Dallas Observer: I Dub Thee ... "Annie" Romo

[tmckee]

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/sportatorium/2009/01/i_dub_thee_annie_romo.php

Tony Romo loves to win. But does he really hate to lose?
After his playoff pratfalls, late-season hiccups and post-game "The sun'll come out tomorrow" bull**** press conferences, I think it's a legitimate question.
Romo regressed dramatically this season. In ball security. In practice habits. In decision-making. And, mostly, in leadership.
Remember his comments after the Cowboys' 44-6 season-ending debacle in Philly. Went something like this:

"I wake up tomorrow and keep living. You don't deal with it. You just keep playing the game. It's a fun game, and it's enjoyable. We're going to try to win next year. We're going to try and get back in the playoffs, and we're going to try to win a Super Bowl. If you don't, okay. If you do, okay. Then you're really a great player. If you don't, you're just a solid, good player, and I'll have to deal with that, not you guys. That's just part of the job. I've had a lot worse things happen to me than a loss in a sporting event, that's for sure. If this is the worst thing that ever happens to me, then I'll have lived a pretty good life."
​

Sound like a captain with a broken heart? A hardened resolve? An unyielding desire to eradicate the misery?
But wait, it just got worse.
Before we could fully comprehend just how hard Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman would cringe at that quote, Romo added an "aw, shucks" cherry atop his "whatever, dude" sundae over the weekend.
In an interview with Racine, Wisconsin's Journal Times, the quarterback whose fame and fortune greatly outweigh his performance and production talks of being cool with never winning a Super Bowl. Jeeeesh:

"If I'm never going to win the Super Bowl, I'll be content in life. I'll be disappointed because that's what I wanted to do. At that same point, it's not going to be something that makes me a better human being. I think I'm going to work very hard to try to obtain those goals. But I'm not going to pretend to say that that's what life's all about either."
​

Cowboys' fans are a rabid, irrationally loyal lot. They want - they deserve - to have their players care at least half as much about winning as they do. Right?
The Cowboys need a leader like powerful Patton; they're stuck with one closer to philosophical Plato.
Go back and re-read both of Romo quotes. Now, immerse yourself in this post-game, press-conference attitude from Florida's Tim Tebow. His team had just been upset by Mississippi back in September. The Gators never lost again.

"To the fans and everybody of Gator Nation, I'm sorry. Extremely sorry. We wanted an undefeated season. That was my goal, something Florida has never done here. I promise you one thing, a lot of good will come out of this. You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. You will never see another player push his team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of the season. You will never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season. God bless."
​

No way around it, Tebow is a better leader than Romo. Any argument?
I'm not saying Romo can't or won't lead the Cowboys to a playoff win, or even a Super Bowl. What I am saying unequivocally is that he seems a little too content and satisfied with his spot on life's ladder to trouble himself with how the hell to get up to the next rung.
No, football isn't life or death. But he is, after all, the quarterback of America's Team. I'd just like to see more fire in the belly and a smidge of distaste for losing. Romo reacts to catastrophic defeats like someone who just lost a backyard volleyball game at the annual family reunion.
Think back to those stories about the great ones. Gretzky. Jordan. Montana. Remember the common-thread line about them being so ultra-competive, so desperately motivated to win? Anywhere. Any time. At anything.
Just wondering if Romo hates to lose at checkers?

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't expect Tony to be a sore loser lashing out at everyone. I have no issue with how he copes with the media and that is what is it coping, no matter what he says every jerk with a pen will put their own spin on it. Romo knows what his job is and understands the pressure of that job

 

[FLcowboy]

Well, from all the stories, something is wrong and Romo is in the middle of it. I don't think he's the problem, but he isn't trying to resolve the problem either, whatever and whoever it is. Garrett has lost the respect of the offense, that is certainly apparent, and if that isn't fixed, then nothing else matters.

 

[QB9fan]

If Tony is never in a tabloid again, THEN he would be upset. Tony quit giving it his all after he signed the contract.

 

[saphire1]

"I wake up tomorrow and keep living. You don't deal with it. You just keep playing the game. It's a fun game, and it's enjoyable. We're going to try to win next year. We're going to try and get back in the playoffs, and we're going to try to win a Super Bowl. If you don't, okay. If you do, okay. Then you're really a great player. If you don't, you're just a solid, good player, and I'll have to deal with that, not you guys. That's just part of the job. I've had a lot worse things happen to me than a loss in a sporting event, that's for sure. If this is the worst thing that ever happens to me, then I'll have lived a pretty good life."

he worded it really nicely, and philosophically at that, you find it hard to argue against, or even if it's right to argue against. but then, he could have also said "who cares? its just a loss. there's more to life than this....get over it." and it would have meant the same thing anyway.

 

[slogriff]

I don't expect Tony to be a sore loser lashing out at everyone. I have no issue with how he copes with the media and that is what is it coping, no matter what he says every jerk with a pen will put their own spin on it. Romo knows what his job is and understands the pressure of that job

Romo undoubtedly understands the pressure of being the QB of the Dallas Cowboys but I'm not as sure he understands what his job is. I think the QB should be the leader of the players, especially if there is no other dominating personality able to do so (ie Ray Lewis). Even with such a strong personality/leader as HOF Michael Irvin, Aikman was the leader of that team. Michael was often the mouthpiece (especially in the media) but Troy was there to make sure the team stayed the course and did what was necessary to be successful.

Romo's comments give more material for the cowboy-starved media and its fans and by themself don't impact the big picture. If Romo isn't communicating/leading in the lockerroom, the media can begin to be the primary source of info spread to his teammates that naturally look to him for leadership/direction.

For example, the Boys are blown out losing 2 of 3 while Romo is out indefinitely with his pinky. After the NYG, Romo is asked if he would be able to play Wash after the bye week. His response was basically, I don't know we'll have to see after this week. WTH

A great QB (Aikman, Montana, Bradshaw,etc) would have said something like, "We badly need a win to turn this thing around and I'll do anything short of cutting my finger off to make sure Im playing against Washington."

Even if they weren't sure if they could play, those QBs would understand that his team was struggling and looking for someone to lead the way. Those QBs also would know that their HC (ie Wade) wasn't able to be that leader to gather/rally the troops.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Thats not how champions talk.

Guys like Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman hated to lose, and they lost sleep about it. Tony Romo loses sleep about what people are saying about him, not the fact that he lost. Thats the problem.

Every single one of those quotes wreaks of insecurity.

 

[Idgit]

What Tony Romo--or any other QB for that matter--says in a post-loss press conference has nothing to do with the ability to lead a team. It's not even data that's useful in evaluating. For every Tebow comment, you can find a comment from a player who put his chips on the table and then came up flat. It's preparation and play on the field that matters, and if you want a beef with Tony Romo, then be critical of that.

 

[Apollo Creed]

What Tony Romo--or any other QB for that matter--says in a post-loss press conference has nothing to do with the ability to lead a team. It's not even data that's useful in evaluating. For every Tebow comment, you can find a comment from a player who put his chips on the table and then came up flat. It's preparation and play on the field that matters, and if you want a beef with Tony Romo, then be critical of that.

Okay, he is almost 30 and turns the ball over like hes a rookie. He has come up short in some big games, and his meteoric rise to stardom was just a tad premature.

These reports about his practice habits, should let you know why he turns the ball over 15 times each December.

 

[wileedog]

Every single one of those quotes wreaks of insecurity.

Actually it reeks of total security. As in "what are you going to do, fire me?"

I really think Romo used to play hard for Parcells, not because he has a Troy-esque obsession with winning. You could see it in the quotes he made, how he constantly referenced what Bill was teaching him, and obviously in the way he approached the game. Heck last year when Bill was gone he was still quoting him in interviews. He was more than a coach, he was a mentor for him.

This year celebrity has fully kicked in. Bill is gone, and he has the contract, he has the girl, the big house and a bunch of people and tabloids telling him how wonderful he is.

And he has a coach, OC and most importantly a GM not only enabling him, but in Jerry's case probably setting up the photo ops for him.

Romo takes the blame, he is ultimately responsible, but I still think one of the worst consequences of this current train wreck is that after a decade we finally found a QB worth a damn and Jerry's Circus is ruining him.

 

[Alexander]

And he has a coach, OC and most importantly a GM not only enabling him, but in Jerry's case probably setting up the photo ops.

He has no one left to impress and even less reason to improve. When basically your organization blesses your every move and you are not accountable for your actions, what is his motivation? He might actually think he's already at the pinnacle.

 

[Apollo Creed]

He has no one left to impress and even less reason to improve. When basically your organization blesses your every move and you are not accountable for your actions, what is his motivation? He might actually think he's already at the pinnacle.

I don't remember Jerry ever shelling out a big contract to someone, and then them performing at a higher level the next year.

Romo, Barber, Flozel, Hamlin - all took considerable steps backwards this year.

 

[wileedog]

I don't remember Jerry ever shelling out a big contract to someone, and then them performing at a higher level the next year.

Romo, Barber, Flozel, Hamlin - all took considerable steps backwards this year.

At the risk of blowing up this thread.... you can add TO to that list too.

To be fair Leonard Davis was a much better player his first year after getting a wad of cash, but he regressed this year as well.

 

[Doomsday101]

Romo undoubtedly understands the pressure of being the QB of the Dallas Cowboys but I'm not as sure he understands what his job is. I think the QB should be the leader of the players, especially if there is no other dominating personality able to do so (ie Ray Lewis). Even with such a strong personality/leader as HOF Michael Irvin, Aikman was the leader of that team. Michael was often the mouthpiece (especially in the media) but Troy was there to make sure the team stayed the course and did what was necessary to be successful.

Romo's comments give more material for the cowboy-starved media and its fans and by themself don't impact the big picture. If Romo isn't communicating/leading in the lockerroom, the media can begin to be the primary source of info spread to his teammates that naturally look to him for leadership/direction.

For example, the Boys are blown out losing 2 of 3 while Romo is out indefinitely with his pinky. After the NYG, Romo is asked if he would be able to play Wash after the bye week. His response was basically, I don't know we'll have to see after this week. WTH

A great QB (Aikman, Montana, Bradshaw,etc) would have said something like, "We badly need a win to turn this thing around and I'll do anything short of cutting my finger off to make sure Im playing against Washington."

Even if they weren't sure if they could play, those QBs would understand that his team was struggling and looking for someone to lead the way. Those QBs also would know that their HC (ie Wade) wasn't able to be that leader to gather/rally the troops.

Because he does not say what you think he should say does not mean a thing, this frankly is like watching wild dogs going after a piece of meat. Fans clearly have the right to think anything they choose I think Romo can and will lead this team to a championship before all is said and done. I have not given up on him.

 

[Apollo Creed]

Watkins was just on ESPN, and reported about an instance where Owens was open in practice and yelled at Romo as he threw it into double coverage. Then they looked at it in the film room, Owens made a comment, and Romo just laughed.

Don't shoot the messenger.

 

[Idgit]

Okay, he is almost 30 and turns the ball over like hes a rookie. He has come up short in some big games, and his meteoric rise to stardom was just a tad premature.

These reports about his practice habits, should let you know why he turns the ball over 15 times each December.

His td/int ratio wasn't all that different from 2007, when everybody and their brother logged onto this board just to get a chance to swing from Tony Romo's pouch. The difference in to's in 2008 was in fumbles lost, and nobody's saying Tony Romo lost too many fumbles in practice and that carried over to the field.

The reports re: his practice habits being bad are thin and unsubstantiated, where conflicting reports directly from his previous two head coaches and his offensive coordinator confirm the opposite. Tony Romo didn't go from a street free agent to starter by having bad practice habits, regardless of what Calvin Watkins may be hinting at.

 

[jobberone]

Tony Romo has some problems to work on. Mostly turnovers. I can't comment too much on open receivers. That's something internal. But I have suspicions. I do not trust Tony Romo right now. Something I thought I'd never say.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Thats not how champions talk.

Guys like Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman hated to lose, and they lost sleep about it. Tony Romo loses sleep about what people are saying about him, not the fact that he lost. Thats the problem.

Every single one of those quotes wreaks of insecurity.

You ever heard Warner talk? You think that guys a champion?

And this garbage is journalism. i love how so many people eat up what boils down to a National Enquirer article around here lately.

 

[Doomsday101]

Watkins was just on ESPN, and reported about an instance where Owens was open in practice and yelled at Romo as he threw it into double coverage. Then they looked at it in the film room, Owens made a comment, and Romo just laughed.

Don't shoot the messenger.

I would love to see Romo call these guys out, guys who run poor routs who drop balls will not fight for the ball and those who can't seem to block or pick up a blitz. I'm sure if Romo wanted to throw players under the bus could easily do so.

 

[Apollo Creed]

You ever heard Warner talk? You think that guys a champion?

And this garbage is journalism. i love how so many people eat up what boils down to a National Enquirer article around here lately.

Stop pretending like everyone is an idiot. Everywhere you post, you get all high and mighty, hell you even tried to degrade the work of Albert Einstein in another thread during one of your condescending rants.

And Warner gets furious when he doesn't do well, Romo just pouts. I don't need an article to explain that to me. Romo is 30, and he plays and acts like a rookie.