Tony Romo Is a Top 10 Talent at Quarterback

The quarterback position in the NFL is the most important one on the field. From calling plays in the huddle to making hot reads at the line of scrimmage, the field general must understand every detail of the offense. He needs to read the defense pre-snap and post-snap, look to his left, give a shoulder fake, then hit the open man running a fade route down the right sideline.

Playing quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys has the added pressure of leading "America's Team," with a fan base that considers any result other than a Super Bowl victory a failure and the scrutiny and fanfare associated with having a star on your helmet.

Romo's Early Career

An undrafted free agent who played his college ball at Eastern Illinois, Tony Romo was signed by the Cowboys in 2005. He made his first start in Week 7 of the 2006 campaign, after quarterback Drew Bledsoe was relentlessly chased out of the game by the New York Giants' pass rush.

In the beginning, Romo would show spurts of excellence, but his poor decision-making skills led to costly interceptions. After a breakout season in 2007, (36 touchdown passes) he continued to improve.

What Makes a Player an Elite Quarterback?

In today's NFL, a quarterback is measured by statistics (touchdown passes, interception total, wins, road victories, play in the fourth quarter, playoff success) and intangibles (mechanics, leadership, dedication, mobility, creativity, toughness).

Romo is playing at a high level and has cemented his place as a top-10 quarterback in the NFL.

An elite quarterback will be defined as one of the five best in the modern game. Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers, and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers are at the top. The second tier is where Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Romo, and Eli Manning of the New York Giants can be found.

Hello!? You Play to Win the Game!

Above all, a signal caller needs to win, or he will be looking for another occupation (see Ryan Leaf). Since 2006, (Romo's first year as a starter) the San Diego native has 41 wins, good for seventh in the league. Peyton Manning leads the NFL with 61 followed by Rivers (55), Brady (53), Brees (49), Eli Manning (48), and "Big Ben" (47).

Sealing a victory on the road is difficult. Anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 fans want to see your team lose, or worse. It can get so loud on enemy turf that a quarterback can't even think. This is the raucous environment where a player has to stay composed, put his team on his back and will them to victory. Romo has 26 W's in the uncomfortable confines of away stadiums. Only Peyton Manning has more with 28.

1, 2, 3, Take It to the House

It's not good enough to go the length of the field. A team must score points.

Romo ranks sixth in the league with 118 touchdowns since 2006. Peyton Manning used his "laser, rocket arm" to throw 155 scores over that span, tying him with Brees for most in the NFL. Three through five are Brady (138), Rivers (135), and Eli Manning (126).

Whoever Wins the Turnover Battle Wins the Game

Mistakes and turnovers, especially in key areas of the field such as the red zone (or green zone as only New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin calls it), can be the reason a team loses.

These are game-changing plays and can often result in a big momentum swing when a defender takes one to the house. The Cowboys' gunslinger has gift-wrapped 62 presents to the opposition over the last five seasons. However, that number places him as sixth-best for quarterbacks with at least 60 games played. "Tom terrific" is No. 1 with 37 picks, followed by Jason Campbell of the Oakland Raiders (46), Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans (48), Donovan McNabb of the Minnesota Vikings (49), and Rivers (57).

It's the 4th Quarter: Can You Put Your Team on Your Back?

It's the fourth quarter. The game is within seven points. Can the quarterback get one or two first downs to ice the game? Can he execute a two-minute drill to take the game to overtime?

The athletes that rise to the occasion and answer these questions are clutch. Romo has 2,418 yards, 17 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in the fourth quarter when the score is within seven points, which ranks him second. Peyton Manning has 2,974 yards, 18 touchdowns, and only five interceptions in the same situation.

The Best Quarterbacks in the League

Even though Romo has struggled in the postseason—he has a 1-3 record—he ranks in the top six in wins, road victories, touchdowns thrown, least amount of interceptions thrown, and fourth quarter success in tight games. He is definitely a top 10 talent who comes in at No. 7 on my list:

1. Tom Brady
2. Peyton Manning
3. Drew Brees
4. Philip Rivers
5. Aaron Rodgers
6. Ben Roethlisberger
7. Tony Romo
8. Eli Manning