3 Ways Tony Romo Can Take Another Step Forward for the Dallas Cowboys

The last four Super Bowls played have featured seven quarterbacks consisting of Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner. 

Anyone notice who's missing from that list?  Everyone all together now...it's Tony Romo! 

With the exception of Kurt Warner, who's now retired, and Peyton Manning, who is recovering from a complicated and complex neck injury, you are basically looking at the elite group of quarterbacks in the NFL. 

Some may argue otherwise and have their own ranking system, but it's hard to argue the point.  While each of those players is uniquely talented in his own way and has traveled different paths to NFL greatness, they share a few common characteristics.  

Although the first and obvious one is that they all have at least one title to their credit, the second and most significant are the steps they took to achieve that greatness.

I believe that Romo has taken more than a few major steps forward since Bill Parcells helped launch his career back in 2006. 

In fact, if you go by statistics, he had the fourth-highest quarterback rating in 2011 behind Rodgers, Brees and Brady, and threw for over 4,000 yards, had 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions as well.

What sticks out in people's minds is the 9-17 record during December and January.  Does that mean he's not talented enough to win those big games?  That would be a resounding no. 

But when it comes to Romo, there is always a debate about where he ranks, what his game is lacking and the fact he hasn't taken another step forward.  I will now give you three ways he can take that significant step and end all debates.

1.  Better Decision-Making During Situational Football

At times Romo awes us with some of his Houdini impersonations and his ability to elude danger, and at other times we simply cringe when he attempts a pass into a tight window with multiple defenders hovering over his target. 

He still occasionally has that "gun-slinging" mentality and although he has improved over the years, I can't help but reflect on the games against the New York Jets and Detroit Lions.  Some of his decisions in those games put the Cowboys in dangerous situations and ultimately cost us in the end. 

I feel the root of the 9-17 December record stems from some of those decisions.  Unfortunately those decisions all came at the most critical times.  Maybe it's something schematic, maybe it's miscommunication and mental lapse or maybe at times the game moves too fast for him. 

Whatever the case may be, in 2012 he needs to come in with the mindset that he will know when a play needs to be made and when he needs to throw the ball away. 

He must sharpen his ability to think critically and be clear in his decision-making process, particularly when the game is on the line and in crucial situations. 

Know the situation, know the clock, know the stakes, focus on the goal.  Winning.

2.  Change in Perception

Romo is a very likable guy who usually does an adequate job dealing with the media whether the Cowboys win or lose. 

I've heard him make reference to the fact that losing a football game isn't the worst thing in his life, he's had worse happen to him or the usual reference to we just have to get better and have fun. 

Although his outlook is positive, he still seems to stir up his critics and fans with that happy-go-lucky perception.  It often leads people, myself included, to ask if he has that burning desire to want to achieve greatness and reach the top. 

A part of me feels that people haven't forgotten about the Cabo debacle in 2007.  I have to believe he wants to win very badly, but does hearing all the right things mean that those feelings lie within Tony Romo? 

In 2012 he needs to display that in his play, in his demeanor and in his leadership.  Show the fans how bad you really want to be mentioned up there with the elite 

3.  Leadership

Romo has been labeled everything from choke artist, soft, Hollywood and fantasy football first-round pick during his career and probably a few other adjectives not worth mentioning. 

However, during the 2011 season he showed why nobody can question his toughness.  Playing with a punctured lung, broken ribs and a swollen throwing hand he proved that it will literally take a broken collarbone to keep him off the field. 

I feel that Romo, along with Jason Witten and maybe a few other players, collectively are the leaders on this team.  However, the time has come for Romo to singularly put the leadership responsibility on his shoulders and the team on his back. 

Look no further than what Eli Manning has accomplished this season and you see a vision of what Romo needs to do.  Romo needs to be none other than himself, but to take the next step forward, he needs to do what all the greats eventually do—and that's lead their team. 

I believe he can and I believe he will.  There's no other way.

I don't think anybody will dispute that Romo is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL.  I also believe that the elite list of quarterbacks, although up for some debate, is visibly clear. 

Right now, unfortunately, Romo is not part of that group.

To become an elite quarterback entails a lot of accomplishment, but more specifically it includes knowing how to win—and most importantly winning when the game matters most.  Although the elite group of quarterbacks all possess a Super Bowl title, they all started somewhere just like Tony Romo, but they also took the necessary steps to get there. 

I believe Romo has taken steps but the biggest one is yet to come.

Improving on these three characteristics would be another step in the right direction that might end all debates and land Romo in the class of elite quarterbacks.