ESPN Mosley Blog: Romo hasn't been himself this week...with the media

[WoodysGirl]

Romo's rule of thumb
December 20, 2007 5:46 PM


Greetings from my deathbed. Hope you guys are having a splendid afternoon.
In an attempt to feed the Tony Romo news cycle, I just spoke with an assistant coach for the Cowboys who said the normally affable quarterback hasn't been himself this week.

"This is about as quiet as I've ever seen him," said the assistant. "And I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. He's obviously trying to set the proper tone for the team, and I'm pretty sure guys will respond."

For the first time since becoming the starter last season, Romo hasn't made himself available to reporters this week. The Cowboys say it's because he's receiving treatment on his bruised right thumb, but I'm not buying that.

He made the intentional decision not to speak for one of the following two reasons:

1. He's angry about the way he played against the Eagles last Sunday, and by not talking, he's hoping to send a message to his teammates how important Saturday's game in Charlotte is.

2. He knows someone would ask a question regarding the comments T.O. made about his girlfriend, and Tony wants no part of that topic. One of the quarterback's biggest strengths is being able to compartmentalize his life. He can't understand why anyone would criticize him for flying to Los Angeles on an off day when he works harder than any player on the team the other six days.

Now, could someone help me find a hotel room in downtown Charlotte? I'm running out of options here.



Tony Romo, Terrell Owens

Read comments or leave a comment

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I would guess it is a little bit of both reasons.

 

[sbark]

At this point, Romo's actions are speaking louder than any words

I just hope he has a box seat etc lined up for Jessica at Carolina, fans and the media just gotta get over it and grow up

 

[Oh_Canada]

I hope Romo puts everyone on notice that he is back and the Boys hang a forty-spot on the Panthers. If there is one week where a "hoody" style beat down is in order, this would be the week!!

 

[sandy007]

I am not worried about Romo not talking to the press, since reporters may put any spin on his comments. Before I became a teacher, I worked as a copy editor and reporter (after getting my degree in journalism). Romo's true friends never discuss his private life. So unless one of them talks, this fan will take that most of these stories are gossip.

Lately, Mosley has a story everyday about Jessica Simpson, who is getting all the free publicity she needs for her music and acting gigs. Mosley is turning into a tabloid queen on his blog. I wish he would realize report more sports news.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Can anyone from the media blame Romo for not talking? None of them want to talk about Carolina which is where he is placing his focus. Any other topic is irrelevant and a distraction.

 

[lurkercowboy]

I am glad Tony is being serious this week, he needs to be the leader of the team.

As far as hotel rooms go in Charlotte, by far the best place to stay for Panther games is the Doubletree Hotel Charlotte-Gateway Village. You can easily walk to the stadium and they still have available rooms. That is amazing in itself.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I am not worried about Romo not talking to the press, since reporters may put any spin on his comments. Before I became a teacher, I worked as a copy editor and reporter (after getting my degree in journalism). Romo's true friends never discuss his private life. So unless one of them talks, this fan will take that most of these stories are gossip.

Lately, Mosley has a story everyday about Jessica Simpson, who is getting all the free publicity she needs for her music and acting gigs. Mosley is turning into a tabloid queen on his blog. I wish he would realize report more sports news.

Mosely's idol is Skip Bayless so why shouldn't he focus on mindless chatter? He should go writer for a gossip tabloid because that's where his writing talent shines.

 

[Doomsday101]

Can anyone from the media blame Romo for not talking? None of them want to talk about Carolina which is where he is placing his focus. Any other topic is irrelevant and a distraction.

I guess Romo figures what is there to talk about? As you said Dallas has a game vs Carolina and that is all Romo needs to be concerned with.

 

[Apollo Creed]

I don't recall Romo ever having two poor games in a row, no need to start worrying now.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Let's face it. No one is feeling sorry for Romo. He played like a free agent last week. He stunk!

He also is learning that as QB of America's Team he faces scrutiny like no other player in the league. There is a price to be paid for enjoying the pleasures of being a Star. But no matter what is going on inside that locker room he is handling it right by not speaking to the media.

I really believe he will come out and have a great game Saturday night.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Mosely's idol is Skip Bayless so why shouldn't he focus on mindless chatter? He should go writer for a gossip tabloid because that's where his writing talent shines.

Mosley and Romo have been friends for a long time. He was friends with Romo when no one (except Nors and Parcells) knew who Romo was or what kind of QB he would become. When he talks about Romo, I listen.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Tony Romo needs to relax and be himself.

One of his biggest strengths is that he doesn't take himself too seriously and seems to always be at ease.

If he doesn't play well Saturday, the tension will only mount.

However, there could be some other more personal things at play here.

 

[sago1]

Unfortunately I think Romo is now slowly realizing that as the Cowboys franchise QB, he isn't allowed to have a personal life. Whether it's during the season or the off season (judge at Miss Universe contest), Cowboy fans expect him to be fully focused on playing better, working at his tradecraft & winning and not having any personal life (women/golf). He probably also now understands that the media isn't his friend; he's nothing more then a newspaper article to them & a means to get more recognition.

This isn't the first time celebrity status has been attached to Cowboy QBs and it won't be the last. Staubach was married with 4 children when it took over, so his personal life wasn't much of a focus. It was much more difficult for Aikman, who was young, single and good looking just like Romo. Any celebrity Aikman dated become media/tabloid gossip; unfortunately it also applied to any woman he dated in the Dallas area who wasn't known but who immediately was identified by the media when any relationship was discovered. And the media wasn't often kind to any of these women. I remember when he was dating a woman (now his wife) who was heavily criticized by name in a Dallas newspaper because she had the nerve to wear white boots/shoes before May or that she wasn't pretty enough, etc. Additionally Aikman find himself in the tabloids when the media would approach these women for details of their relationships with him.

Some on this board object to his dating a celebrity and bringing her to watch him play, but wouldn't you even object if he was dating a regular woman who wasn't a celebrity. While other Cowboy players are allowed to date and bring that woman/wife to watch them play, somehow Romo can't do that cause we think so little of him that we believe he can be distracted by their presence. I suspect he's more distracted by TO's comments and anybody else on the team who commented on Simpson. What happened to the idea the Cowboys were such a close team and had each others' back -- apparently that doesn't apply when it's our superstar franchise QB & he has a bad game.

Completely understand why Romo not talking to the media. Does anybody really believe the media only interested in discussing foot ball & the Panthers. Why should he give them another news article to hang their hats on? And now that same media is concerned/wondering why he's not available to them any more. Get real. Romo will be available after the game but I doubt he ever again will make himself as available as he was in the past and that's a real shame but it's a lesson learned.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Lately, Mosley has a story everyday about Jessica Simpson, who is getting all the free publicity she needs for her music and acting gigs. Mosley is turning into a tabloid queen on his blog. I wish he would realize report more sports news.

Mosley is good personal friends with Romo... I know Romo's actually been to Mosley's house to eat dinner, stuff like that. I think it goes way back to when Mosley worked for the DMN... Mosley may even have done that "Roaming with Romo" piece when Romo was a totally unknown rookie. I think that's why he jumped all over T.O. for the Jessica comments -- because he's very defensive of his boy.

Speaking of that, though, anyone remember those Roaming articles? They were about stupid things like his dating life even back then. I remember one time Romo was at some kind of luncheon with a bunch of SMU coeds, and he was too shy to even ask any of them out. I remember thinking at the time, geez, sack up Romo -- even if you're a backup, you're still a QB for America's Team and you still make way more than most 22-year-olds. What a long way he's come since then. :

 

[SultanOfSix]

When did the sports media become such soap opera **ssies?

 

[Boysboy]

After that bad game last week, I don't have a problem with this-whatever it takes for him to get back into focus...whatever works, works.

 

[superpunk]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-4-227/Romo-s-rule-of-thumb.htmlThe Cowboys say it's because he's receiving treatment on his bruised right thumb, but I'm not buying that.

He made the intentional decision not to speak for one of the following two reasons:

This is why we tune in. For the bloggers to discount what people say, and tell us what's REALLY going down.

 

[Hostile]

At this point, Romo's actions are speaking louder than any words

I just hope he has a box seat etc lined up for Jessica at Carolina, fans and the media just gotta get over it and grow up

I think it would be funny if he lined up an entire harem. Jessica, Sophia Bush, Krystal Casper (or whatever her name was), and Carrie Underwood. All wearing his jersey and shilling for him.

If the damned sportswriters and fans want tabloid stuff to talk about...give it to them in a way no football player ever has.

 

[Chief]

Mosley is good personal friends with Romo... I know Romo's actually been to Mosley's house to eat dinner, stuff like that. I think it goes way back to when Mosley worked for the DMN... Mosley may even have done that "Roaming with Romo" piece when Romo was a totally unknown rookie. I think that's why he jumped all over T.O. for the Jessica comments -- because he's very defensive of his boy.

Speaking of that, though, anyone remember those Roaming articles? They were about stupid things like his dating life even back then. I remember one time Romo was at some kind of luncheon with a bunch of SMU coeds, and he was too shy to even ask any of them out. I remember thinking at the time, geez, sack up Romo -- even if you're a backup, you're still a QB for America's Team and you still make way more than most 22-year-olds. What a long way he's come since then. :

Good stuff.

Our boy is all grown up now.

Like sago said, this is just part of the process. Romo is seeing another side of the media and he'll learn and go from there.