Cowboy Nation: Romo Wasn't Built in 2,190 Days

Antonio Ramiro Romo was signed as a free agent back in 2003.  His first real action occurred when Drew Bledsoe was pulled for the second half on a Monday night against the Giants on October 23, 2006.  There was so much excitement when he took the field, it was as if the search for Troy Aikman's replacement was finally over.  Then he threw his first pass. 

INTERCEPTION. 

Well, that's ok, at the time we were only down by five.  But thanks to that interception, the Giants were able to put up two quick touchdowns and extend their lead.  Then something magical happened, the guy behind the center actually looked like he could pull us out of that heap.  He played with a different attitude than all those other phonies before him.  Before we knew it, Tony put up two quick scores.  Cowboy fans took notice.  There was something special about this one.  It wasn't Quincy's chronic, or the pathetic Ryan Leaf.  Chad Hutchinson with no offensive response and Drew Henson interception train.  Anthony Wright had promise, but Clint Stoerner was younger than Vinny Testaverde and no one really gave a damn.  These "athletes" never measured up to Troy, except for this one.  In a game in October 2006, what looked like a sure loss, something fans were getting used to, suddenly looked like a very winnable game.  I know it wasn't just me having flashbacks of Staubach leading us to a win in the fourth quarter.  Or that icy calm that Troy oozed when he knew we could come back and win.  When Romo took the field, he brimmed with such confidence, it was as if the sparkle that lived in the eyes of Brett Favre had migrated south and now flashed through this helmet with our star on it.  Then he threw his next pass.  An interception that was returned about 90 yards for a touchdown.

This game pretty much sums up Tony's career.  We can talk all day long about the fantastic games in which he flashed moments of brilliance.  There are a lot of those.  We can talk about all the games at the end of the season.  None of them good.  Just like his first half game against the Giants.  The beginning not so great, the middle is just awesome, but the end is where the problem is. 

Now I know Nation, that Tony is our Hero. 

I'm right there with you, I want him to succeed.  I'm begging him to succeed.  But in order to see the future we have to look at the past.  Up until now, the end is never how any of us want it to go.  This may lead to some more pain at the end of the season.  He can be a leader, there is no question.  He can succeed, he's proven it during the regular season, even breaking some of Troy Aikman's records.  He can be exciting, remember that pass that floated over his head against the Rams, and he was able to retrieve it and make two defenders miss so skillfully and still get the first down. 

It's the end.  The end of the season that we have not seen the image of the golden boy.  There has been a field gold fumble.  A poorly thrown pass at the end of the game against the Giants in the playoffs with a chance to win.  He doesn't know how to win at the end.  Or he is simply unable.

Now this doesn't have to be.  This season could be the difference.  Tony could very well be a champion in the making. 

Take a look at Peyton Manning.  Year after year Peyton would find a way to lose in the big game.  He didn't quit, and he was able to turn it around.  This is my hope for Romo.  That is my dream.

The problem is the WR corps scares the crap out of me.  Roy Williams had problems last year, but it's my feeling that this will be a banner year for him.  He has really had an excellent off season, and is ready to prove that the trade was worth it (or at least that's what Jerry is hoping).  After that we have a whole lot of question marks.  That's not to say that there isn't any talent after Roy, there certainly is.  My main concern is injury's.  Miles Austin is fantastic, but at some point he will be hurt.  Sam Hurd has great potential, more of a third receiver.  Also, could be hurt at some point in the season.  The only receiver that I feel will survive the entire season without injury in the second group is Patrick Crayton.  I have faith in Patrick.  After that, what do we have?  Can Jesse Holley break into that group?  I have hopes but they are not realistic.  I figure Jerry will seek out another WR by the end of camp, one with experience like Marvin Harrison. 

As for Tony, I expect a banner season, and I look forward to the regular games.  The games before December.  I leave you with this thought.  When Tony was playing his second favorite sport, one which he takes as seriously as football.....golf, he played brilliantly.  He started off strong and held the lead throughout the Lake Tahoe golf tournament.  Yet when the end was in sight, and all Tony needed to do to win was to sink his last putt, do you know what he did?

He came in second.





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