DMN Blog: Tony Romo's take on leadership

[wileedog]

Romo has more weapons than anybody in the NFL. Mcnabb has westbrook and makes desean Jackson look like he's something special.

Romo's offensive line in 2006 and last year was garbage. It all starts there, and McNabb plays for a team that invests high round picks in the line regularly.

Furthermore he has a career completion rate under 60%, and a career rating of 85. He plays for an offensive minded coach, and you can't just discount Westbrook he's probably the best receiving RB in football in an offense centered around him.

McNabb had some decent years with TO, but for the most part he has been a 2nd tier QB his whole career. He was clearly outplayed on the same team in the same offense by Jeff Garcia. And that's not getting into his big game troubles.

McNabb is one of the most over-rated QBs in football IMO, because he occasionally come up with the spectacular, and there is no question he is a great athlete when healthy. But he is inconsistent and inaccurate and a poor decision maker, and always has been. And there has always been an undercurrent in the locker about him being treated with kid gloves by the front office which has hurt his leadership abilities.

Maybe in another year or two I'll change my mind if Romo further regresses, but right now I take Tony hands down. More accurate, quicker release, just as much pocket escapability.

 

[TNCowboy]

What is indicative of a leader in a horrible organization situation? Slamming the ball down in disgust and just slowly sauntering off the field to stand by yourself and stew, like Troy did at the end of the 1998 playoff game? Or going to Jerry and tell him to fire Gailey so you can bring in Jack Reilly because he runs your old buddy Norv's old offense.

Doesn't change Romo's pathetic answers. Leaders don't blame everyone else. Leaders don't blame coaches. Leaders don't - in effect -say "It's no big deal when we lose."

It's not as if Romo lost his cool once or twice, or made comments one time. It's clear he just doesn't get it.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Doesn't change Romo's pathetic answers. Leaders don't blame everyone else. Leaders don't blame coaches. Leaders don't - in effect -say "It's no big deal when we lose."

I guess Aikman wasn't a leader afterall, since he played a big part in getting Chan Gailey fired. And neither is Peyton, since he called out of his offensive line after a playoff loss.


From what I gather, it's really easy for a QB to be a "leader" when their team wins, but hardly any quarterback fits that description when their team loses.

 

[28 Joker]

So you took a Tebow post....

And somehow made it come back to Owens.

Congrats.

That takes skill.

You are the guy who loves Tebow. I just compared the two situations. Tebow has strong coaches and a strong supporting cast. They are all going in the same direction, and Harvin isn't playing the lockerroom against Tebow. What if Tebow had a 35+ year old decling, selfish WR plotting against him in the lockerroom and calling him out in the media. What kind of leader would he be then?

Tebow is a great leader. However, he doesn't have to deal with a diva on his team that thinks the world and offense should revolve around him. That was the point. You will never hear Percy Harvin talk about the "team will win if I get my numbers". Harvin was Tebow's go to guy. Harvin allows Tebow to be the guy. Rice allowed Montana. Irivin let Aikman lead the offense. Brady led the Patroits. Manning leads the Colts, not Reggie Wayne. Owens, even with his play declining, thinks he's the "lead dog". The organization allows him to get away with it.

Look, I think Owens relates directly to Romo being a leader. Owens is part of the problem. I was critical of Romo's leadership in that post. Romo shouldn't be criticising Garrett in public, especially when he is wrong. Instead of challenging Owens, he followed his lead. It's is disappointing, but it isn't someting that can't be over come.

That post wasn't just about Owens. I criticised Tony Romo, and it was crystal clear. I believe Owens "rock star status" or "super-star" status in the lockerroom enables him to solidify his power among his minions. Other players don't see any fault in him. It shouldn't be a shock. He gets to do or say anything he wants to do or say. Owens is above discipline on and off the field.

So, I guess Owens is off limits when you talk leadership with Romo. I guess you think he's untouchable, too.

 

[BIGDen]

farthest thing from a leader I've ever seen.

Overstate much? Playing with a bad back? Trying to return from injury early? Overruling the coach and going for it on 4th down in a huge game? Leading his team to numerous 4th quarter comebacks in a relatively short career?
He may not be General Patton, but the "farthest thing from a leader"? C'mon...

 

[BIGDen]

I guess Aikman wasn't a leader afterall, since he played a big part in getting Chan Gailey fired. And neither is Peyton, since he called out of his offensive line after a playoff loss.


From what I gather, it's really easy for a QB to be a "leader" when their team wins, but hardly any quarterback fits that description when their team loses.

Amen.
Crayton and Fasano don't drop great throws by Romo against the Giants in the playoffs and we all marvel at his heroic leadership. That Crayton drop could have been similar to the Aikman to Harper play against the Niners, but the WR dropped it and Romo's the goat. Asante Samuel drops a game clinching pick in the SB and Eli's a hero. I'll still take Romo over almost any QB in the league.

 

[silver]

I guess Aikman wasn't a leader afterall, since he played a big part in getting Chan Gailey fired. And neither is Peyton, since he called out of his offensive line after a playoff loss.


From what I gather, it's really easy for a QB to be a "leader" when their team wins, but hardly any quarterback fits that description when their team loses.

Aikman, Irvin and Emmitt also ran Dave Shula out of town. This crap happens all the time. And winning cures it all.

Or does it?

The Cowboys won it all in '95 and there was a divided locker room with Sanders people heading one way, Haley's guys another and Troy and his peeps going elsewhere. They still managed to win it all. And that win will haunt this franchise forever. For some reason Jerry always remember the way he won in '95 and forgets the formula that brought him his earlier 2 titles which required a lot more hard work.

 

[Clove]

Romo said something I agree with. None of that leadership works when it comes down to execution and strategy. Bottom line, Head coach has to have the right game plan, coordinator has to call the right plays, QB has to do his thing, Oline has to do their thing, WRs, and so on.

I can sell 1 million dollars worth of crack, call my QB a *****, slap my head coach in the face all the day before, but if I execute on game day, I'll come out victorious.

 

[Oh_Canada]

It wasn't just one game. Troy didn't win a playoff game from 1996-2000. Right after the Cowboys choked in the playoffs in 1998, they were absolutely embarassed in the playoffs the next year. In his prime, Troy had the best running game of all time, one of the Top 3 defenses year in and year out, a great head coach who lead the organization and put every player in his place. All Troy had to worry about was making 12-14 throws a game, put the ball in Emmitt's hands in the 4th quarter and win 21-13.


Compare that to Romo. No leadership from his coaches or organization. An offensive coordinator who believes in Arena League Football style of offense. Romo is told he needs to go out and score 30 points every week for his team to have a prayer or winning, and he needs to sling the ball around 45 times a game around a crappy offensive line without a mistake. Troy couldn't "lead" in those cirumstances anymore than he could in the last 5 years of his career.

Wow, I guess there neither one of us is going to budge here...talk to me when Turnover Tony wins ONE playoff game with the BEST team on paper in the game. ..until than comparing him to Troy Aikman is a flat out joke....unless of course you are looking for vacation advice or using him as your "life line" on a Journey question you're stumped on.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Talk to me when Turnover Tony wins ONE playoff game with the BEST team on paper in the game. ..until than comparing him to Troy Aikman is a flat out joke.

I'm sure Tony would love nothing more than to play behind the best running attack in the history of the NFL and the league's #1 defense. Maybe then he could just go 14-21 for 225 and a TD and expect win 21-13 like Troy could in the heyday. That must sound like heaven to a guy who knows every game he has to put up a statline 35-42 for 342 and 3 TDs for his team to have any chance to win.

It would also probably be nice if Tony had WRs who ran the routes they were supposed to like Aikman did. Maybe playing with the NFL's all time leading rusher in his prime and the NFL's best offensive line would help Tony become a "leader". Maybe then Tony could just magically discover how to be a "leader" the way Steve Young just magically discovered how to "lead" when he went from the Bucaneers to the 49ers.

 

[Oh_Canada]

So are comparing the Troy's surrounding cast with Tony's.

I'm sure Tony would love nothing more than to play behind the best running attack in the history of the NFL and the league's #1 defense. Maybe then he could just got 14-21 for 205 and a TD and expect win 21-13 like Troy could.

That must sound like heaven to a guy who knows every game he has to put up a statline 35-42 for 342 and 3 TDs for his team to have any chance to win.

It would also probably be nice if Tony had WRs who ran the routes they were supposed to like Aikman did.

If you didn't run your route, Aikman would remind you and than WOULDN'T throw to you...ask the long line of Cowboy receivers who found that out first hand. Tony will just laugh it off and try to force a ball into you among three defensive players as he seems to do on a very regular basis.

and yes...I think Romo's cast is pretty good....two pro bowl recievers, a pro bowl tight end, three pro bowl lineman, not one, not two, but three good backs, and a defense littered with pro bowlers.

 

[Idgit]

I wish Romo could be a leader like Eli Manning was in 2007. Not like the 2008 Eli who couldn't win a playoff game with the best team on paper because that guy was a joke. And not like the Eli from the other years before 2007, because he wasn't a good leader then, either.

Tony Romo should be a leader like Ben Rothlisberger was this year, and in 2006. He should just not throw it to somebody if they didn't run their route, and also not fumble.

"TO," he could say "I know you were open there, but you ran a bad route before, so I'm not going to throw it to you because I'm working on leading better." TO'd probably'd be cool with that, b/c Tony Romo is his quarterback, man.

"Sorry, Roy, but your route's suck, too."

Basically, he'd throw it to Witten or we'd run the ball. That's leadership in my book. If that happened, then everyone would love Tony, and not stop talking about what a bad leader he is. They wouldn't spread rumors that he's only throwing to Witten and not following his reads even though he really is--because teammates are afraid to say things about great leaders.

 

[rcaldw]

If you didn't run your route, Aikman would remind you and than WOULDN'T throw to you...ask the long line of Cowboy receivers who found that out first hand. Tony will just laugh it off and try to force a ball into you among three defensive players as he seems to do on a very regular basis.

and yes...I think Romo's cast is pretty good....two pro bowl recievers, a pro bowl tight end, three pro bowl lineman, not one, not two, but three good backs, and a defense littered with pro bowlers.

Roshi vastly underestimates Aikman's value and contribution to the Cowboys championships. It is routine for him to do that. Here are playoff numbers from 92-95, you know the games we won, the games that count most, the games where wins are more important than stats, and you would like to stick around for more than one game.


1992:
Aikman vs Philly 15-25, 200 yards 2 TD's
Aikman vs. SF 24-34, 322, 2 TD's
Aikman Super Bowl vs. Buff. 22-30, 273 4TD's......hmmm, doesn't look like 14-21, with 1 TD does it?????

1993:
Aikman vs. Green Bay 28-37, 302 yards 3 TD's
Aikman vs. SF 14-18, 177, 3 TD's (FIRST HALF - HE HAD A CONCUSSION AND HAD TO LEAVE)
Aikman vs. Super Bowl Buff 19-27, 207 (showed leadership by playing after that concussion)

1994:
Aikman vs. Green Bay 23-30, 337 2 TD's
Aikman vs. SF 30-53, 380, 2TD's

1995:
Aikman vs. Philly 17-24, 253, 1TD
Aikman vs. GB 21-33, 255 2 TD
Aikman Super Bowl vs. Pitt 15 - 23, 209, 1 TD

This last Super Bowl comes the closest to what Roshi wants to believe was Aikman's game in and game out required performance. What is funny about that last game is to look at Emmitt Smith's numbers. Did he carry us on that day?

18 carries 49 yards
1 reception 3 yards

The fact is that the Cowboys had a balanced offense, and on many, many Sundays the passing attack put the Cowboys out to a lead and Emmitt got his yards eating up the clock.

 

[RoadRunner]

Tony Romo's take on leadership
11:20 PM Sun, Feb 08, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips
Ch. 11's Babe Laufenberg asked Tony Romo whether the framework was in place for a leader (or leaders) to emerge at Valley Ranch.

"Oh, yeah. No question," Romo said. "What are you referring to, Jerry?"

Babe replied by pointing out that it certainly didn't seem like anybody stepped to the forefront last season.

"We didn't win," Romo answered. "It's simple. It's kind of dumb."

Babe said that when a team isn't winning, that's when a guy ...

"Does what?" Romo interrupted. "Yells at everybody and then you win?"

Then Romo delivered a lectured on leadership.

"You wanna know why Michael Jordan was a great leader? He won six NBA championships. Then, all of a sudden, when he gets in people's faces, he's a great leader.

"A great leader is someone who wins, and you figure out how to win. Some people, it's getting in people's faces. Some people, it's being positive. Other people, it's walking the line and doing it the right way. And that guy shows everybody else, because they see him doing it, and they figure out, 'I'm going to walk in that line, too, and do it.'

"You know, there's many different ways to do it. I think people who sit there and say they need to see leadership, well, they're kidding themselves. Because if you need to see someone be a leader, they're probably not a leader all the time.

"You can look back and say, 'Oh, we should have done talking more.' ... I don't know that ... When somebody talks to me, it does nothing as far as, OK, thank you. Just leave me alone for a second. I need to think about what I need to do to improve on the next play. Or give me some technical aspect that you can use. 'Listen, when the corner is sitting down doing this, you need to ....' That stuff will help you the next time you're out there.

"Saying, 'C'mon! Let's go! Get ready! C'mon! Do better!' ... OK, I will. (rolls eyes) It doesn't solve anything.

"I mean, we're not 18 or 17. We don't need to be motivated to play harder in that regard. I think you take the wrong gap or you do the wrong thing, in that regard, that's gonna hurt you. And it will look like you're not playing as hard, but the reality is you just went the wrong way or you did the wrong thing or you threw the wrong pass, whatever.

"I think that execution, if there's a way to execute better, then you need to lead in that regard. You need to figure out a way to help everybody execute better. But it's silly to me to think that someone telling you in your face, 'Do better next time' is going to make you do better next time. Tell me why. Show somebody what they need to do to do better next time. That will go a lot farther, I think."

What I take from this is that it bothers Romo that people criticize him, so he gets defensive and dismisses as not important what many of us have seen work for decades.

Romo still doesn't get it, and seems like he has made up his mind on it.

He still has a lot of growing up to do, but time is running out on that.

And Tony, yeah, you guys still need to be yelled at. I've seen 17 and 18 year olds with better dscipline, and heart than what you guys did this last season.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I wish Romo could be a leader like Eli Manning was in 2007. Not like the 2008 Eli who couldn't win a playoff game with the best team on paper because that guy was a joke. And not like the Eli from the other years before 2007, because he wasn't a good leader then, either.

Tony Romo should be a leader like Ben Rothlisberger was this year, and in 2006. He should just not throw it to somebody if they didn't run their route, and also not fumble.

"TO," he could say "I know you were open there, but you ran a bad route before, so I'm not going to throw it to you because I'm working on leading better." TO'd probably'd be cool with that, b/c Tony Romo is his quarterback, man.

"Sorry, Roy, but your route's suck, too."

Basically, he'd throw it to Witten or we'd run the ball. That's leadership in my book. If that happened, then everyone would love Tony, and not stop talking about what a bad leader he is. They wouldn't spread rumors that he's only throwing to Witten and not following his reads even though he really is--because teammates are afraid to say things about great leaders.

Good post.

But I also hold Patrick Crayton accountable for Romo's lack of leadership. If he caught that ball against the Giants, Romo would have learned to be a leader. But Crayton had a brainfart and dropped a perfectly placed pass that hit him right in the hands .... which obviously means Tony still doesn't "get it". Romo should have screamed at him, and then maybe Crayton would have caught it. Or maybe he screamed at him too much, and made Crayton nervous and that's the reason he dropped it. Either way, Crayton's dropping a pass that hit him right in the hands clearly shows Tony doesn't know how to lead.

Not like Aikman did. Alvin Harper caught the long pass that hit him right in the hands in the 49er game. Little known fact ... Aikman's leadership made the ball stick to Harper's hands just by the way that Aikman looked at Harper's hands in the huddle. Aikman's steely gaze made Harper's hands extra sticky for that play. Now that's a leader.

 

[juck]

"A great leader is someone who wins" true.problem is he doesnt when it counts.Maybe he should heed his own words.

 

[rcaldw]

Good post.

But I also hold Patrick Crayton accountable for Romo's lack of leadership. If he caught that ball against the Giants, Romo would have learned to be a leader. But Crayton had a brainfart, which obviously means Tony still doesn't "get it".

Roshi, I agree that Dallas probably wins that game if Crayton catches that ball. I completely agree that that is not on Romo. But can you honestly say that we had not already underperformed that day, and that was part of the reason why that drop cost us the game?

Romo was 18-36 (50 pct) for 201, 1 TD and 1 Int

Barber had 27 carries for 127 yards, so I would say Tony had pretty good run support that day. No?

Also, looking at the boxscore:

Eli Manning was held to 163 yards passing, and the Giants had 88 yards rushing. That is 251 total yards BEFORE any sacks are accounted for.

So we also had great defense that day.

 

[Rampage]

"A great leader is someone who wins" true.problem is he doesnt when it counts.Maybe he should heed his own words.

you say this and have a picture of Dirk and the mavs in your sig.

 

[bayeslife]

I don't exactly agree with some of what he says, but wow you guys, who have never played pro football act like you've been on the sideline or inside a locker room and know how to dictate what the QB of a team should do.

I swear if some of you were playing God and could control Romo, he would be a souless robot.

 

[rcaldw]

I don't exactly agree with some of what he says, but wow you guys, who have never played pro football act like you've been on the sideline or inside a locker room and know how to dictate what the QB of a team should do.

I swear if some of you were playing God and could control Romo, he would be a souless robot.

I like Romo. I have his jersey, a big #9 on the front and Romo on the back. I WANT our QB to have success and do well. That is why I want him to get rid of his present attitude and realize it is going to take a different attitude to be great. Just my opinion.