Dallas Cowboys: Do Tony Romo's 2010 'Boys Have What It Takes?

Talent? Yes.  Motivation?  Certainly.  Heart? Maybe.  A lot has been made about this 2010 Dallas Cowboys team and the possibility of making its record 9^th Super Bowl run, their first

since 1995.  Let’s face it, this Cowboys team has as much talent as any Dallas team I’ve ever

seen.  This includes the dream team of the 90’s. 

With Tony Romo entering his 4^th full season as starting quarterback, he’s right on pace with Troy Aikman’s first “Super” season.  If you remember, Aikman was a rookie in 1989 and didn’t go to the Super Bowl until 1992.  The difference: Expectation.  Aikman looked awful in his first season mostly due to the fact that he had nothing to work with.  Additionally, the Cowboys had been among the league’s worst just 4 years prior to their Super Bowl appearance after the ’92 season.  Fans and media alike had no expectation that these Cowboys would find themselves where they did by the ’92 campaign. 

Contrast that with Romo’s emergence as the Dallas trigger man.  Surrounded by egos, talent, fat salaries, and impatient fans, # 9 rose to celebrity football player utopia in his first full season as America’s Team’s starter in 2007.  Flashback to 2006 when the then Parcells led Cowboys found themselves dying on the vine with Drew Bledsoe at the helm.  Chants of “Romo, Romo” echoed through the rickety bleachers of Texas Stadium.  Frustration quickly set in at the Ranch and Parcells, after much hesitation gave the “kid”, as he called him, the keys to the offense.  The little known QB from Division 1AA Eastern Illinois brought instant excitement to the free falling Cowboys offense.  With his elusive pocket presence and quick decision making, he would lead the Cowboys back to the playoffs only to exit in the first round in disastrous form.

 Back to 2007.  Romo, seemingly unphased by the playoff disaster against the Seahawks, came storming out of the gates winning 12 out of his first 13 games and leading the Cowboys to a 13-3 record and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  He could do no wrong.  However, after a unraveling December and January including a disappointing first round playoff loss to the New York Giants at home along with a highly publicized romance with celebrity diva Jessica Simpson, Romo’s stock begin to tank.  Question marks began to surround the now celebrity quarterback with regards to his work ethic, his commitment, and his desire to win.  The 2008 season only confirmed much of the criticism when the Romo’s Cowboys, after returning 13 Pro Bowlers, failed to live up to expectations as the season collapsed around them and they found themselves watching the playoffs in January.  The Terrell Owens drama, and fierce criticism of head coach, Wade Phillips only compounded Romo’s fall from grace. 

In only 2 seasons as a starter, Romo had won more (and lost more) than Aikman had in his first 3 seasons as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.  So let’s fast forward to 2010.  Coming off of another NFC East title and the franchise’s first playoff win since 1996, Romo and the Cowboys seem poised to capitalize on 2009’s success.  With an upgrade at the Receiver position and a defense that has stayed largely in tact, These 2010 Cowboys certainly have the talent.  Combine this with the motivation of playing in the World’s biggest game –the Super Bowl – on their home field!  They certainly have the motivation.  The question will be, as it has been for 3 seasons, do they have the HEART?  Does Tony Romo have the resilience and determination that we saw in #8’s eyes for so many years? Does Wade Phillips have the tenacity and the backbone of Jimmy Johnson?  Can the offensive line stay healthy and together like Nate Newton, Mark Stepnoski, Eric Williams, Kevin Gogan, and Mark Tuinea?  Is Dez Bryant the reincarnation of one Michael Irvin?  Can the 3-headed running game of Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice hold a candle to the NFL’s all time rushing leader and can that defense reek havoc on opposing offenses like those units of the 90’s?  If the answers to those questions are “YES”, then watch for the 2010 Dallas Cowboys to be playing in Jerry World on February 6, 2011.