NO LEADER
by CEDRIC GOLDEN AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF , Austin American-Statesman
Tony Romo is saying all the right things these days.
Amid a flurry of criticism in the month since the Dallas Cowboys' humbling in Philadelphia, the quarterback is promising to rededicate himself to his craft and take a more active leadership role in the locker room.
Therein lies the problem.
Romo's not a leader. Never has been. Never will be.
In the NFL, you're judged on your actions, not your words, and Romo's actions the last two seasons suggest he isn't the type capable of putting a team on his back and carrying it to a Super Bowl.
Leaders don't develop. They are born. It's something in the DNA. You either have it, or you don't. After showing little interest in leadership his first couple of seasons, Romo is talking about becoming a better leader now. In this case, talk isn't cheap - Romo signed a $67.5 million contract extension during the season - but it's still just talk.
"I'm definitely going to take a more active approach with that as we move forward from last year to this season,'' Romo told The Dallas Morning News, an apparent reaction to the candid comments of Cowboys legend Troy Aikman, who told former Dallas teammate-turned-radio host Michael Irvin that Romo hasn't fully grasped what being a Cowboys quarterback is all about. That included an ill-fated decision to vacation in Cabo a week before a playoff game in 2007.
He's singing a different tune from the one he sang after the 44-6 drubbing at Philadelphia, which dropped his career record as a starter in December to 5-8. Minutes after his team collapsed on the field, he collapsed in the shower from a rib injury, then offered this explanation of how he dealt with the loss:
"If this is the worst thing that ever happens to me," Romo said, "then I'll have lived a pretty good life."
He might as well have been one of those talentless clowns who audition for "American Idol." It was comical and hurt the ears.
That's what separates Romo from guys such as Aikman, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. They live the game. Losses eat at their intestines for entire offseasons. Romo's comments suggested he was already over the loss.
Aikman offered up no excuses when the Cowboys went 1-15 with him as the starter. And he didn't morph into a superhero when the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls. He was the same hard-playing, accountable dude during good times and bad times. Romo's not Aikman. Not even close. And while it's probably not fair to compare the two, Romo opened up the door when he played the leadership card.
Even a defensive player like Ray Lewis, who had off-field problems early in his career, is 10 times the leader Romo is. He doesn't have to make any pronouncements about leadership, because his actions make it clear who's running things in the Baltimore Ravens' locker room.
You rarely see a Ravens player anonymously throwing a teammate or coach under the bus to the media like you've seen in Dallas. It doesn't happen because that player would get his tail kicked (or worse) by Lewis if he was found out.
Romo should do himself a favor and not allow his mouth to write a check that his laid-back demeanor can't cash. Here's what he can do. He can practice harder. He can cut down on the turnovers and allow his defense to dictate games when he's struggling. He can appear more interested when his team is losing, because his body language during some losses was that of a kid who had just lost his dog, as opposed to his giddy, Little League smile during the good times.
And the next time Dallas has a first-round bye in the postseason - if there is a next time - he can save the beach combing with Jessica Simpson for later and show up at Valley Ranch with the look of a focused quarterback intent on a win.
If Romo improves in all of those areas, it will make him a much better Football player, and the Cowboys will end up a much better Football team.
But it still won't make him a leader.
Tony Romo is saying all the right things these days.
Amid a flurry of criticism in the month since the Dallas Cowboys' humbling in Philadelphia, the quarterback is promising to rededicate himself to his craft and take a more active leadership role in the locker room.
Therein lies the problem.
Romo's not a leader. Never has been. Never will be.
In the NFL, you're judged on your actions, not your words, and Romo's actions the last two seasons suggest he isn't the type capable of putting a team on his back and carrying it to a Super Bowl.
Leaders don't develop. They are born. It's something in the DNA. You either have it, or you don't. After showing little interest in leadership his first couple of seasons, Romo is talking about becoming a better leader now. In this case, talk isn't cheap - Romo signed a $67.5 million contract extension during the season - but it's still just talk.
"I'm definitely going to take a more active approach with that as we move forward from last year to this season,'' Romo told The Dallas Morning News, an apparent reaction to the candid comments of Cowboys legend Troy Aikman, who told former Dallas teammate-turned-radio host Michael Irvin that Romo hasn't fully grasped what being a Cowboys quarterback is all about. That included an ill-fated decision to vacation in Cabo a week before a playoff game in 2007.
He's singing a different tune from the one he sang after the 44-6 drubbing at Philadelphia, which dropped his career record as a starter in December to 5-8. Minutes after his team collapsed on the field, he collapsed in the shower from a rib injury, then offered this explanation of how he dealt with the loss:
"If this is the worst thing that ever happens to me," Romo said, "then I'll have lived a pretty good life."
He might as well have been one of those talentless clowns who audition for "American Idol." It was comical and hurt the ears.
That's what separates Romo from guys such as Aikman, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. They live the game. Losses eat at their intestines for entire offseasons. Romo's comments suggested he was already over the loss.
Aikman offered up no excuses when the Cowboys went 1-15 with him as the starter. And he didn't morph into a superhero when the Cowboys were winning Super Bowls. He was the same hard-playing, accountable dude during good times and bad times. Romo's not Aikman. Not even close. And while it's probably not fair to compare the two, Romo opened up the door when he played the leadership card.
Even a defensive player like Ray Lewis, who had off-field problems early in his career, is 10 times the leader Romo is. He doesn't have to make any pronouncements about leadership, because his actions make it clear who's running things in the Baltimore Ravens' locker room.
You rarely see a Ravens player anonymously throwing a teammate or coach under the bus to the media like you've seen in Dallas. It doesn't happen because that player would get his tail kicked (or worse) by Lewis if he was found out.
Romo should do himself a favor and not allow his mouth to write a check that his laid-back demeanor can't cash. Here's what he can do. He can practice harder. He can cut down on the turnovers and allow his defense to dictate games when he's struggling. He can appear more interested when his team is losing, because his body language during some losses was that of a kid who had just lost his dog, as opposed to his giddy, Little League smile during the good times.
And the next time Dallas has a first-round bye in the postseason - if there is a next time - he can save the beach combing with Jessica Simpson for later and show up at Valley Ranch with the look of a focused quarterback intent on a win.
If Romo improves in all of those areas, it will make him a much better Football player, and the Cowboys will end up a much better Football team.
But it still won't make him a leader.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:01 AM
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