‘Ware’ Will Tony Romo Finish This Year?

Tony Romo has been on my mind of late. The new highly paid NFL phenom quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys hasn’t won a playoff game in his two years as a starter. He has been inconsistent on the field. His personal life during the football season turned into a media frenzy that became as much of a distraction as the Terrel Owens suicide scandal.

All of this leads me to ask the tough question: Is Tony Romo worth the $67.5 million included in that six-year contract?

When we look at his numbers this past year, we could argue that he is worth it. When we see he has been named to two Pro Bowls, first ballot, the argument gets some glue. When you look at how Tony Romo plays during the first half of the season, the argument can be as solid as stone.

But does any of that really matter? To me, it does not.  What matters to me is winning a Super Bowl.

Tony Romo’s lackadaisical approach to the playoffs, his interfering love life, and his cool-and-collected demeanor is wearing on this Cowboys fan. I don’t see the attention to detail or the commitment in Tony Romo that I saw in Troy Aikman and heard about in Roger Stabauch. His nonchalant, sullen post-game press conferences aren’t impressive. He’s coolly unconcerned with what us fans think of him after the troubling loss to the Giants in the NFC playoffs, which he admitted. We saw him choke against the Seahawks the year before. And let’s not forget that in both years, Romo’s second half play was average at best. In fact, he reminded me of Jon Kitna.

A lot of eyes will be on Tony Romo this coming season, his third as a starter. The 27-year-old quarterback is going to have to make some tough decisions: what is more important to him? A hot girlfriend or a Super Bowl? The Social Scene or the Locker Room? His teammates or his playmates?  What we need from Romo is a consistent season. That’s 19 games. I’m not sure he is up for it. So, someone needs to pick up that slack, right? And before anyone says it, I don’t want to hear about his “sore thumb.”

Why am I being so hard on Romo, our quarterback? I don’t think I am. The point I am trying to make is: something must change. Someone has to step up and lead this team. Someone has to keep the second half together and help the Cowboys finish strong.

I don’t think he is that person. So who is?

Before I get to who that person is, let’s remember the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Baltimore Ravens and the Chicago Bears teams that won Super Bowls with defense. You don’t need a flashy offense to bring home the Lombardi Trophy.

DeMarcus Ware is up for a contract extension in 2009.  He is the best defensive player the Cowboys have, and possibly the best player on the team. Reports are the Cowboys will be facing Dwight Freeney-like numbers of six-years, $72 million. That’s more than Romo’s record-shattering six-year deal. And it should be. If the Dallas Cowboys are going to win a Super Bowl this decade, it will have to be from the strong play of the defense. The secondary needs to improve, and DeMarcus Ware needs to lead the entire team. He’s the rock. He’s the glue.

This team’s success is on the shoulders of Ware’s defense, not Romo’s offense.

The Landry Hat is going to be very critical of this coming season.

I support the Cowboys giving away a late-round pick for Pac Man Jones. It’s a win-win for the Cowboys because if Pac Man really wants to play, and he really wants to move on from his troubled past, then he can prove it with a contract stacked with play incentives. Score three kickoff touchdowns. Make six interceptions. Stay out of trouble. Become a team leader. Respect your fellow people. You’ll be a Dallas Cowboy and we’ll accept you with open arms.

I do not support Jerry Jones trading the 22nd and 28th picks for Darren McFadden if it means the Cowboys do not address more pressing holes on the defense. The Cowboys needs one or two strong cornerbacks, who have youth and great man-to-man coverage skills.

I do not support drafting a running back in the first round. I think the Cowboys should go after a cornerback and wide receiver with the two first-round picks.