Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Former coach says Dallas Cowboys QB must protect football and money

By TODD ARCHER / The Dallas Morning News
tarcher@dallasnews.com

Before he left town last February after retiring from coaching, Bill Parcells met three times with Tony Romo to discuss the things he believed would help Romo be a successful quarterback.

When Parcells heard the news of Romo's six-year, $67.5 million contract extension, the former Dallas Cowboys coach had some more advice.

"Now Tony has two things to be careful with – the football and his money," Parcells said. "Both are equally hard to take care of and there's always someone out there trying to strip you of them. I hope he hangs on tight. The circus never stays in town forever."

From the moment the Cowboys signed Romo as an undrafted free agent in 2003 out of Eastern Illinois, Parcells saw something he liked and it was more than just physical ability. He always thought Romo could handle the bright lights of the position, but he did not want to break him in too early.

"We thought he had a chance," Parcells said. "He just needed fundamentals, discipline and an opportunity. When the opportunity came, he was ready. Hopefully it's onward and upward from here."