Dallas Cowboys Devastation: Why Tony Romo Is Not To Blame

Already this morning I have read articles casting blame on Tony Romo for this year's failures. I could not disagree more. And this is coming from a guy who just two years ago wanted Romo gone.

But last year he showed what kind of quarterback he can be. He cut back on turnovers and bone-head decisions and led the Cowboys to their first playoff win in 13 years.

Even though he has thrown five interceptions in the last two games, I do not see this year as any different. In fact, I can make a case for each one not being his fault.

Another case I can make is how, despite horrible coaching and a lack of discipline, he has been able to keep the Cowboys in these football games. The average margin in their four losses is less than six points.

I cannot, in good conscience, give credit for that to the defense. This defense needs to create turnovers. They have only created four in the first five games.

Of those four, two have been converted to touchdowns and the third was turned into a field goal (the fourth was an interception on the last Houston offensive play of the game; Dallas kneeled after that).

Romo has been efficient turning those turnovers into scores. This is hardly his fault.

Now let's address his five interceptions in the last two weeks:

1. The first of these five interceptions came with 2:18 left in the third quarter against Tennessee. The ball bounced off of Martellus Bennett's hands in the end zone and into the hands of Michael Griffin.

Double coverage or not, if you are going to play wide receiver or tight end in the NFL, you need the ability to catch the ball in traffic. If it hits you in the hands, it needs to stay in your hands.

2. The second interception in the Tennessee game came with 8:20 left in the game and the Cowboys deep in their own territory. The pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage (by Dave Ball) and intercepted by Alterraun Verner and returned to the 1-yard line. What was lost in this is not only was the ball tipped at the line of scrimmage, but Verner was three yards from Bennett when the ball was tipped. Verner made a phenomenal play on yet another tipped pass.

3. The third and final interception in the Tennessee game came as Dallas was trying to position themselves with a shot at the end zone at the end of the game. With Dallas having exhausted all of their timeouts, Tennessee knew they were going to throw the ball.

They dropped seven into coverage and picked Romo off to end the game. It is pretty easy to create turnovers when you know that your opponent is going to throw.

4. Fast forward to the Minnesota game yesterday. His first interception, again deep in their own territory, was caused by Doug Free's inability to move at the snap (apparently he thought he was playing two-hand touch and did not fear for Tony's safety as Jared Allen went around him like a freight train on Romo's blind side).

Tony had to throw early, bounced it off of a lineman's helmet (yet another tipped pass) and the ball found itself in the hands of E.J. Henderson (remember that name).

5. The final of these interceptions found its way into the hands of E.J. Henderson as well. Henderson made an incredible play by fooling Romo into thinking he was blitzing and then fell back into coverage at the last possible moment picking the ball out of the air at the Dallas 30.

But what makes this interception different from the others is that this play should have never been called. Dallas was facing a 3rd-and-1. Prior to this play, they were 5-for-5 on 3rd- or 4th-and-1 and had run the ball every time.

If Romo is at fault for anything on this one it is his lack of calling a timeout to question the play call.

And that leads us to the leadership role he needs to assume. If Romo has a major flaw at all right now, it is his passiveness. He needs to be more aggressive when it comes to leading this team.

Tony strikes me as a guy who believes in a chain of command and follows that chain of command whether or not that chain has broken links in it.

But sometimes leaders go against the grain, and that is what he needs to do in this situation. Questioning the leadership before now would have only caused a strife of a different kind. And for that he would have been crucified.

But now is the time for Romo to step up. His leaders have failed him and his teammates. He has now been afforded the opportunity to take over this team and lead it his way.

He has nothing to lose and everything to gain. If he can win over the locker room it will go a long way in repairing the damage done by the current leadership.

This way, when a new coach is finally acquired (and I pray to God it is not Jerry Jones himself) everyone will know that they can depend on Romo for that leadership and they will either have his back, or they can find another locker room in which to spend their Sunday afternoons.