Dallas Cowboys: Where Does Tony Romo Rank Among NFL QBs?

Antonio Ramiro “Tony” Romo is the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. He’s also one of the most reviled quarterbacks in the NFL.

Romo is criticized at every shoulder turn when he releases the football, as he calls hike or as he exits the team bus.

Ever since Tony bobbled the snap in that infamous Seattle playoff game, he’s received an unfair amount of condemnation. Now don’t get me wrong, some of it is warranted, like when Tony tries to forces the ball in between five defenders.

But the rest of it just seems to be crazy chatter. Just take a look at Romo’s stat line over the past few seasons.

He has 9,536 passing yards, 63 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Honestly, how many teams wouldn’t love to have a quarterback with that stat line?

Romo has one playoff win in four-and-a-half years as starter, but that one playoff win is the only one the ‘Boys have had in the past 15 seasons. As he played behind an inconsistent offensive line and inept play calling at times, I would say that Antonio has done a pretty good job.

The Cowboys play in one of the toughest and roughest divisions in the NFC East, and there is tough quarterback competition from three of the four teams. Eli Manning has a Super Bowl ring as a Giant, Michael Vick just signed a $100 million deal with the Eagles and Romo is being pushed to take Dallas to the next level.

So where does he rank amongst the best quarterbacks in the league?

Peep the slideshow to find out where I think Tony falls.

No. 1: Tom Brady, Patriots

Well, he’s the reigning league MVP. He threw 36 touchdowns against just four interceptions in 2010. What makes that interception number so good is that Brady didn’t throw an interception past week seven.

That’s an insane amount of control, accuracy and efficiency.

I don’t think that Brady will have that type of season in 2011, but it's tough to argue that a man that good last season isn’t the best quarterback in the league.

No. 2: Aaron Rodgers, Packers

The leader of the cheeseheads led his team to the Super Bowl last season. The guy who carries around the championship belt tossed 28 touchdowns and threw for 3,922 passing yards in 2010.

He’s well on his way to becoming the best in the league, and if Green Bay makes it back to the Super Bowl this season, he’ll enter the stratosphere.

No. 3: Drew Brees, Saints

Brees had an off season in 2010 because he threw 22 interceptions. Brees also had an MCL sprain last year, according to Nola.com. That probably threw his game off a little.

But he’s still elite, and whenever a guy passes for over 5,000 yards at least once in his career, he’ll probably remain that way for awhile.

Oh—and Brees has a Super Bowl ring.

No. 4: Peyton Manning, Colts

I think that Manning is about to start to decline. His neck surgeries are becoming too common, and the Colts just don’t have the same firepower they’ve had in the past.

Manning had 33 touchdowns and 4,700 passing yards last year. Those numbers fail to show a guy in decline, but I just don’t think he’ll be able to remain healthy and continue to play at such a high level.

No. 5: Phillip Rivers, Chargers

Admittedly, Rivers is one of my favorite quarterbacks. He’s tough, once played with a torn ACL and he’s a loudmouth. I love his style of play, as he seems to be one of those players who would jump into the fire with his teammates.

He had more passing yards than Manning last season and 30 touchdowns. Put Rivers with another head coach, and I think the Chargers are a Super Bowl team.

No. 6: Tony Romo, Cowboys

I have Romo as the sixth best quarterback in the NFL. Yes, he’s above Big Ben, Michael Vick and Eli Manning.

In regards to Ben, I think if you put Romo on the Steelers, they still have two Super Bowls with his leadership on the field. You put Ben on the Cowboys, and I think the results are a little different because they are two different types of passers.

Romo has played well enough for Dallas to win a Super Bowl, but he can’t do it alone.

No. 7: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

So sue me. I think that Romo is a better quarterback than Ben.

In an abbreviated 2010, Ben had 17 touchdowns with 3,200 passing yards. He led his team to the Super Bowl against the Packers but had to watch his team’s defense get picked apart by Aaron Rodgers.

The Roth is still a great player and quarterback, and any team would love to have his services.

No. 8: Michael Vick, Eagles

Vick had his best season as a passer in 2010. He completed 62 percent of his passes last year and had only six interceptions.

I don’t think that Vick will have the same success he had in 2010 this season, but he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

No. 9: Matt Ryan, Falcons

Matty Ice saw a little of that ice melt away in 2010. He had a great season with 28 picks and over 3,700 passing yards, but his team was roasted by the Packers in the playoffs, 48-21.

Ryan has a new weapon with receiver Julio Jones, but can the Falcons defense prove to be tough enough to break through the NFC this season?

No. 10: Joe Flacco, Ravens

Flacco had a pretty good 2010, with 3,622 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. But his teams seem to have issues against the Steelers, and Flacco has the most trouble.

He had a qb rating of 61.1 versus Pittsburgh in the playoffs last year, and Baltimore lost to the eventual AFC champions 31-24.

Flacco is still a really good quarterback but a little ways away from being elite.