Nov 11, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Troy Aikman (R) talks with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) during warmups prior to playing the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t know what caught my attention, I mean let’s look at the facts, I lived 1200 miles from Dallas and the Barry Sanders Era was just beginning in Detroit. It could have been the collaboration of Jerry & Jimmy, the perfect storm of Aikman, Emmit & Irvin, or the fact that they played the Lions in Detroit during the playoffs that year. Something made me take notice. Something about the Cowboys captivated me… I was hooked.

Fast forward 21 years… I am a few days away from 30 and still in love with the Cowboys of the Big D. Only now things are different. I’m not a little girl watching the game with innocence and awe. I’m a grown woman watching the game from a place of knowledge. Like all of us, I am forced to see the politics, the way money talks, the way the game has changed. It’s neither good or bad, but it is different.

What happens when you fall in love with America’s Team and get to witness their greatness, only to watch them stumble and fall?

This off season, we sit, we wait, we wonder… Maybe this is our year. Maybe this is our time. Maybe this is the year we will be great again.

To those of us holding out hope… Cheers, Dez

Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) watches a play while on the sidelines during the game against the New Orleans Saints at Cowboys Stadium. The Saints beat the Cowboys 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Add superhero to Tony Romo’s resume.

Romo was simply extraordinary when he had to run for his life. The man is still in one piece. He’s radioactive. He’s superhuman.

The sky fell in Dallas. It crumbled. Right before our eyes. But Tony stood. He managed the best he could. He ran right. He ran left. The ball somehow, someway, still left his hands.

The Dallas Cowboys finished 8-8. It’s true. But the Cowboys accomplished what many believed impossible before the season even began: The team remained competitive to the very last snap of December.

The 2012 Dallas narrative seemed predictable. Nobody was looking for the team to contend for a division title — let alone make the playoffs. Yet, there stood Tony Romo.

Running. Dashing. Throwing.

And now, coming soon to a theater near you, Romo battles to save Dallas. There will be blood. And Lions. Tigers and bears. Ugly Redskins too, who however, are no longer two bye weeks.

Meet Our Villain

As Tony Romo quarterbacks to save Dallas, he must save Dallas from Dallas.

The villain is an insider. He is a Pac-Man, ego eating monster. He is known as Jerry Jones.

Welcome.

Tony Romo has 55 million reasons to live. And thanks to the villain, Tony Romo has 55 million reason to run for his life. The general manager neglected Tony (See: 2013 draft selections). He left Tony for dead with no line support.

Tony Romo’s 108 million dollar contract extension was more like a thank you note for all the trouble the owner has put him through. It also serves as a thank you note for all the trouble he will put him through for years to come.

But superheroes fight with what they got. Considering what cards were given to Romo, it is absolutely amazing there was still some color in the team during the last football weeks.

Dallas might be deserted. Perhaps quiet, these days. But what lurks in the air is beyond stat sheets and murmurs from critics: it is the air of hope.

You can send a thank you note to Tony Romo for that.

Supporting Cast and Sidekicks

Quarterbacks can’t tackle and catch the ball; it’s a team sport. Superheroes can’t do it all alone. Batman has Robin. It even took a league of Avengers to save New York City from aliens. See.

If Batman is to Robin, than Tony Romo is to running back. DeMarco Murray? Doesn’t really matter. Choose any three on the depth chart. Heck, another free agent name packing groceries now will do.

It doesn’t matter. The Dallas Cowboys must run the ball.

Tony Romo attempted 648 passes. Only two other quarterbacks tossed more. That’s Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford. Like Romo, neither players made the playoffs.

Tony Romo must do more by doing less. The Cowboys cannot ask him to throw til kingdom come. If that’s the case, if Romo shall throw often, that means the supporting cast is not in place.

Before you run the ball, you need a line to open holes for the running back. When the team can run the ball, the team can throw the ball.

This is the easy part; you don’t need superhero qualities to understand it.

Where I End You Begin

Heroes do fail. Batman did. Superman had challenges. But heroes find a way to leave the story with a happy ending. Even in the darkest nights.

And it’s really dark in Dallas. Tony knows this. Sometimes, that’s when superheroes come out to play. There’s never been a better time for Tony Romo to suit up and become a superhero. Never.

It’s time to go.

Dallas is calling for their hero.

Nov 18, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) on the bench during the game against the Cleveland Browns at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Romo will be held out of all the organized team activities that are scheduled for the next three weeks. Back-up quarterback Kyle Orton will take his place in the starting lineup.

The news of this procedure is especially alarming as Romo has come under fire recently from owner/general manager Jerry Jones for a perceived lack of commitment. Jones wants Romo to show a more Peyton Manning-type work ethic, especially during the off-season and at practices. I’m sure sitting out all of the OTAs was not what Jones had in mind.

The pressure on Romo to win this season has been compounded by the enormous six-year extension he signed  in March worth $108 million. And it appeared, as of late, that he had responded to the criticism by taking action.

It seemed that Romo had been more focused on football this off-season as he elected not to play as much recreation golf as in the past. In hindsight, how much of that decision was his renewed commitment…and how much of it was a result of the secret back surgery?

Despite his lack of golf activities,  there have also been rumblings that Romo is stepping up by getting more involved in the play-calling decisions. He’ll definitely have more time to study film now.

The Cowboys do not believe that the injury to Romo’s back is long term. And a cyst doesn’t seem like it would hinder the three-time Pro Bowler that much anyway. Especially, when you consider he has played with a broken rib and punctured lung before. So Romo being held out of OTAs seems to be just a standard medical precaution.

The main question is: how will a three week plus lay-off effect the progress Romo has made so far this off-season? Guess, we’ll have to wait until training camp to find out.