to a special season. The Cowboys are steeped in tradition and America's Team popularity, thanks to five Super Bowl titles. But the Cowboys have only one playoff win since their last title in the 1995 season and none over the past 10 seasons.
Blame abounds for the Cowboys' decade of failure, from bad players to bad coaching and bad personnel decisions by Jones. The Cowboys have had mostly poor quarterback play since Troy Aikman's departure after the 2000 season. Quincy Carter, Anthony Wright, Clint Stoerner, Ryan Leaf, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe each had chances to lead the Cowboys before Romo got his chance at halftime of an Oct. 23 meeting against the Giants last season.
"I am in at halftime like I normally do and [quarterbacks coach Chris] Palmer comes over and says, 'Romo, you are in,'" Romo said. "He says it kind of mad."
"You go and try to do the best you can. A blur is a good word, because I was kind of thrown out there."
Romo's first pass -- an interception by Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce -- and two more interceptions in a 36-22 loss were no indication of the magic to come.
The Cowboys won four of their next five games, with Romo throwing 10 touchdowns and two interceptions and posting a 115.6 passer rating.
But Romo's numbers declined over the final five games. He had six touchdowns, seven fumbles and eight interceptions and a passer rating of 77.4.
Still, Jones says he has seen enough to be convinced that the Cowboys are in better shape at quarterback than at any time since Aikman's exit.
But to Jones, it's not about being better than Carter or Bledsoe. It's about being the right quarterback for the Cowboys for the foreseeable future.
Jones said Romo has taken steps to improve, but the Cowboys owner doesn't deny he needs confirmation.
That is evident in Jones' attitude toward a contract extension for Romo, whose contact expires after this season. The Cowboys hoped to get something done before the season, but obviously that's changed.
"I have had more success in my life overpaying for quality than underpaying and taking risk," Jones said. "What that means is you will make a sounder decision the more you know. You may pay more, but you make a sounder decision and possibly a better decision. And when he does have some good performances, it will be readily apparent, then I will be able to make a more assured statement. And the statement is the check."
Skeptics still remain
Considering the money that could be on the table for Romo, the pressure is immense. Romo, who will earn $1.5 million in 2007, is looking at contract numbers between $48 million and $62 million over the next six years.
But for Romo, it's more than about the money. It's about proving that he belongs and that he should be trusted with the Cowboys' future.
"It is not something we worry about because we have seen him in practice and we believe in him," receiver Patrick Crayton said. "But he definitely has something to prove. He has to prove that last year didn't just happen and that he wasn't just a one-time wonder."
Said receiver Terrell Owens: "Last year he made the Pro Bowl. This year, he wants to make it legitimately. We want to help him do that."
Listen to Romo and he will say he was selected legitimately last season. But he also knows that his underdog story and how he ended last season -- botching a snap on a potential game-winning field goal in the playoffs against Seattle -- fostered a number of doubters. Critics say he is too careless with the ball, he doesn't manage a game well, and he gets rattled by the blitz.
"He is not satisfied with what he did. He keeps working to be great," tight end Jason Witten said. "Nothing has been given to him."
Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson have made a point of working with Romo on ball security and understanding the importance of not making a bad play.
"I know by some of things I am doing I am a better quarterback," Romo said. "I can tell that by feel. I am improved. I am better. I feel pretty confident. But you have to go out and prove it."
And leave no doubt.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:33 AM
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