DMN Blog: Tony Romo's take on leadership

[BigDFan5]

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?

Do you have that list yet?

 

[EPL0c0]

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???

I think there's a good possibility that it's part of the reason.

Nobody ever knocks Owens for not being a hard worker (even in practice); most say just the opposite.

So if you're looking for leadership and you see one guy that works hard and one guy that hardly works... yeah I can see it being part of the problem that may have lead to a division in the locker room.

Don't get me wrong, I think Tony CAN be the guy to lead this team to a SB...but he just hasn't figured out who he's supposed to be on this team and in this league and what's expected of him.

He was a big fish in little pond Burlington HS.
He was a big fish in little pond Eastern Illinios.
Now, he's just a fish....in a great lake....surrounded by lots of other fish...some bigger, some smaller. It's up to him to decide what he has to do to survive.

 

[superpunk]

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?

I never claimed a coach or fellow player couldn't describe it - it is a real thing that can be felt in person. I just take issue with fans talking about something they have no means of evaluating. But I have yet to see one of Romo's coaches or fellow players criticize his ability to lead.

 

[rcaldw]

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?

The word isn't serious... it is delirious.

 

[rcaldw]

I never claimed a coach or fellow player couldn't describe it - it is a real thing that can be felt in person. I just take issue with fans talking about something they have no means of evaluating. But I have yet to see one of Romo's coaches or fellow players criticize his ability to lead.

Have you heard a player or coach describe him as a leader? Not talented, we know he is that. Not fun loving, we know he is that. Not tons of potential, we know he has that. A leader. Have you heard a player or coach describe him in those terms?

 

[superpunk]

Have you heard a player or coach describe him as a leader? Not talented, we know he is that. Not fun loving, we know he is that. Not tons of potential, we know he has that. A leader. Have you heard a player or coach describe him in those terms?

I can't recall any specific instances.

Have you heard a coach or teammate say that he is not a leader?

We could go back and forth with that sort of stupid game all day.

 

[Stash]

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."

I'll agree to disagree.

Can a guy win without being a leader?

Sure he can.

But usually it's a guy playing on a team with tremendous strengths in other areas, like an overpowering running game or all-world defense.

But I think the leadership quality gives a team a much better overall chance of winning a championship than the void of leadership does.

I look at the Starrs, Montanas, Staubachs, Aikmans, Bradys, and Mannings (as in Peyton) and see guys who were real leaders and field generals out there.

But there were also guys like Bradshaw and Favre who won and I wouldn't consider either great leaders.

I don't think the lack of leadership is a deal-breaker, but I do feel that it's a great advantage if your quarterback has it.

 

[InmanRoshi]

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.

Exactly. Tony chewed Gurode out in the Giants playoff loss for crappy snaps and he "lost his composure" and "needs to be more stoic". When they lose this year, he needs to show more emotion and chew more people out.

I'm not saying Romo can't improve and maybe needs to snap out of his funk, but it would definitely help if the coaching staff HELPED him out took just a little bit off his plate. Wade doesn't have the cajones to corral the WRs and put them in their place (A 7th round slot WR like Patrick Crayton is making demands? Really?). So now it's Tony's responsibility to be the "leader" and tell them to sit down and shut up? Garrett doesn't have the will or the patience to stick with a power running game, so it's Tony's job to put 30 points up every game by slinging it around 45 times a game (without a mistake).

It's a vast contrast compared to what Troy had to deal with in the 90's where Jimmy Johnson took charge and put underperforming players in their place, the Cowboys had the best running game in maybe the history of the NFL, the defense was perennially in the Top 5 in the NFL, and Troy only had to worry about making 15 timely passes when needed and win 21-13.

 

[skicat1898]

There are at least 20 QBs that could "challenge" Romo. If the question was who could beat him out right, I'd say around 6, maybe even 2 in NE alone.

 

[Stash]

I can't recall any specific instances.

Have you heard a coach or teammate say that he is not a leader?

We could go back and forth with that sort of stupid game all day.

What would be the net gain if someone did say he wasn't a leader?

Just like nobody says Wade Phillips sucks as a head coach when we all know that's true.

 

[superpunk]

As for being a leader, Witten said Romo was more vocal last year, but is open for him taking on an even greater role this season.

"I think he does a good job of demanding a lot from his teammates," Witten said. "I think he's had time to evaluate and if he wants to do more, obviously it's his team, being the leader and quarterback of the offense. I think he creates so much for our offense, the way he plays and the way he demands so much from the players.

"When you don't win, that's when things get challenged. For him, he's a big competitor. I don't think any of his teammates look at him any differently."

 

[TNCowboy]

The word isn't serious... it is delirious.

It's impossible to have a discussion with homers who think that Romo couldn't be challenged for a job by guys like McNabb, Brees, Palmer, Cassel and the like.

I guess they're still in that fantasy world where the Cowboys made the playoffs and didn't finish 9-7. Many of them apparently think the Cowboys are still going and on the cusp of the Super Bowl.

 

[skicat1898]

Yea! Witten(Tony's during the season room mate) believes 100% that Tony is a leader...... Who woulda thunkit..

 

[rcaldw]

I can't recall any specific instances.

Have you heard a coach or teammate say that he is not a leader?

We could go back and forth with that sort of stupid game all day.

We actually had reports, this past season, about Romo's practice habits didn't we? We had Aikman come out publicly and question Romo's post game attitude after the Philly loss, and even talked about the Cabo trip. You have current NFL players who have made statements like, "I sure won't be traveling to Cabo" (Eli Manning). Jerry Jones, the WONDERFUL owner of our team has come out publicly and said that getting Romo to protect the ball is going to be a priority, and Bill Parcells has publicly talked about the need to have someone reign Romo in. Does any of that indicate that Romo is a leader?

But I don't want to have my main concern lost in this shuffle. I think Romo can win. I think the Cowboys can win with him, just as he is. BUT I THINK WITH A QB LIKE ROMO WE HAVE TO HAVE LEADERSHIP ABOVE HIM.

We need a COACH with leadership
We need OUR OWNER to go back to his box and leave the coaches alone.

I believe with leadership above the players, we have the talent to win right now.

 

[Idgit]

We actually had reports, this past season, about Romo's practice habits didn't we? We had Aikman come out publicly and question Romo's post game attitude after the Philly loss, and even talked about the Cabo trip. You have current NFL players who have made statements like, "I sure won't be traveling to Cabo" (Eli Manning). Jerry Jones, the WONDERFUL owner of our team has come out publicly and said that getting Romo to protect the ball is going to be a priority, and Bill Parcells has publicly talked about the need to have someone reign Romo in. Does any of that indicate that Romo is a leader?

But I don't want to have my main concern lost in this shuffle. I think Romo can win. I think the Cowboys can win with him, just as he is. BUT I THINK WITH A QB LIKE ROMO WE HAVE TO HAVE LEADERSHIP ABOVE HIM.

We need a COACH with leadership
We need OUR OWNER to go back to his box and leave the coaches alone.

I believe with leadership above the players, we have the talent to win right now.

You can't take a string like that out of context and fairly conclude Tony Romo isn't a leader. The practice habits reports were unsourced and have been contradicted by every one of his teammates who's gone on record on the subject. Aikman's comments were about perception and not about Tony Romo's abilities, b/c Aikman has been consistently and significantly pro-Romo. I'm not sure what the connection is between leadership and protecting the ball, but we can leave that one for later. I think you'd find Parcells thinks Tony's the whole package if you care to do anything more than cherry-pick his comments.

 

[superpunk]

I remember after what was Peyton Manning's sixth or so playoff loss to the Steelers, in which he was horrible he said this;

"I'm trying to be a good teammate here. Let's just say we had some problems in protection.''

The next year, he had a playoff run where he threw 3 TDs and 7 INTs, I believe, but the Colts won the Super Bowl. And suddenly all the criticism of Peyton, for being a choker, a stat-*****, a poor leader, un-clutch, etc....suddenly disappeared. Amazing.

 

[BigDFan5]

It's impossible to have a discussion with homers who think that Romo couldn't be challenged for a job by guys like McNabb, Brees, Palmer, Cassel and the like.

I guess they're still in that fantasy world where the Cowboys made the playoffs and didn't finish 9-7. Many of them apparently think the Cowboys are still going and on the cusp of the Super Bowl.

So no list coming? This is me trying to have a discussion You are avoiding it like the plague

 

[skicat1898]

It is obvious that there are 3 schools of thought here on Romo....

1 group would trade him to anybody that would give us something for him.

Another group that believes he has problems but could still develope into a very servicable QB.

And a 3rd group that would love to see Romo do a spread for Playgirl magazine....

Myself, I fall between the 1st and 2nd group,,,, the kid has a lot to prove and we were saying that last year.

 

[Stash]

I remember after what was Peyton Manning's sixth or so playoff loss to the Steelers, in which he was horrible he said this;

"I'm trying to be a good teammate here. Let's just say we had some problems in protection.''

The next year, he had a playoff run where he threw 3 TDs and 7 INTs, I believe, but the Colts won the Super Bowl. And suddenly all the criticism of Peyton, for being a choker, a stat-*****, a poor leader, un-clutch, etc....suddenly disappeared. Amazing.

I his defense, Manning was getting his team to the playoffs consistantly.

Much like I talked about earlier, leadership in itself won't win it for you. Not when you've got a sieve for a defense like Indianapolis had, not to mention the fact that Manning had to play the Patriots every year.

But I think leadership is a significant positive for a team.

And a trait the current Cowboys are sorely in need of - in many areas.

 

[Doomsday101]

We have a QB who in 67 starts has 81 TD passes 46 ints hitting 63.6 percent of his passes with a QB rating of 94.7 excuse me if I'm not ready to ditch him.