Open Letter To Tony Romo

by lars-ss on Nov 6, 2008 4:08 PM CST Comment 14 comments

Tony,

I have been a Cowboys fan since 1971.

So you can imagine my glee when you took over in 2006 and started leading the team to wins. I love what you have brought to my team. The loyal fans like myself waited impatiently for a suitable franchise-quality QB and when you came along, we knew the team was heading for good things.

I even forgave you for your fumbles and untimely interceptions, because I knew that you had the skills to lead us to the promised land. ( That Buffalo game in 2007 was epic – you were awesome at the end. )

ANYWAY, introductions over. You understand now I’m not just some fool coming from nowhere. Now to get to the point of my letter.

I am confused as to what has happened to your game-day attitude this year. When you first took over the team, the press would not stop talking about “Smiling Tony” and how much fun it looked like you were having out there. ( Trying to high five the ref – imitating the ref during a game - classic !! )

But now, in 2008, you seem like you are not enjoying yourself at all.

You don’t smile nearly as often during games. You act “pouty” when the offense does not score. You come to the bench and sit there with a towel on your head looking sad. You don’t really talk to anyone that much, even Red, which is what I suspect you should be doing, right? Talking about plays that work and how to attack the defense next time? And your press conferences are not NEARLY as funny as in the last two years. Honestly, about the only time you look happy at all is when you’ve just thrown a touchdown pass.

So my questions are: Has “celebrity” changed your attitude? Why are you not as happy as before? Why are you not enjoying it as much? What has changed outside football ( if anything ) which has made you appear so “sullen” at times during games?

You don’t appear to be having ANY FUN at ALL during games. You may be the same person away from the game, but on game day you are not looking like the same person you have been for the last 2 seasons.

Look, I know the pressure is IMMENSE for you – it goes with the territory. But maybe you need to look inside yourself and evaluate what has changed in your life over the last year and spend some time trying to get back to being the “happy go lucky” fellow you were in 2006, and even for most of 2007.

Do you get massages? Maybe you need to invest into some stress relief techniques.

Anyway, I just want you to be happy and to lead our team to wins, in that order. Be happy. That’s all.

Something about you just does not seem right this year, and I know you probably know it. But I just wanted to put my two cents in there.

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Dear Lars

When I have fun I tend to smile my big goofy smile, and people say that I don’t take the game seriously.

When I show negative emotion, like when I yelled at the offense last year vs. the Giants, people say I am “losing my composure.”

When I am stoic, people say I need to smile and/or yell, depending on whether things are going well or going poorly.

I’m going to get criticized no matter what I do. Before I was hurt, our offense was better than it had been last year, in terms of both yards and points. We lost to Washington because the defense got owned (though the O was stinky that day), and against the Cards because of awful special teams. Let’s not act like I “regressed” or that I’ve turned into a pouter.

Sincerely,

Tony

by TimSchultz36 on Nov 6, 2008 4:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

nice Tim

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Nov 6, 2008 4:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tim

I did not say anything about him not playing well at all. I am completely aware of why we lost the ‘Skins and Cards games. Did you not see where I have been watching the NFL since 1971? I obviously know what’s going on.

I was merely addressing Tony’s attitude. And there is nothing in my letter which is incorrect about his attitude. He’s just not the same Smiling, Happy Tony that he has been. You know that.

That was all I was addressing. Not his performance – his attitude.

by lars-ss on Nov 7, 2008 8:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

well ,the rest of his teammates

haven’t been playing as well so there’s really not much to smile about when the team isn’t playing their best.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Nov 7, 2008 11:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Garrett gets a lot of the blame too in the Skins loss

Romo should not have been asked to pass that much when Dallas was losing by one score for most of the 2nd half.

MB3 only getting like what eight carries puts too much on the O-line and QB and makes it easier on the D to prepare and defend.

Yes, the defense could’ve played better, but the OC could’ve called a better game — which to me was the primary reason for the loss.

"I got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell." -- Bruce Dickinson

www.brainfriednetwork.com [NEWS/SPORTS/FOOTBALL]

by silverblue5 on Nov 8, 2008 1:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If only Romo had one ounce of what Drew Brees brings to NO...

Did anyone see Brees rallying the troops into battle before a game a few weeks ago….It was Ray Lewis -esque…..and he showed grit, fire, determination, and a willingness to lead….a vocal leader indeed, totally in charge of the huddle and offense……maybe that’s why Drew Brees will be this years MVP…….read that open letter Tony !!!

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones

by BoyzRback on Nov 6, 2008 9:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Tony doesn't need to be that vocal to be a great leader

Romo is a quiet leader and is just as effective as being a loud, in your face leader, sometimes even better.

I’d take Romo over Brees any day and twice on Sunday and you’ll the results when we go 6-1 or 5-2 down the stretch and into the playoffs.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Nov 7, 2008 7:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait

Isn’t our wining % better then NO? Before Romo got hurt he had more TD’s and the same amount of int’s as Brees..

Brees can scream all he wants, but Tony gets his Team in the end zone more often.. That is what wins ball games.. .

More then one way to lead, I am fine with Romo leading by example..

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Nov 7, 2008 2:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1000000000

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Nov 7, 2008 3:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh my God,

you guys and your vocal leadership. That is movie stuff.

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Nov 10, 2008 9:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Nov 11, 2008 7:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

You guys are right. You don’t have to be a yeller to be a leader. Although, I can see the point that Lars is trying to make. Tony’s stats before he got injured were better than anyone in the league. He was playing good, but that’s not what Lars is talking about. Something has changed. Even when they had the 3-0 record you could tell that something was different about Tony Romo. Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing, i don’t know, but no one can deny that his demeanor has been different this year.

by calebsmith on Nov 7, 2008 8:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree, Romo hasn't looked the same

But look no further than the record this time last year vs the teams current record. There’s a very good chance we miss the playoffs all together and Romo knows it. He’s not happy with the overall performance of the team and that’s exactly what you’re seeing. I promise you that if this team was 9-0 you’d see a much looser Romo. He still loves the game, make no mistake about it.

by sublimezg on Nov 7, 2008 8:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I agree and disagree with Lars

I agree with not seeing Romo “enjoy” the game as much. Eff the media thinking he doesn’t care. It’s a game and a way of they earn their living. Can’t Romo and any other NFL player have a good time while doing it? I too want the old Tony back.

I disagree with the possibility of him being a “celebrity” having to do with his attitude. There are a number of reasons why we’re not playing as well as last season.

1. Our offensive line is not playing as well as it did last season.

2. The Romo injury. I appreciate what King Jerry has done with the outstanding drafts and offseason/inseason acquisitions, but he overlooked signing an effective backup QB.

3. The Defensive SCHEME has not been upgraded. Same 7-8 yd cushion by our DBs on pass plays. Less employing occasional stunts and blitzes. I agree with what someone said about the King not caring about Stewart’s feelings and hiring Dom Capers as D-Coordinator in the offseason.

4. The playcalling is too vanilla and there have been LESS in-game adjustments as last year.

5. Not utilizing new weapons as much. Use plays for not only El Gato, but a few more for Tellus and Austin. Why? It keeps the “D” honest, so they don’t always double TO or only key on MB3 or just think about J-Dub. Using the additional weapons keeps the D guessing and our primary skillplayers will be the beneficiaries. And now we have RW2, so let’s use da heck out him as well.

6. Romo is just a few games past his second full season as the starter and too much is being asked of him too soon. I think that because it’s the Cowboys, the media disregards that fact. If it was any other NFL team, the MSM would most definitely make mention of the experience factor. Yes, he’s a VITAL — THE MOST VITAL – part of our beloved Cowboys. However, he can’t do it all.

7. The coaching has deserves either a C- or a D up nine games into the regular season. Yes, the players win games, but the coaches have to make better decisions, better adjustments, and instill/reinforce better discipline. That is easier than playing the dang game. They’ve got to utilize the talent on both sides of the ball, and honestly I don’t think their even tapping into half the potential this roster possesses.

This was a well-written post, but honestly I don’t think it’s all on Romo. Yes, he has to make better decisions and not turn the ball over at times… and yes, it doesn’t look like he’s having as much fun as he has in the past… but this is a team game and a lot of his teammates and coaches need to step it up, as well.

Rant over.

"I got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell." -- Bruce Dickinson

www.brainfriednetwork.com [NEWS/SPORTS/FOOTBALL]

by silverblue5 on Nov 8, 2008 1:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs