Romo keeps his focus on football
By JAIME ARON Associated Press
Published: 8/1/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 8/1/2009 5:21 AM
SAN ANTONIO — No Jessica Simpson, no Terrell Owens. Gee, how is Tony Romo going to get any attention now?
Oh, wait. He is still the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
"There's always something new around the corner," Romo said.
Going into his fourth season, Romo knows all about the spotlight that comes with it. He soaked up plenty of rewards for two seasons, but for the last nine months he's become a pinata, getting bashed for things real and perceived.
The downward spiral began in December with a 1-3 flop of a finish that kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs. Afterward, Romo said something about losing a football game not being the end of the world.
Romo's new reputation was summed up pretty well at a training camp kickoff party Tuesday night.
More than20,000 fans came. When Romo was announced, the majority gave him a nce ovation. But as the noise faded, another chorus began. Boos.
"It's just part of playing the position," Romo said. "As you get older, you start to realize that not everybody is going to like you. Not everybody is going want to root for you."
Starting a new season is a relief for Romo. His life is all about football now.
"I wish we practiced year-round," he said. "Practice is a lot of fun. It's enjoyable. You get to compete. We're out here twice a day. I talked to (Troy) Aikman this summer and we were talking about that some of the funnest times you have is on the practice field, getting better and enjoying the competition of it each day."
Aikman has said that he's talked to Romo about understanding the huge responsibility that comes with the role as the face of "America's Team."
It's something Romo has learned the hard way going back to the when he and Simpson went to Mexico the week before a playoff game that Dallas ended up losing.
Asked if he's grown up in the job, Romo said he'd like to think so — but he's not sure.
"When I was 25 I thought I was mature and I'm sure I wasn't," he said. "When I was 22 I thought I was mature, but I probably wasn't. I'm 29 now. I think I'm mature. Am I? I don't know. ...
"I'm still myself. There's not going to be anything that I'm going to change. I don't think you get to this position, you don't be successful, being someone you're not. The only way you can get better and continue to try and achieve your goals is just to keep going forward, keep plugging away. The secret is usually just hard work. You do that and you've got a chance."
Published: 8/1/2009 2:27 AM
Last Modified: 8/1/2009 5:21 AM
SAN ANTONIO — No Jessica Simpson, no Terrell Owens. Gee, how is Tony Romo going to get any attention now?
Oh, wait. He is still the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
"There's always something new around the corner," Romo said.
Going into his fourth season, Romo knows all about the spotlight that comes with it. He soaked up plenty of rewards for two seasons, but for the last nine months he's become a pinata, getting bashed for things real and perceived.
The downward spiral began in December with a 1-3 flop of a finish that kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs. Afterward, Romo said something about losing a football game not being the end of the world.
Romo's new reputation was summed up pretty well at a training camp kickoff party Tuesday night.
More than20,000 fans came. When Romo was announced, the majority gave him a nce ovation. But as the noise faded, another chorus began. Boos.
"It's just part of playing the position," Romo said. "As you get older, you start to realize that not everybody is going to like you. Not everybody is going want to root for you."
Starting a new season is a relief for Romo. His life is all about football now.
"I wish we practiced year-round," he said. "Practice is a lot of fun. It's enjoyable. You get to compete. We're out here twice a day. I talked to (Troy) Aikman this summer and we were talking about that some of the funnest times you have is on the practice field, getting better and enjoying the competition of it each day."
Aikman has said that he's talked to Romo about understanding the huge responsibility that comes with the role as the face of "America's Team."
It's something Romo has learned the hard way going back to the when he and Simpson went to Mexico the week before a playoff game that Dallas ended up losing.
Asked if he's grown up in the job, Romo said he'd like to think so — but he's not sure.
"When I was 25 I thought I was mature and I'm sure I wasn't," he said. "When I was 22 I thought I was mature, but I probably wasn't. I'm 29 now. I think I'm mature. Am I? I don't know. ...
"I'm still myself. There's not going to be anything that I'm going to change. I don't think you get to this position, you don't be successful, being someone you're not. The only way you can get better and continue to try and achieve your goals is just to keep going forward, keep plugging away. The secret is usually just hard work. You do that and you've got a chance."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:55 AM
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