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Superstar Status: The World Through Tony Romo's Eyes
Monday, November 27, 2006
By Tovash Hatcher
It is Monday night October 23 and you're Drew Bledsoe. It's the Giants versus Cowboys and the nation is watching you. The Cowboys are down 12-7 and they have a chance to go ahead just before the half. You then throw your last pass which is a red zone interception. The crowd boos as the teams head to the locker room.
In the locker room one of the assistant coaches approach you and tell you that Coach Parcells is opting to go with the backup quarterback to start the 2nd half. What now??
October 23 was also the beginning of the end for the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants ended up beating the Cowboys soundly that night and Cowboys nation was up in arms over the benching of Bledsoe as well as the direction of the team.
After Bledsoe was benched his face was in the lenses of all the cameras in the building. The look on his face said it all. It appeared as if Bledsoe had been told that he had 3 more months to live. Meanwhile, Tony Romo was beginning his career before the entire country. Romo's first pass was an interception. And that came immediately after a 30 second standing ovation from the Texas Stadium crowd. Romo couldn't get the job done against the Giants either. The Cowboys lose and Romo's performance, well it wasn't that good. He tossed 3 interceptions and 2 touchdown passes.
The buzz around the city of the Dallas was nothing but Romo. Even though Dallas had just lost to the Giants, the media was interested in the fact that Bill Parcells has finally put Romo on the field. Why now? Why so late? What took him so long? Those were the questions around the sports world and for good reason too. Heck, Cowboys fans have been calling for Romo. Sports writers around in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area formed two camps. One was for playing Romo, and the other side was backing Bledsoe. One side's argument was that Drew has had it, bench him and get the youngster in there. The other side claimed that Drew would give his team "the best chance to win".
Antonio Ramiro Romo was named the starter in three straight road games against the Carolina Panthers, the Redskins, and the Cardinals. All Romo did was lead the Cowboys to a 2-1 record on the road which could have easily been 3-0 if it wasn't for a dropped pass by your favorite wide receiver and a missed block. He put up good numbers against those teams and had people believing that the Cowboys may have found their quarterback of the future. Troy Aikman was the last quarterback in Dallas who was worth anything and that seems like decades ago.
Romo then came home to Dallas and took down the then undefeated Indy Colts and the Bucs on Thanksgiving Day. Since October 23 Romo has once been named the NFC Player of the Week, leads the NFL in the quarterback rating with a 110.8, and has a 4-1 record. His numbers are outstanding as well. He has 13 touchdown passes and only 5 interceptions and looks like a veteran as he piles up the stellar numbers. He is getting every receiver involved and unlike Bledsoe, is avoiding the sack.
Off the field Romo is the hottest thing since American Idol. The charm, the smile, and the confidence are spreading. His teammates love hanging with him off the field. He's appeared on many television broadcasts. Rumors have also floated around Tinsel town that the 26-year old is supposed to be dating one Jessica Simpson. Guys around the country are now living vicariously through Romo. It's like he has gone Hollywood and it's all within a 6-week period.
What's to come for the young QB? The New York Giants are fading fast and the Cowboys have an opportunity to drive a steak through their hearts by getting a win and going up 2-games in the division. With Romo at the helm, the Cowboys resemble a team that has a promising remainder of the schedule. With 3 out of the next 5 games at home and each game being very winnable, I don't see Romo coming down from his hot streak and losing anytime soon. That's funny to me considering the fact that this team was written off when Bledsoe was under center. Romo has become the savior in Dallas and has turned this season completely around.
I'm Tovash Hatcher
4:27 PM
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