MySA: Romo reunites; next step to come

Gemini Dolly

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http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/cowboys/Romo_reunites_next_step_to_come.html

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — They were dressing about 20 feet from each other, and they were racing to see who was the fastest at it. At least Tony Romo was racing. He wanted to get to the media podium first and get that chore behind him.

All of this was new to Miles Austin. He wanted to wear his Yankees cap to the podium, for example, and was told that's an NFL crime.

They were having fun, unlike last week. Then, after a play had gone wrong in Denver between the two, there were questions whether this could divide the team.

That evaporated in the postgame euphoria on Sunday, and winning has a way of doing this. The Cowboys, as they head to a bye week, have one hope.

That this will solve everything else that has been going wrong, too.

The Cowboys believe today, at least. When Romo threw to Austin in overtime, and Austin ran past the Chiefs and a Bob Hayes team record, the Cowboys didn't care about the details. They didn't care they had squeaked past against a franchise that has now lost 28 of 30 games.

Sprinting to join the celebration, Romo said he felt like “a little kid again.”

According to a column in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Romo had been acting like a child. In Denver, Romo had thrown outside as Austin turned in, and an interception followed. Romo allowed the impression to exist that it was Austin's fault, when Roy Williams, among others, later said it wasn't.

“For one,” the column read, “the quarterback has to be the most stand-up player in the locker room. Above all else, there's a trust factor that has to happen between him and his receivers. In this case, was the trust factor damaged?”

This was a legitimate question for a 2-2 team without much coaching leadership. This is also how seasons fall apart.

So the Cowboys went to Kansas City with collapse possible, and they were on the brink throughout. As emphatically as Romo contended afterward “losing was never an option,” winning didn't appear to be much of one, either.

Dallas committed 13 penalties. A Romo fumble set up a Chiefs touchdown. And the Cowboys scored three points in the first half, which made for a total of three in their last five quarters.

Give the Cowboys this: They stayed with it. Give something to Wade Phillips, as well. His players didn't quit on him.

This time, Jay Ratliff broke through to block a field goal. Keith Brooking combined for 11 tackles. And Tashard Choice got behind his massive blockers and averaged nearly a dozen yards a carry.

But the Romo-Austin connection was the difference. And while everyone is aware of Romo's friendship with Jason Witten, Romo has more in common with Austin. Both came from small schools, and both signed with Dallas as undrafted free agents.

When Austin arrived in 2006, Romo was still a backup in training camp. They practiced together as extras, and they had the same approach. Both are gym rats.

This suggests they are close enough to not let last week damage their relationship. What Romo said to Austin as they exchanged places on the podium Sunday suggested the same.

“My light-skinned brother,” Romo said to him with a grin.

They were as jocular when Romo raced to dress. Then, a Cowboys public relations director was keeping score. “I see pants, I see socks,” he said.

Romo saw how things were going, and he gave up. As it was with the game, Austin was too fast.

“You don't have to worry about doing anything with your hair, do you?” Romo asked Austin.

Romo knew the answer.

Austin's head is shaved.
 
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