Why Tony Romo Is Our Guy
By Joshua Huff
It seems that there is never a shortage of people ready to bad mouth Romo for anything and everything regardless if it’s football season or not.
Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) scrambles against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Romo has constantly been criticized for his hobby of golf, I suppose people would prefer he take up something like mountain climbing or motorcycle racing (that would prove how seriously he took being healthy for football season). Tony Parker plays in a foreign basketball league in the offseason and has paid the consequences with injuries, and people have a problem with Romo golfing?
I understand that to most people the issue is focus being taken away from football and has nothing to do with the risk of offseason injury, but what exactly constitutes as a distraction? If he took cooking classes and spent a good deal of free time perfecting certain dishes, would that be different? What if he spent his free time playing chess?
December 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) throws the ball as Washington Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins (99) chases in the third quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 28-18. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
I guess the key word here is “free time”. I realize that the guy is paid handsomely to be the quarterback of the highest profile team in the NFL, but I just don’t feel that it automatically gives every fan, analyst, and media member the right to dictate or criticize how every minute of his personal time is spent.
That’s why I admire Tony, and why I am convinced he’s the right guy. Romo has actually committed to playing less golf after hearing the criticisms. I think most people, myself included, would have a few not so PR friendly words for anyone who thought they could tell me what I am and am not allowed to do with my own time. But not Tony. Tony takes the criticism, the blame, and the responsibility for anything that goes wrong, regardless of whether he is truly and solely at fault.
Dec 23, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) throws in the pocket against the New Orleans Saints at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
People say Romo chokes under pressure. So who was that rallying this team to so many come from behind 4th quarter victories the last several years?
Tony takes an unbelievable amount of abuse. He takes constant abuse from the opponent’s defense on the field, on constant abuse from his own team’s fans off the field. Somehow, he handles both with civility.
Tony accepts the blame. He apologizes for his mistakes without making excuses for them. Not once throwing his hands in the air and yelling, “Well maybe if I could get some blocking out there!”
Dec 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) is help to his feet by referee Walt Anderson during the first half against the Washington Redskins at FedEX Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA Today Sports
Romo goes out there every Sunday, bruised, battered, and with broken bones, when other quarterbacks with lesser injuries sit the week out. He does so knowing he is going to get the same level of protection that initially led to the injuries, and he does so knowing that if the team fails everyone will be putting the loss on him. How easy or tempting would it be to just sit it out like most other players with injuries so severe?
That’s what makes Romo a Cowboy, a man with both strength of body and strength of character. That’s what makes him special, and combined with some of the best quarterback statistics in Cowboy’s history, well….that’s what makes Tony Romo our guy.