Tony was a very good quarterback for the Cowboys a rookie free agent that was given the extremely rare opportunity of actually being groomed. Very many teams will get a QB and claim to bring them along slowly, but something always happens along the way. The team tries to make room, he is thrown in too early or he doesn't show sufficient progress.
In Romo case, he did not throw a regular season pass for three seasons. During his first year, he was inactive in every game.
Romo got to participate in the game over the next two seasons as a field goal holder. Still,if we wanted to see Romo as a quarterback, we had to wait until the next preseason.
Romo did a great job of remaining relevant during those years due to his constant improvement and especially a few sensational preseason games.
When Romo became the starter he was given great tools in an offensive line that featured more Pro Bowlers during his first five starting seasons than any other QB during that same time. He was given Pro Bowl WR's. He was given the best TE in Cowboy history. He was given a top ten defense. He was given thousand yard rushers.
Yet, the Cowboys couldn't get past the divisional round. With all that talent Romo couldn't once carry the team enough to reach a Super Bowl.
Tony Romo was extremely capable but he never played in a Super Bowl, his skill set was never generational, and he had a tendency to underperform in elimination games.
No doubt these observation are subject to some debate and I acknowledge this.
Was Romo iconic? That is, without playoff success due to constantly weak support, did his performance rank as generational,another Marino?
In a period of NFL history populated by Brady's, Manning's, and Brees's, I think not.
It's a shame, would have been the perfect story, would have required just one SB in my opinion.
He could still get in if the competition iswatered down. I don't think it's as exclusive as it ought to be these days.
He could end up making it in as an announcer, nor even Head Coach, you just never know.