http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2006/12/20/sports/sports001.txt
IRVING, Texas -- OK, talk about Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson apparently was just fabricated rumor.
But believe that the former Eastern Illinois quarterback suddenly a nationally known star for the nation’s team is seeing former American Idol winning singer Carrie Underwood.
“That one is true,” Romo said.
So is this one:Romo is a Pro Bowler.
In a dream come true for Romo since becoming the Dallas Cowboys’ starting quarterback two months ago, he now has been chosen for the NFL’s all-star game to be played Feb. 10 at Honolulu.
“It’s super exciting,” Romo said Tuesday afternoon after the Pro Bowl rosters were announced. “I don’t know. It’s hard to explain.
“I definitely didn’t expect it. I felt I didn’t play enough games. It just means a lot that coaches, players and fans supported me.”
After serving the backup to Drew Bledsoe through five games and then taking over in the second half of game six, Romo has been one of the league’s best and joins the New Orleans’ Saints Drew Brees and St. Louis Rams’ Marc Bulger as the NFC’s Pro Bowl quarterbacks.
Romo is the first Eastern Illinois product chosen for the Pro Bowl since Charleston’s Jeff Gossett, punting for the Oakland Raiders, landed a spot in the 1991 season.
Romo’s 98.4 passer rating leads the NFC and is second in the NFL to the Indianapolis Colts’ Peyton Manning’s 99.0.
Leading Dallas to wins in six of his eight starts, Romo for the year has completed 183 of 276 passes for 66.3 percent completions, 2,440 yards and 16 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. His 8.84 yards per attempt leads the NFL.
In front of a Thanksgiving audience, he tied a Cowboys record throwing five touchdown passes in a game.
Adding some mobility many felt the Cowboys had been lacking, Romo has also gained 44 yards on 27 rushes.
“I just think I’m blessed,” he said. “Every chance I get I try to do as well as I can. It’s neat that I can play in the league and play at a decent level.”
The 2003 Walter Payton Trophy award winners as NCAA Division I-AA’s player of the year and a three-time Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year at Eastern, Romo then had to wait his turn after signing as an undrafted free agent with the Cowboys.
He went three seasons without attempting a pass in a regular season NFL game but now has taken the national sports scene by storm.
But not everything has changed for Romo, who returned a phone call to the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier office Tuesday afternoon.
“I found out about an hour ago,” he said of the Pro Bowl selection. “I just called mom and dad and have been watching film. It’s exciting but there’s still film to watch. At the same time, I’m here to win football games.”
