Can Tony Romo Save the State of Dallas, TX?

There's something in the water in Dallas, TX, and apparently it don't smell too good. Years of failed expectations for sports teams, and stars who hate the big moment.

Take a look at the Dallas Mavericks. Commanding 2-0 lead against the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals and seemingly in control of the series. It was Dirk Nowitzki's year, and guess who came to dinner?

Dwyane Wade.

With the ferocity of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Wade stole Nowitzki's thunder and took home the title, 4-2. Again, Dallas fell short of expectations, as Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and the city of Dallas expected nothing less than a chip.

That was the Mavericks' time, and they failed to capitalize on the moment.

The following season, Dallas again was viewed as an elite team in the Western Conference and were picked to make it to at least the conference finals.

Until they ran into a game Golden State squad led by PG Baron Davis.

The No. 1 seeded Mavericks were knocked off in six games by the eighth-seeded Warriors and made basketball infamy. Where was the fight? Not even seven games?

Nope.

Dallas has since fired its last coach, Avery Johnson, fell to the lower playoff seeds in the West, and are no longer feared by opponents. Sounds like a certain football squad I know.

Dirk Nowitzki never seemed to be the player that could win the game when needed, and after Hall-of-Famers QB Troy Aikman, RB Emmitt Smith, and WR Michael Irvin retired, a Dallas team needed a spark.

Not a Quincy Carter or Terry Glenn spark. But a real spark.

Enter Tony Romo and Terrell Owens.

Two guys who'd done nothing to prove any championship furor and were called upon to lead America's team to a familiar place. A Super Bowl.

Romo, an unproven guy from a small school just looking for a shot, and Owens, a proven talent who couldn't keep his mouth shut and put ego aside.

Sounds like a good pairing to me.

After slandering previous teammates, Romo and Owens became "friends." Excitement bred in Dallas, and with the additions of guys like Marion Barber, Ken Hamlin, and DeMarcus Ware, a championship was bound to arrive in Dallas like an incoming flight.

After a season in which the talented Cowboys entered the 2006 NFL Playoffs as the fifth seed, they lined up against the Seattle Seahawks, a team they could beat.

Romo had the opportunity, and lined up for a routine field goal in the fourth quarter.

Snap, hold, and Romo mishandles the ball! He scrambles for the first down but is stopped short by Jordan Babineaux! Seahawks win!

To this point, that is Romo's defining moment as a starter in the NFL. A botched hold that caused his team to be exited out of the playoffs. What a good thing to be remembered by.

Kind of reminiscent of how Sam Bowie is only remembered as the guy who got picked ahead of Michael Jordan. A pure "sucks to be you" memory.

Entering the 2008 season, the Cowboys were everyone's favorite to win a title, and for good reason...I guess.

With an inevitable Adam Jones suspension, injured Romo, disgruntled Owens, and suspect defense, the Cowboys are a mere 5-4 and are in last place in the NFC East.

Let's just say the Cowboys' bandwagon isn't leaning with too much weight these days.

Is the injury to Romo that important? Can one guy mean so much to a team that they look like complete bums in his absence? If so, Dallas fans can expect worse.

This is a team, everyone. Not one guy, but 53 who band together to make the most out of each other as football players. Tony Romo is the QB, the most important position on the field.

And when your backup QBs are 400-year-old Brad Johnson and journeyman Brooks Bollinger, things can't be good.

Tony Romo<<<

This is a team, though, and guys like Owens, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin, and Marion Barber have to step up. You can't get pounded by the Rams and your bitter rival, the Giants, without a fight. It just doesn't make sense.

Will Romo fix this?

Team morale is often raised when a fallen star returns, and that goes for any team. Imagine the Colts without Peyton Manning (this season with Manning, lol), Steelers without Roethlisberger, or Saints without Brees.

The drop-off is immense.

Players don't believe they can win, and it shows. Look at Terrell Owens' body language in the Giants game. He fumbled and didn't look the least concerned about it. He didn't step up and celebrated too much when he caught that meaningless TD.

Way to help Brad Johnson, Terrell.

When Bollinger came in, I could see Owens looking like Peter from Family Guy , saying "Ha! " He seemed to care a tad more and even gave an attempt at sounding optimistic after the game.

It all seemed faux to me.

Bottom line, players have to make plays and coaches have to coach. Players don't coach and coaches don't play, and Romo is an important player. It isn't all him though, and to lose in that fashion to a division rival is despicable.

Wade Phillips isn't coaching properly, and the players are not playing their roles. Everyone is out of place, and that shows on the field.

If this team doesn't check the ego's at the Welcome mat and play together, Romo will just be a lot of additional offense with the same result.

People forget that the Redskins and Cardinals kicked the Cowboys' heads and tails with Romo under center. Additional offense is great, but as Jay-Z once said, "Where ya heart at?"

And that's word to DeWayne Carter.