Tony, Toni, Tone

"I cannot believe he just threw anothera free agent at season's end. Yet with all of the
interception!" "Bench him, no wonder Jerry won'thoopla surrounding the young quarterback, he
give him a new contract!" "Tony is quite possiblyalways seems to stay poised. He never looses
the best quarterback in the NFL right now." "Jerryconfidence and always has a positive outlook. This
needs to sign him to a new contract in the lockeris the reason why his teammates believe in him
room!"and his abilities.
I went through a bevy of emotions this pastTony has had a lot of ups and downs over the
Monday watching my beloved Dallas Cowboyspast year. Last season, he took over for former
play the Buffalo Bills. Usually if a quarterback turnsDallas Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe during
the ball over 6 times in one game, the team ishalftime of the team's game versus the New
probably going to loose. Well, not this time. TheYork Giants. The Cowboys did not win the game,
Cowboys were able to overcome a game full ofbut Romo was able to show enough to warrant
mistakes to pull off a victory at the very lastbeing named starting quarterback for the
second. Cowboy's kicker Nick Folk was able to nailremainder of the season. Tony led the Cowboys
a 53 yard field goal not once, but twice as timeto the playoffs to face off against the Seattle
ran off of the clock. Buffalo Bills head coach DickSeahawks. The now infamous game will forever
Jauron called a time out right before the ball wasbe engraved in the minds of true Cowboy fans
snapped in an attempt to ice the kicker. Hisuntil the end of time. On a potential game winning
strategy failed to work. Nick came out of theplay, kicker Martin Gramatica was set to kick a
timeout and kicked another 53 yard field goal,field goal that would put the Cowboys ahead with
except this time the points counted.only seconds remaining. When the ball was
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw 5snapped, Romo fumbled the ball and the Cowboys
interceptions and fumbled the football once, yetended up loosing the game. During the post game
he was still able to will his team to a victory.new conference, Romo seemed down and there
During his post game interview, Romo stated thatwas speculation that his confidence was shot.
he never lost confidence and always thought thatTony proved everyone wrong at the start of
the Cowboys would win. Romo was either goingtraining camp. He stated that he was so upset
to be the reason the Cowboys lost or the reasonbecause he let his team down, but he never lost
they were able to win. He chose the latter.confidence in himself or his abilities.
Watching Tony Romo throw interception afterAlthough Tony plays football for such a polarizing
interception was painful. The Cowboys were ridingorganization, (you either hate the Cowboys or
high off of a 4 game winning streak and could notyou love them) there is a lesson to be learned
afford to loose going into next week's gamefrom Mr. Romo. Tony's success depends on his
against the un-defeated New England Patriots. Theapproach and attitude toward the game of
new Cowboys are attempting to establish theirfootball. Remember the banner your teacher had
own identity. Beating the Patriots would be thenailed to the wall in your third grade elementary
first step in doing so. In a locker room thatclass? "Your attitude determines your altitude?"
consists of Terrell Owens, it's going to be aWell it seems as if Tony took that banner to
challenge to shake Owens "me-first" mentality.heart.
However; Owens has yet to become a distractionWhile Tony Romo has a very long career ahead
and Cowboy players have openly embraced hisof him and will make more mistakes, it's
personality. Yet Owens is no longer the center ofimportant that we recognize his ability to learn
attention in Dallas. That moniker now belongs tofrom them and move forward. He is not the first
Tony Romo.or last person in history to display this type of
Reading Tuesday morning's headlines and listeningattitude or behavior. However; he is the most
to sports radio talking heads, one would be inclinedtalked about quarterback in the NFL right now.
to believe that Romo is either the best thing sinceThe spotlight may beam brighter for him or it
Troy Aikman or Jerry Jones worst decision sincemay dim. Watching his maturation process has
he signed Ryan Leaf. Tony is trying to lead hisbeen a fun and agonizing experience. I'm just glad
team to their first playoff victory since 1996.that I'm here to enjoy the ride.
Romo is also in a contract year as he will become