I remember Dallas was playing against the New York Giants on an October night back in 2006. The Boys were struggling and so was their starting quarterback at the time, Drew Bledsoe. The game looked lost and chants for the unknown second string QB were being shouted all around Texas Stadium: “Romo! Romo! Romo!” Finally, without hesitation, Head Coach Bill Parcells pulled the trigger. Bledsoe was out and the crowd went crazy as the unproven quarterback from Eastern Illinois walked onto the field. Despite the chants for Romo, many were still skeptical about him and thought he might just be a one-day starter.

The fans really cheered because they wanted a change and they hoped Romo could be something special. They needed someone to end an endless drought of mediocre quarterback play. That’s a lot to expect from an unknown quarterback that was not a big name college athlete.

Romo’s reign of glory didn’t last long though as an interception on one of his first plays watered down fan’s initial expectations. Anger and frustration was soon replaced with hope as Romo started to move the ball and show some athleticism in the pocket. Although that day ended with a loss, it was a big win in the long run for the franchise. That same year, they went on to reach the wildcard round of the playoffs with Romo as their quarterback. Eventually, the Cowboys loss in a fashion that would leave dark clouds over the new starting QB that offseason. The Cowboys understood they had discovered a missing piece in their puzzle, a franchise quarterback.

Romo has been very solid at the quarterback position since that night in 2006 and hasn’t looked back. Tony is a top 10 quarterback, easily over guys like Michael Vick and Phillip Rivers. I would take him over those two any day.  Romo had perhaps his best season last year despite the Dallas Cowboys going 8-8. The stats prove it. He threw for 4185 yards for 31 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions ending with a 102.5 rating. Vick in the other hand had only 3303 yards, 18 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions with a rating of 84.9. Romo has out played many of the supposed Top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL each year. He just fails to get the recognition he deserves because he’s always under the microscope. That’s simply the price of being the quarterback for America’s Team.

Just like Romo gave us hope when he emerged back in 2006, lets continue to have that hope in him now that he is older and much more wiser. Romo has committed his share of mistakes in the past but he has shown he can battle through them. Dallas has something great in Tony and I believe it’s only a matter of time before he leads the Cowboys to the Super Bowl and brings home the Lombardi Trophy. It’s time we all remembered why we first believed in Tony Romo in the first place.

Truly a painful loss for Packers fans to suffer through.  So the real question is where are all the pundits asking why people legitimize Rodgers when he has yet to win a playoff game?  It seems like a fair question considering every conversation surrounding Tony Romo brought up that exact same question.  I will say in fairness that Colin Cowherd did ask this exact question weeks ago (though there was no mention of Romo), so the ENTIRE sports media isn’t blind to double standard that Rodgers is benefiting from.

Rodgers seems to get a pass.  I believe it stems from his initial fall down the draft when it was possible he could have been drafted #1 overall by the San Francisco 49ers.  Watching Rodgers on television was dramatic and it was difficult not to want to see him prove his doubters wrong.  Afterall, it wasn’t his fault that other quarterbacks coached by Jeff Tedford had failed at the NFL level.  Finally when he was drafted by the Packers, he was in the unenviable position of having to replace a legend (if that time ever came).  He handled his apprecenticeship with class and dignity, even after Brett Favre reneged on his retirement.

Rodgers is bullet proof; however.  He lead a team that was hosting the NFC championship game with a record of 13-3 the year prior to a dismal 6-10 2008 regular season record.  Yes, the 2008 defense was porous, yes the running game was not as dominant, but I don’t believe Romo would receive the same benefit of the doubt.  The 2010 Cowboys have been a remarkable failure up and down the line.  The defense has been dreadful at times, the wide receivers are dropping balls which prevent touchdowns and lead to interceptions.  The special teams have been far from special, and the o-line is a disgrace.

Before Romo’s injury, you could hear pundits remarking that Romo was an average quarterback (most notably Keyshawn Johnson).  The only thing saving Romo’s reputation this year is that he is mercifully not on the field.

As indicated above, Rodgers gaff to the Packers’s 2009 playoff run is equally as painful to the fanbase as Romo’s gaff against Seattle.  If anything, it is worse because it was done during the act of quarterbacking.  Additionally, the game ended immediately at that point in time.  After Romo picked up the muff, he ran for what could have been a first down or a best case scenario, touch down.  Even after that effort came up short (by 1 yard), the defense still had an opportunity to give the ball back to the offense.  The game wasn’t over.  Also, what is ignored is the fact that if the kick was made, the Cowboys would have been winning by less than a field goal.  The Seahawks had plenty of time to drive the field and steal the game from the Cowboys.

With Romo, the game was far from over.  With Rodgers, the players were walking off the field.

Where is the outcry?  Where is the justice?  Where is Rodgers playoff win?