DMN Blog: Tony Romo's take on leadership

[AMERICAS_FAN]

It's funny. When TO talks, it's easy to ignore because we know we can get another WR. But when you hear Tony talk like this...it's very disheartening.

Reading this, I immediately pictured that scene on the sidelines when Terrell's getting in McNabb's face and McNabb just rolls his eyes. Yet, Owens got all the blame...

I wonder if this attitude plays any role in the divisions in the lockerroom?

Well, we've all hard the leaks about how Romo doesn't take practice seriously, etc. Whether that is correct or not is irrelevant; what's relevant is that this is clear indication that some players don't like his attitude and/or approach as a leader, and that is symptomatic of the division. The question is, is it part of its cause???

 

[wileedog]

You don't need to wonder about it because it already has. We've all hard the leaks about how Romo doesn't take practice seriously, etc. Whether that is correct or not is irrlevasnt; what's relevant is that this is clear indication that some players don't like his attitude and/or approach as a leader.

I find it suspicious that we have never, ever heard anything like this until Romo and TO got into a feud over Tony's BFF.

Not a coincidence IMO.

 

[superpunk]

Basically people's complaints about Tony's "leadership" boils down to this.

1. They hate that the Cowboys as a whole have come up short the past few years.

2. Tony doesn't act the way they want him to act off the field. Namely, stoic and private.

3. Tony doesn't act the way they want him to act on the field. Namely, chewing people out who make mistakes.

It's really just like Peyton Manning. Eventually, Peyton Manning won the super bowl. And amazingly enough, he was the same guy he'd always been.

Basically this nonsense about "leadership" from Tony will go away once he wins. People are mad at him for not winning. Let's not make it into something it's not.

 

[rcaldw]

Basically people's complaints about Tony's "leadership" boils down to this.

1. They hate that the Cowboys as a whole have come up short the past few years.

2. Tony doesn't act the way they want him to act off the field. Namely, stoic and private.

3. Tony doesn't act the way they want him to act on the field. Namely, chewing people out who make mistakes.

It's really just like Peyton Manning. Eventually, Peyton Manning won the super bowl. And amazingly enough, he was the same guy he'd always been.

Basically this nonsense about "leadership" from Tony will go away once he wins. People are mad at him for not winning. Let's not make it into something it's not.

Actually it is very UNLIKE Peyton Manning, because Peyton Manning exhibited leadership qualities long before they won a Super Bowl, and he was the unquestioned leader on their football team long before they won the Super Bowl. Winning the Super Bowl confirmed Manning's leadership, it didn't create it.

 

[Vintage]

Ok name 20 QBs who would have a legit shot at beating him out of a job

Brady, Manning, Rivers

That's 3.


Then there's 4-20.

Tebow is so good he gets counted that many times.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I find it suspicious that we have never, ever heard anything like this until Romo and TO got into a feud over Tony's BFF.

Not a coincidence IMO.

Bingo.

 

[superpunk]

Actually it is very UNLIKE Peyton Manning, because Peyton Manning exhibited leadership qualities long before they won a Super Bowl, and he was the unquestioned leader on their football team long before they won the Super Bowl. Winning the Super Bowl confirmed Manning's leadership, it didn't create it.

I enjoyed this bit of revisionist history.

You obviously have memory problems if you think that people weren't killing Peyton for always losing to New England and always coming up short.

 

[BigDFan5]

Brady, Manning, Rivers

That's 3.


Then there's 4-20.

Tebow is so good he gets counted that many times.

Finally an answer I can get behind!

 

[Vintage]

Basically people's complaints about Tony's "leadership" boils down to this.

1. They hate that the Cowboys as a whole have come up short the past few years.

2. Tony doesn't act the way they want him to act off the field. Namely, stoic and private.

3. Tony doesn't act the way they want him to act on the field. Namely, chewing people out who make mistakes.

It's really just like Peyton Manning. Eventually, Peyton Manning won the super bowl. And amazingly enough, he was the same guy he'd always been.

Basically this nonsense about "leadership" from Tony will go away once he wins. People are mad at him for not winning. Let's not make it into something it's not.

You forgot he wears his hat backwards.

Blatant disrespect imo.

 

[Stash]

Basically people's complaints about Tony's "leadership" boils down to this.

1. They hate that the Cowboys as a whole have come up short the past few years.

2. Tony doesn't act the way they want him to act off the field. Namely, stoic and private.

3. Tony doesn't act the way they want him to act on the field. Namely, chewing people out who make mistakes.

It's really just like Peyton Manning. Eventually, Peyton Manning won the super bowl. And amazingly enough, he was the same guy he'd always been.

Basically this nonsense about "leadership" from Tony will go away once he wins. People are mad at him for not winning. Let's not make it into something it's not.

And the guy you mentioned - Peyton Manning - isn't the unquestioned leader of his team?

I think there are situations where teams can win despite not having great leaders at quarterback, but I think if we put a list of Super Bowl winners together, more often than not, the team would have a leader at the QB spot.

Great quarterbacks are leaders who act almost like a coach on the field and hold not only teammates, but themselves accountable for mistakes.

It's obvious from Romo's play and his defensiveness on the subject that he doesn't understand or embrace the concept.

Therefore I see little reason to think he rises up from the good to great quarterback level.

 

[rcaldw]

I enjoyed this bit of revisionist history.

You obviously have memory problems if you think that people weren't killing Peyton for always losing to New England and always coming up short.

The only person on his team that I can remember killing Peyton was his kicker, and I think we all know how that one turned out.

 

[superpunk]

You forgot he wears his hat backwards.

Blatant disrespect imo.

**** imo.

 

[Stash]

I enjoyed this bit of revisionist history.

You obviously have memory problems if you think that people weren't killing Peyton for always losing to New England and always coming up short.

Were they questioning his leadership?

 

[rcaldw]

Were they questioning his leadership?

His kicker was. While he was drunk.

 

[wileedog]

His kicker was. While he was drunk.

Maybe he was the only one with a big enough mouth to say it.

There is no doubt Payton is the face of that franchise. But is he really a leader? I don't recall many sideline chewouts or pep talks watching him, although I readily admit I don't watch the Colts when I can help it.

 

[rcaldw]

Maybe he was the only one with a big enough mouth to say it.

There is no doubt Payton is the face of that franchise. But is he really a leader? I don't recall many sideline chewouts or pep talks watching him, although I readily admit I don't watch the Colts when I can help it.

I haven't watched them that much either. I did see their America's Game thing on their Super Bowl year, and there was a part where Manning chewed out his center. He also had another lineman step in and stop him though.

I can't imagine someone ever doing that with Aikman.

So, who knows? I think Manning is respected more for his brain and playing ability than anything. He also seems to be a likeable guy too. But on that one occasion any way, he was giving Jeff Saturday a rear end chewing because Saturday complained they should have run the ball instead of trying to pass it inside the 10 yard line. Manning told him to just shut up and block and not try to call plays.

 

[superpunk]

Were they questioning his leadership?

Sure. Questioning his ability to win the big game, couldn't do it at Tennessee, couldn't beat Bellichick, couldn't win in the playoffs. He was like 0-6 in playoff games at one point. He was just a flashy stats guy who took loads of crap. People hated on him for all the commercials he was doing without having "accomplished" anything. The same crap Romo gets. Leadership is just a cozy word for a concept you can't describe. It's just silly.

You either win or you don't. Until you win, people will nitpick reasons why you don't, just like they did for Peyton and are doing for Tony. Leadership, clutch, blah blah blah. It's all silly code for "this guy didn't win when we wanted him to and we're blaming him - here's why."

 

[ddh33]

Just wow. Yeah, playing QB for the Cowboys is really a dream job. And the best part is that so many "fans" can just put it back on Romo by saying that he needs to get tougher and have thicker skin. Nice.

Romo is right. Micheal Jordan was once thought of as the most selfish basketball player ever. He punched Steve Kerr in the face in practice. He helped get Doug Collins fired. Horace Grant hated playing with him and couldn't wait to get away from him. And you know what? Michael Jordan is still the best basketball player I've ever seen. But his "leadership" is very debateable.

I think fans just hear what they want to hear because they have already made up their minds. As others have said, they are mad because the Cowboys lost, and it's easy to blame Romo. Of course, when they are logically forced to consider Staubach or Aikman, they just throw out all reason and go back to yelling about Tony anyway. Such is the modern fan, I suppose.

I think Tony is a very good football player and a heck of a QB. He prepares himself. He wants to win more than anyone, according to many sources. He's worked his tail off to get to this position. He's got a team that is practically falling apart around him. But if he would just yell, that would be better for fans? If he would just chew someone out, that would prove his toughness and leadership?

If Tony hangs his head, it's because he's soft, right? Of course, if Tony didn't hang his head after a bad play, everyone would say he didn't care. He's going to get trashed by a bunch of "fans" no matter what he does. That's the most unfortunate thing. And he's going to get trashed while being held to a mythical standard that does not exist - nor ever has.

 

[rcaldw]

Sure. Questioning his ability to win the big game, couldn't do it at Tennessee, couldn't beat Bellichick, couldn't win in the playoffs. He was like 0-6 in playoff games at one point. He was just a flashy stats guy who took loads of crap. People hated on him for all the commercials he was doing without having "accomplished" anything. The same crap Romo gets. Leadership is just a cozy word for a concept you can't describe. It's just silly.

You either win or you don't. Until you win, people will nitpick reasons why you don't, just like they did for Peyton and are doing for Tony. Leadership, clutch, blah blah blah. It's all silly code for "this guy didn't win when we wanted him to and we're blaming him - here's why."

You know, your right. I'll bet you that right now you could talk to every head coach in the NFL, and scouting department people, in fact, you can take on down to college programs and high school programs, and ask them this question.

"Is there such a thing as leadership in a person? Are there some guys who are leaders and some guys who aren't? And do you want guys on your team who have leadership ability?"

And I'll bet all those coaches and all those football people would tell you it is all just an imaginary thing, and that it really doesn't matter a whit.

What do you think?

 

[TNCowboy]

I wouldn't take McNabb or Hasselback over Romo. Both are system QBs and McNabb is horribly inaccurate and the definition of choker.

I'd like to see Ryan do it again for a full season before I take him, he looked awful in that playoff game.

Who else in the AFC? I'm not sure I would even take Roth over him, he threw more pics than Tony with 9 less TDs.

Has Romo proven he isn't a a choker?

Roethlisberger couldn't challenge Romo for a starting job if the 2 were on the same team.....are you serious?