Who was shocked that Romo retired?

[CowboyRoy]

I for one thought his competitive spirit would drive him to continue to play and try to win a championship. Were there other factors that made him quite other than the booth job?

Personally, I am disappointed in him. Does his decision give an indication as to why he just didnt have the IT factor in his career?

 

[EST_1986]

I was shocked but not surprised. The guy took hellacious beatings and played through a lot of big injuries. That stuff takes a toll on you. The man has kids he wanted to be able to play with for the foreseeable future.

 

[John813]

Or, he really loved playing for Dallas and didn't have it in him to be a mercenary?

That, and if you didn't know, he had multiple back issues and injuries over the past few years. He is also 37 years old.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I for one thought his competitive spirit would drive him to continue to play and try to win a championship. Were there other factors that made him quite other than the booth job?

Personally, I am disappointed in him. Does his decision give an indication as to why he just didnt have the IT factor in his career?

Man you are tough.

The guy gave it his all. He may still have that "competitive spirit" but he is wise enough to know when to walk away. I'm certain his family is happy with his decision and so is he. Now if the right opportunity comes along... .

 

[Ranching]

I for one thought his competitive spirit would drive him to continue to play and try to win a championship. Were there other factors that made him quite other than the booth job?

Personally, I am disappointed in him. Does his decision give an indication as to why he just didnt have the IT factor in his career?

Sometimes you just know its time. Not disappointed in another mans decision to do what he thinks is best for him and his family. Good luck to Tony.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Sometimes you just know its time. Not disappointed in another mans decision to do what he thinks is best for him and his family. Good luck to Tony.

Amen.

 

[Stash]

I for one thought his competitive spirit would drive him to continue to play and try to win a championship. Were there other factors that made him quite other than the booth job?

Health, family, and life after football. I think his wife and young children were a huge factor in his decision. And being chosen to step in on CBS' top announce team is a huge opportunity for anybody.

Personally, I am disappointed in him. Does his decision give an indication as to why he just didnt have the IT factor in his career?

How are you disappointed?

 

[Howboutdemcowboys31]

I really thought he was going Denver or Houston, but I'm happy he didn't.

 

[dogunwo]

He hasn't retired yet.

 

[rynochop]

So the folks who've bad mouthed him his entire career are disappointed In him that he's retiring..shocking

 

[MRV52]

I for one thought his competitive spirit would drive him to continue to play and try to win a championship. Were there other factors that made him quite other than the booth job?

Personally, I am disappointed in him. Does his decision give an indication as to why he just didnt have the IT factor in his career?

He is not retired, he is just taking a leave.

 

[Reality]

I think if Romo had no family, especially no kids, he would probably still be playing, albeit for someone else of course. I think most people though in his situation with having a wife, young kids and an incredible, possibly once in a lifetime post-football job offer, would find that too good to pass up.

I know from my own experience when you have been doing something for so long, and you actually start thinking about life afterwards, I mean REALLY envisioning it, what you've been doing starts losing its grasp on you a little. It's not that you lose interest in what you've been doing, but rather you just start to think, "I've had a lot of great times and experiences doing this for so long, maybe it's time to see what else is out there."

 

[Reverend Conehead]

I was only a little surprised. I thought it was possible he would, but thought it was more likely he would play another 2 years with some other team. I don't blame him one bit though.

 

[CWR]

I for one thought his competitive spirit would drive him to continue to play and try to win a championship. Were there other factors that made him quite other than the booth job?

Personally, I am disappointed in him. Does his decision give an indication as to why he just didnt have the IT factor in his career?

Disappointed in him? He wanted to win and he wanted to win as a Cowboy. His body was breaking down and there is more to life than football. Maybe he wanted to be healthy enough to play ball with his kids and so on. Him falling apart after the GB game in 2014 was a perfect illustration of how badly he wanted it. No one wanted to prove the critics wrong more than him but unfortunately it wasn't in the cards. I cant say "disappointed in him" is the right phrasing, just flat out disappointed seems more accurate.

 

[Stash]

I think if Romo had no family, especially no kids, he would probably still be playing, albeit for someone else of course. I think most people though in his situation with having a wife, young kids and an incredible, possibly once in a lifetime post-football job offer, would find that too good to pass up.

I know from my own experience when you have been doing something for so long, and you actually start thinking about life afterwards, I mean REALLY envisioning it, what you've been doing starts losing its grasp on you a little. It's not that you lose interest in what you've been doing, but rather you just start to think, "I've had a lot of great times and experiences doing this for so long, maybe it's time to see what else is out there."

That's a great summation.

And there aren't many post-football opportunities better than stepping into a network's #1 announcing job. That just doesn't come along. And the competition for broadcasting jobs only gets tougher and more crowded every year. I think when Romo realized that, it made the decision to make the career transition that much clearer.

The fact that teams like Houston and Denver who truly needed quarterbacks didn't show the expected interest and aggression in pursuing him was likely a deciding factor as well. I still can't figure out why exactly, but it's on those teams to explain things if and when their projected quarterbacks falter.

I wish Romo could have won a championship with the Cowboys, but I am very happy for him that he's moved on to an enviable position in broadcasting.

 

[DFWJC]

A couple of people around here actually got a bit hostile when I suggested that he was strongly considering retirement.
They wouldn't let up either...got downright nasty.

The guy has left body parts all over NFL fields for years and has a very young family at home that would like to see him grow older outside of a wheelchair.

He loved the Cowboys and already had stated in the past numerous times how distasteful it would be to him to be a rent-a-QB for a contender elsewhere.

Have to admit, Romo in Houston would've been must see football for me. That team would've been dangerous. But I really would've hated seeing those knuckleheads go deep into he playoffs if he was healthy. They didn't deserve him.

 

[Reality]

That's a great summation.

And there aren't many post-football opportunities better than stepping into a network's #1 announcing job. That just doesn't come along. And the competition for broadcasting jobs only gets tougher and more crowded every year. I think when Romo realized that, it made the decision to make the career transition that much clearer.

The fact that teams like Houston and Denver who truly needed quarterbacks didn't show the expected interest and aggression in pursuing him was likely a deciding factor as well. I still can't figure out why exactly, but it's on those teams to explain things if and when their projected quarterbacks falter.

I think the Texans wanted Romo a lot more than the Broncos mainly because the Broncos had a couple of options already. I also think the Texans tried to downplay their interest thinking that if the Cowboys wouldn't just release him then, they would before June 1st. What they didn't count on is that gave CBS time to make him an incredible offer and, more importantly, it gave Romo time to think about it. I think if the Texans could do it all over again, they would do whatever they had to do to get Romo in there as soon as possible. That said, they can at least remind themselves that Romo is 37 years old and hardly played the last two years, so it's not like they lost out on a younger quarterback with several more years left in him.

I wish Romo could have won a championship with the Cowboys, but I am very happy for him that he's moved on to an enviable position in broadcasting.

I agree. With all he had to deal with being quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, I wish he could have won a Super Bowl for the Cowboys. That said, he's had a great career and made a lot of money and has a great post-football career lined up, so not too bad for an undrafted rookie free agent.

 

[Hardline]

Romo was fully healthy and ready to win his starting position back.He had a great running game to back him up like the 2014 season and would've had great success. I was shocked to hear about his retirement.

 

[dogberry]

I would have liked to have seen him play all of the Philadelphia game that Dak didn't play.

My conspiratorial side believes that he was maneuvered so that he would retire and not play for any other team.

 

[Stash]

I think the Texans wanted Romo a lot more than the Broncos mainly because the Broncos have a couple of options already. I also think the Texans tried to downplay their interest thinking that if the Cowboys wouldn't just release him then, they would before June 1st. What they didn't count on is that gave CBS time to make him an incredible offer and, more importantly, it gave Romo time to think about it. I think if the Texans could do it all over again, they would do whatever they had to do to get Romo in there as soon as possible.

It looked that way to me too. They messed around and got cute and didn't think about CBS offering him their top job. Between that, his young family, and his wife's wishes, he decided to hang it up.

That said, they can at least remind themselves that Romo is 37 years old and hardly played the last two years, so it's not like they lost out on a younger quarterback with several more years left in him.

That's true, but given the makeup of their team and the window they have to keep that team together, I thought it was in their best interests to go for it and kick the door in. They could have drafted Watson anyway for the future while doing their best to win now, before Watt breaks down for good or Clowney becomes too expensive to keep.

They've already lost their top corner and their left tackle is holding out for a new deal. It looks like a missed opportunity to truly compete for it all. And this for a team that hung tough against the eventual champs in the playoffs with the worst quarterback play in the league.