The amazing thing about Terrell Owens' crying jag in front of the media isn't so much that he did it, but rather that he showed some empathy for someone other than, well, Terrell Owens. For a man almost universally believed to be in love with himself, this was an incredible display, one which I'm pretty sure signals the impending apocalypse.
If so, we could all be running out of time, but before I begin attempting to explain to my maker my reasoning for all of the missteps I've made over the last 48 years, let's get something straight.
Tony Romo was stupid to go to Cabo with Jessica Simpson for a few days during the Cowboys bye week, but not because it had anything whatsoever to do with Dallas losing that game to the New York Giants. Players routinely scatter to all corners of the country when given time off by the coaching staff and nobody was the least bit concerned about where, say, Terence Newman went on his off days and who he spent time with.
But as the quarterback for America's Team, Romo had to understand he would be held to a different standard if Dallas did not win a home playoff game against the Giants, a team they had beaten twice already this season.
The notoriety that comes with his position is a double-edged sword. The same recognition and hero-worship that allows him to get Hollywood cuties like Simpson and Carrie Underwood with barely more than a snap of the fingers makes him the Number One Target of the fans' venom when that Hollywood ending everyone is expecting does not materialize.
If Romo had spent his time off in his apartment manipulating his joystick playing Madden 2008, no one would now be questioning his judgment, at least not his off-field judgment.
But here's the thing people should remember about Tony Romo: He's a second-year starter in the NFL, where it often takes quarterbacks years to gain the experience necessary to win in the postseason. Sure there are exceptions like Tom Brady, but it's not at all unusual for even future Hall of Famers to struggle in their first few playoff appearances.
Here are Romo's numbers for his first two playoff appearances, both losses:
You could play this game all day, but the point is this. Each of the above-mentioned quarterbacks eventually made it to a Super Bowl, with Elway winning two and Simms one. Marino lost in his only Super Bowl appearance but is widely and rightly regarded as one of the best quarterbacks ever. But the numbers for all of these greats indicate an inconsistency that should be expected from a relatively inexperienced quarterback.
So T.O. can cry all he wants, as can Cowboy fans everywhere, but maybe you should hold off on passing judgement on Tony Romo. He is only two games into what should be a long playoff career. He may or may not eventually become what people seem to think he is right now, someone who can't win the big one, but it is simply too early to make that kind of determination.
Romo seems to have the skill set necessary to compete on a par with those other legendary QBs you mentioned, HB. I think in time he'll develope the poise to handle himself in that way, maybe even off the field too. Beating the same team three times in one season is very, very tough. If Jason Garrett stays on as the OC, then the Cowboys future looks bright, but if he gets hired away to another team as a head coach and Wade Phillips is left to his own devices, then they are probably relegated to a middle of the pack team. Remember, Jerry Jones hired Garrett before he hired Phillips, so obviously HE wanted Garrett, and his offensive scheme produced Romo's great season. Romo will mature. He just needs time. Nice post.
Hi Lion and thanks. I wonder if Jerry Jones is giving any thought to beating those other teams to the punch and offering Garrett the job in Dallas? To me, Wade Phillips never really represented more than a temporary solution anyway, and if the Cowboys are that high on Garrett, might they try to get the jump on everyone else and hire him themselves?
There is a risk in doing that. Back when Butch Hobson was considered the up-and-coming young manager of the Red Sox farm system, the old management regime was worried about someone hiring him away, so they gave him the job in Boston and he was a disaster, but if the Cowboys feel Jason Garrett is really ready, it might be a chance they're willing to take, and losing at home to New York would certainly be reason enough to let Phillips go if they so chose....
Hi Degraff, that is so true. I'm not sure even T.O. listens to what T.O. is saying half the time, but if he did, he would know how ridiculous that statement is. Unless of course, by "Having his QB's back," he means sticking a knife in it....
According to Greenspire the Ravens are planning to speak to Garrett about the HC job there. Jones should poney up whatever he has to keep Garrett and I agree with you about Phillips, his record as a head coach, especially in the playoffs (see last Sunday's game) is just not good.
hb; i think the whole t.o. going vermeil on camera just may have been another well planned stunt to draw attention. calling out qbs, the work outs in the driveway,even the fake suicide. paris and britney should take notes, this guys good...
as for comparing romo to some of the games greatest? i dont care what the numbers say, youve just opened yourself up for critcism that shall rain down upon you by the masses in an endless wave that no mortal blogger could possibly survive.
or not, i dont know?
Lion, the guy's a hot commodity, which is why I wonder if the Cowboys won't just take the plunge. It really wouldn't be fair to Phillips, but it's a dog eat dog world out there, and to quote a character from one of the greatest comedy series ever made, "he's wearing Milk Bone underwear."
Stopbeingdumb, thanks for reading and for the comment. "Self-absorbed ####" is a pretty good little three-word description. I'm not sure I feel sorry for him, only because I think he got what he wanted out of the sad display, which is some attention....
Blu@Orange, we're on the same page as far as T.O. is concerned. the whole crying routine is just a way to get the last real nugget of media attention now that the Cowboys season is over.
Interesting point about me opening myself up for an endless wave of criticism. I actually kind of like that description and it's not like I haven't done it before.
Oddly enough, it usually happens when I post something that seems to me to be relatively non-threatening, so I guess I'm not a very good judge of that sort of thing.
Anyway, I'm ready folks....bring it on if you must!
Last edited by HalfBaked on January 15th at 6:40 PM.
I know Tony's got a long way to go towards becoming like the QBs you mentioned. The thing that bothers me is that HE doesnt know that. He has this aw shucks kind of attitude and always seems to take everything so lightly. The results-downward spiral after the GB game. Post game interviews always showed him giggling and making little cute jokes. Post game interview on Sunday showed a very humbled Romo. One wouldve thought that the season ending debacle last season wouldve done the trick. But low and behold, he came back out this season like the super star he imagines himself to be.
Maybe next season he will take his job more seriously.
SandraDee, very well put. This is a guy who has it all, at least in terms of his contract, but until fans of the Cowboys believe he's taking things as seriously as they do, he's going to have problems, and that's why I believe he made a mistake in going to Cabo during the bye week....
Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment....
Up late. Still cryin' in my beer. Long-time Dallas resident and fan. Still cryin' over the Ice-bowl if you want to know the truth.
T.O. - don't need him. I would like to review the tapes this year to see how many tough catches he made. You have to lay it in juuuuuuust right for him to catch it. He's soft.
Romo - he's young, he'll mature and figure out his responsibility to the fans of Dallas. I don't like his flipant style right now. HUGE mistake going somewhere so public with SOMEONE so public. The whole team lacked focus (penalties, drops, giving up on routes, etc.) and he's the leader. The Packers were certainly focused.
Garrett - he'll be on his way to the Ravens tommorrow. That's OK. Let him learn how to be a head coach with them, then we'll bring him back home when he's ready.
Crayton - just keep running the route and none of this even matters!!!
Cabo Romo proves you can be average and get into the ProBowl. Can we have and AverageBowl in Cabo San Lucas Mexico? Only rule you must have proven you like to party before big games.
I think Romo is going to be just fine. He's young still as we all know, and he obviously has a labido. I doubt much "partying" took place on his little vacation!
I guess he needs to take advice from Rocky's coach, "Women weaken legs!"
Seriously, I expect him to be who he is, and with experiance, who he is will be someone associated with winning.
Romo coud definitely be mentioned among those greats, if he can learn from this year's mistakes and his nonchalant demeanor. He can easily repeat another great perfomance next year.
But you can say the same for Philip Rivers, since this is his second year as a starter and has 2 playoff wins under his belt. But he won't get much praise for it because of his big mouth and punkish attitude towards fans and opposing players. As a Chargers fan I have to accept his behavior and support him as my team's QB. He definitely needs to mature and hold himself to a higher standard.
T.O- I was more in awe, than embarrased for him, but I was also ready to laugh, because I was waiting for him to say, 'He's(Romo) my ambassador of Kwan'. I was totally reminded of Cuba Gooding, Jr in 'Jerry McGuire. If he was sincere or insincere, it was genius, maybe even comedic.
Dank1, it's nice to see someone else up this late. But I'm in Kenya and it's 11:40am Wednesday. No riots or killing where I'm at, but then again I'm closer to the Somali border.
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To Romo's credit he didn't seem distracted and didn't play that badly, they had chances to win but came up short because of some bad throws by him. I think the vacation was blown out of proportion but that's the price you pay when you're in the public eye so I don't feel sorry for any criticizing that goes on since it comes with the territory. He's a good QB, I'll admit but I think Cowboy fans should hold off on the "Savior of Dallas" sticker they sometimes put on him.
Last edited by NEFan4Life on January 16th at 7:01 AM.
HB, you make some excellent points as always. However, being a lifelong Cowboy fan, there is a standard you have to include, and that's the benchmark set by Troy Aikman.
In his third year, and his first playoff appearance, the Cowboys beat the Bears on the road, and lost the next week to Detroit on the road. The following year, the second playoff appearance for Aikman and the Cowboys, they won the Super Bowl.
I understand the context you're putting it in, but as a Cowboy fan, he has no excuses. He damn well better get it done next season.
Also, it really doesn't help when your team amasses a lot more penalties than your opponents...
Romo's play wasn't great, but it wasn't the whole story. Despite his attempt at acting, Terrell Owens did make a solid point: everyone down in Arlington Texas, including Tony and Terrell and the 'Boys, laid an egg.
Hi Half! I have to reply concerning Romo. You bring up interesting stats concerning other excellent QBs and their early playoff careers, but keep in mind Romo is already 6 years or so into his career, playing with what could possibly be the best team he could hope for? They are already losing coaches to other teams, their 12 Pro-Bowlers are not going to be cheap to retain when contracts come up. These days it seems every great team not named New England or Indianapolis seems to be torn apart shortly after rising to the top. Romo may have already squandered his best chance (although it was not him alone...).
Im glad you didn't turn this into a "they lost because Romo likes a girl" issue that everyone else has tried to play. So that girl happens to be Jessica Simpson, his personal life is his choice. I like the comparing of quarterbacks in their first starts of playoffs. Will he be a Dan Marino or John Elway, maybe not. But can he have post season success, well Im gonna say that Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer won super bowls (or better yet their teams won it) and I would hold Romo over those two.
as for SandraDee ... Some guys just can't win for losing, or was that lose for winning???
Anyone who has had any personal contact with Tony can tell you that there is no more fierce competitor out there, be it on the field, on the golf course, or walking fast to get to the snack line first. But the beautiful thing about Tony is that he understands that it is just a game, ..... not just football,... but life.
Tony is very well grounded and that "awe shucks" attitude you refer to is what will make him a HOF candidate someday, both in football and in life.
Do not mistake un-ending confidence in who he is with arrogance. He is a grounded family oriented soul who has a strong faith and understands life. ALL of professional sports would be a better place if we had more role models for our youth like Tony Romo.
He is NOT an arrogant egomaniac out knocking up supermodels then leaving them for another to raise children on their own and he is not leading bar fights, chasing topless dancers, he does not carry a gun or drugs and does not do it at 101 mph.
Awe Shucks, He may very well be Oppy Taylor incarnate with a Star on his helmet and for my taste, when I sit down to watch pro football with my own son, Tony Romo is someone I gladly hold up to my own son as someone to be respected in life, as well as on the football field.
Believe me, Tony takes his job VERY seriously. Mostly because he understands that everything we have in life is a gift to be charished and we are responsible to use those gifts to our fullest to help make everyone better.
Last edited by Ranchman02 on January 16th at 8:54 AM.
It's because players take pay cuts that New England and Indy can stay on top. Maybe if more players would take that approach instead of going after the BBD {Bigger Better Deal} all the time then they'd have a longer stint at the top. Good luck to your Pack this Sunday, they are poised for a Super Bowl appearance. New York is a hot team right now but playing in Lambeau field is never easy.
Last edited by NEFan4Life on January 16th at 2:07 PM.
Good points. Romo has all the talent in the world. He needs to find a way to seperate his Hollywood lifestyle and Pro Career, similar to how Brady has so masterfully done. Both may prepare just as hard, but unfortunatley perception often becomes reality.
Hi! My friend Moondog told me about you. He said you were one of the best bloggers here. I started a blog today too and I'm visiting other blogs. Romo has to understand that he is a PROFESSIONAL. That means acting professional, being professional, and playing like a professional. I don't care who he dates, but he shouldn't have been fooling around before a playoff game, IMHO.
Hey everyone, I know it must seem like I've dropped off the face of the earth, but it's nothing like that.
I've been busy writing - two full-length novels so far, plus over a dozen short stories - and working hard to try to get an agent. If you are curious and have a few minutes, check out my website, www.allanleve rone.com.
If you're a literary agent or if you know one, by all means contact me! In the meantime, I'll be here when I can - love this forum - and as always, thank you for checking out my blog, especially considering how many great ones you could be reading instead....
