Romo vs. Favre: Thursday's game is going to be fun

By Berry Tramel

Tony Romo kept his head a couple of games ago against the Redskins.

Cowboys led by five, late in the game, and Redskin defensive end Phillip Daniels grabbed Romo, who considered flinging a pass then thought better of it. Romo took the sack, the Dallas Cowboys punted and went on to victory.

Romo talked about his wise choice, then sort of grinned and came clean.

"I'm the last guy to talk about making the right choice when you're going down,” Romo said.

Not true. That distinction goes to the guy who comes to Texas Stadium on Thursday night for the NFC game of the year.

Brett Favre.

Dallas-Green Bay. This is going to be fun. In a league of robotic quarterbacks, a league where Tom Brady and Peyton Manning make one mistake a month, here comes Favre, the old gunslinger, and Romo, his protégé, quarterbacking the way Jerry Lee Lewis played the piano. The way Tony Stewart drives a car.

Romo is the new Favre. Quarterbacks who play the way we all did in the backyard. Quarterbacks who don't stay between the lines.

You Dallas fans, think back three games ago, at the Meadowlands against the Giants. Dallas touchdown No. 1 came off a Romo scramble, when he appeared ready to cross the line of scrimmage and take a slide, but at the last moment shot-putted a pass to Tony Curtis for a 15-yard touchdown.

Closest thing to a screwball I've seen on the gridiron. And pure Favre, who has quarterbacked his way into NFL lore and Wisconsin hearts with unconventional tactics. Favre has thrown 436 touchdown passes, some of them underhanded, many of them sidearmed and more than a few falling on his back.

Now comes Romo, Elisha to Favre's Elijah, quarterbacking the same way, throwing more than his share of dubious passes, but taking over a storied franchise.

Remember the Buffalo game in October. Romo threw four first-half interceptions and five overall but rallied the Cowboys to a most improbable victory. Pure Favre.

These guys play with a joy not seen in the button-down world of quarterbacks. How many times have we seen Favre, after a crucial touchdown pass, sprint all over the field with his arms raised, sometimes running backwards?

Now we see Romo furiously stepping onto the field, directing his defense as it sets up for a Hail Mary pass in the final seconds against the 'Skins.

Then after the game comes a boyish charm that makes you think for a second that these guys really haven't figured out they're still not on the sandlots of Burlington, Wisc., or Kiln, Miss.

Favre has taken the Packers on a wild adventure. Sixteen years he's quarterbacked Green Bay, to a Super Bowl title and two NFC championships and a thousand thrills. Over 60,000 yards and 719 combined interceptions or sacks, which ought to be a record if it's not.

Now here's Romo in year No. 2 of what already has been a rollercoaster ride. The hot October of 2006, the playoff push last December, the muffed hold in Seattle, the 10-1start in 2007.

And before Romo assumes the mantle of America's favorite quarterback, he takes the field against the old war horse from whom he well learned.

This is Dallas-Green Bay, two 10-1 teams, but homefield advantage and the Super Bowl's inside track take a back seat Thursday night to the quarterbacks.

Favre-Romo. This is going to be fun.