Romo talks about leadership
July 30, 2009 3:05 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
SAN ANTONIO --
Tony Romo drew some criticism Wednesday for not talking to the media on the first day of training camp. In fact, Cowboys Hall of Famer Michael Irvin led off his radio show Thursday by criticizing Romo for several minutes.
Romo But after Thursday morning's practice, Romo took his spot in front of at least 75 reporters and cameramen. One of the offseason storylines has revolved around Romo's leadership abilities. Owner Jerry Jones and head coach Wade Phillips spent a good portion of Tuesday's state-of-the-team address defending Romo's leadership skills. Phillips, in particular, said that Romo's willingness to show up for every workout session helped set the tone for the offseason. Here's what Romo said when he was asked if he should be more of a leader in '09.
"I don't know if any year is any different from any other year when you play the position that quarterbacks in the National Football League play. Here it's always all those things on the table, it's all part of playing the position. You either can handle all the stuff that goes along [with it], and handle all the stuff off the field ... again you're not going to last very long [if you can't.]
Romo was also asked about all the criticism he took for how he handled the postgame news conference after the season-ending 44-6 loss to the Eagles.
"I talked about that a long time ago," said Romo. "We're kind of moving by last year. I think for us it's just about going forward and improving this year. It's about today, though. It's not about our first game, it's not about next week, it's about today and this practice. Did we improve right here, what we just did? I think we did. Now we've got to go back and do the exact same thing this afternoon and put forth another step forward. I tell the guys, you just keep stacking days together and you'll be able to add them up at the end of the year."
So does Romo feel any more pressure than usual heading into the '09 season?
"Yeah, there's never been pressure any other year," he said sarcastically. "It's always just a cakewalk normally. It's just another season. It's another season, another start. Like I said, optimism is very high around here. In the last few years, this is probably the first time that we feel not that we're being overlooked, but some of you guys have decided to take other teams in the division or in the conference and things of that nature. That's a different role, playing that kind of role -- not that that serves you good or bad. It's just a little different in that regard. That might the only thing I see as a little different."
Romo only fielded one T.O.-related question. Someone wanted to know if he'd talked to teammates who may have thought he played a role in the wide receiver's departure.
"No. Once again that's all people's hearsay, things of that nature," said Romo. "Internally, people don't deal with stuff that is a non-issue, per se, to some of the guys on the team, and that's just part of it."
So did that clear things up for you guys? "People don't deal with stuff that is a non-issue, per se. Hmmm. I guess he's saying his role in T.O.'s departure was way overblown -- and he might be right. I don't think Romo reached out to Jerry Jones and complained about T.O. Perhaps he let the word filter through others, but Romo tried to avoid the drama as much as possible.
I'll say this: Without T.O. here, this camp has a much different feel. The guy's been the biggest lightning rod in the league for years -- and I'd sort of gotten used to him being around. Do any of you guys miss seeing him in a Cowboys uniform?
The great
Mike Jefferson is now wearing T.O.'s No. 81. And he's also wearing spandex tights. OK, we'll see what Wade Phillips has to say at 3:45 p.m. ET. Now, I'm going to take a peek at what's going on around the rest of the division.
