Non-issues/invented tabloid fodder:
Decision Making (on and off the field). Which decisions?Are you only counting the picks or did you add in the amazing plays he made in a millisecond to win games? I don’t ascribe it to decision-making. I ascribe it to making mistakes in ball security. And that category is already covered. Off-the field… geeze. First, show me the pile of evidence that he (1) shirks work (2) that anything he has done off-field has impacted on-field and (3) show me how his time at work and off-work compares to other players in the NFL.
Leadership. Pure, 100% USDA Red Herring. Not one person on this blog knows a single thing about his leadership ability because we see nothing, zip, nada. On the other hand, coaches and fellow players have said that he leads by example and this year he has become more vocal.
Half-Truths/Half-issues:
Finishing. Who isn’t finishing strong? Is it Romo or the whole team? This one can’t be demonstrated yet after only 2 and 1/2 seasons, but I don’t lay this at Romo’s feet entirely.
Real stuff:
Slow Starts. No idea why, but it takes him 2-3 series to get into the groove. Wish he’d figure this one out.
Ball Security. He needs to fumble less and check down more.

His best years are yet to come.

You’ve gotta be freaking kidding me. What Jerry Jones literally owns him? What, can he do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING but throw footballs every minute he’s awake until he retires? He plays some GOLF and had a GIRLFRIEND, get over it.

Your argument just went completely out the window, stop watching ESPN.

My first reaction was to write something like “well, you have to take the good with the bad” and mumble some homer stuff about how Romo will kick everybody’s ass this year blah blah blah.

Then I read the post again. And immediately began digging through the stats to wage an all out statistical war in defense of our QB. Luckily for all involved, I then re-read the post one more time, and abandoned that thought, as I surprisingly found that 5Blings’ “Final Analysis” part did resonate with me.

Couple of thoughts:

Yes, we all want Romo to be Captain America at the very least, if not the second coming of Aikman/Staubach combined, and the only stat that truly counts is the ring. And yes, this year would be a really good year for Romo to help us to at least one playoff win.

However, this is not by any means the last chance for Romo to make it. Don’t forget, the Superbowl will be in Dallas in 2011. Watch out for JJ and the stunts he will pull to make absolutely sure he has a contending team in place for that year. I firmly believe that the masterplan for JJ is not this year but next, and Romo will remain a key part of that plan regardless of what happens.

Finally, and this is the key question for the Cowboys, and one for which anybody outside the team does not have the answer: Does the team, do the coaches and does management trust Romo enough? There have been all sorts of public proclamations about that, but deep in their souls, do they think Romo is THE MAN? If so, all is set. If not, well, I’m not even going to follow that train of thought.

him to measure up to the greats like aikman and staubach. I think the msm just makes the flaws in his game more pronounced; think about it. What if the media loved romo, what if they saw him through rose colored glasses and he could do no wrong. Would his flaws be so noticable, look at his current situation 3rd year starter, 39 games played; if the msm was in love with him then they would be using the “maturation” angle instead of “it is make or break”. I just think that the endless Romo will he or won’t he arguments have been born because of the msm view point. Romo is feeling the brunt of a fandom and media that has sat through 12 or 13 years of no post season success; whether or not that is fair it is very real and I am sure he is absolutely aware of what is at stake. If Romo performs well, does all that he can but as a team they do not succeed then I think he can handle next year even though the scrutiny will be even higher. But on the other hand if he falters and the team packs it in, the msm will double down on the “can’t win the big one” angle and depending on how he handles this year he could start to lose some of the lockeroom.

With the exception of the off the field nonsense (you should have followed your gut instinct and resisted including that tabloid journalism stuff) it was a really good break down.

I think Romo has been asked to carry the offense too much in the past. He’s got all the tools to be great, but dropping back to pass over 35 times a game usually ends badly, for any team.

That’s why I’m expecting his mistakes to drop this year. Romo-Friendly offense = dedication to running the ball, more 2 TE sets, letting him throw screens, moving the pocket, letting him roll out, faster developing plays, etc. The camp reports seem to fit with what Wade and Jerry have been promoting all off-season.

I am glad to see that you have gone to personal attacks to defend your argument. It really shows how worthwhile that argument is in the first place.

I do have a comment though. Back when the majority of people thought the world was flat, I am glad that Columbus didn’t join the “cold, hard world.” I am also glad that Galileo didn’t join the “cold, hard world” that thought the sun revolved around the Earth. Simply because the majority of people believe something, doesn’t make it true.

Great job 5Bilings. You have accurately laid out the issues. Unfortunately, too many bloggers on this site choose to conveniently ignore the very real negative issues surrounding Tony Romo, but the other 99% of the football world that doesn’t look through blue and silver glasses sees the situation for what it really is.

You have come to the correct conclusion: “Regardless, this is a defining moment for Tony Romo. Whether you believe QB’s get too much credit and blame or you believe a great player at the NFL’s most visible position can elevate your team’s play, this is Romo’s big chance. He is in the prime of his athletic career and has a solid supporting cast, an ever-improving defense and a locker room made to order. He has a command of the offense and still holds the keys to the City of Dallas. He may never again have the opportunity that lies before him. The table has been set with great expectations from Tony Romo. Now, he has to deliver, and that means he has to win, in December…and beyond.”

AMEN. No more excuses. This is Tony Romo’s season to deliver. No more December choke jobs. ALL the talent is in place, again. The Cowboys management has chosen to unequivocally make this HIS team because he couldn’t harness the mantle of leadership on his own. Either get the job done or find someone else who might be able to. If you cannot deliver a playoff win in six seasons (or will 2009 make it seven….I’ve lost count), then it is unlikely that you ever will.

I truly have no idea how this will play out in 2009. It is going to be a fascinating season.

…but it’s been a few weeks since the massive “Romo pros vs. cons” thread, so I guess we needed to refresh.

Romo will be fine. There are things I’d definitely change, but I wouldn’t trade him for anybody not named Tom Brady…and I’d have to think long and hard on that one.

I hope he doesn’t change too much, to be honest with you. I expect the guy to throw the occasional pick. I expect him to make more phenomenal plays than stupid mistakes. About the only thing I’d like to see him do differently is cut down on the fumbles. I can handle him occasionally getting burned for trying to fit the ball in a tight window. The fumbles drive me nuts.

And seriously, the tabloid/off the field business isn’t even worth discussing. The guy’s allowed to have a life outside of football.

I am a Romo defender no doubt and I will agree on all points except the Decision Making (off the field). Whatever Romo does off the field in his spare time(golf, clubbing, dating) is none of our business….although I do understand that he is in the spotlight so it does come with the territory. But I just can’t believe anything he does off the field can have anything to do with his on the field performance. I believe he tries every year to get better and I believe he is learning from his mistakes.

I am a firm believer in “Perception is Reality” and as soon as Romo understands that the easier he will make it on himself. And nowadays, with the internet, it is very difficult not to be in the limelight with everything you do and everything is “Reality”. The paparazzi are everywhere and they are just waiting for you to give them some ammo (a quote, a photo, etc.). So it wouldn’t hurt for him to be a little less visible off the field, but again, it really shouldn’t matter.

The “Perception” is that Romo can’t win in December, when the "Reality " should be that the Cowboys can’t win in December. I believe the TEAM struggles in December, I believe the TEAM struggled in the NYG Playoff game.

The “Perception” is that Romo will never win a Playoff game due to various reasons, and so until the Cowboys show the world otherwise this will be their “Reality”. When the Cowboys win a Playoff game, you can bet your sweet ass the “Perception” will change and Romo will get most of the credit just like he gets most of the blame now. It comes with the territory being the QB of the Dallas Cowboys. That my friend is “Reality”.

Seems like we get/need one of these every couple of weeks. Cathartic ? Perhaps.
From my perspective 2 key points emerge:

- TR is the best QB we’ve had since Troy, no argument. Logically, he gives us the best chance to win now. There is no alternative. And unless you have a solution, then you’re part of the problem. Getting rid of TR with no viable replacement is subtraction by subtraction. I’m unwilling to write off the next several seasons until then.

- Of all the criticisms, ball control is the most valid. Cutting down on ‘unforced errors’ is the key. Double-edged sword here – his playmaking that makes him so special, so unique is largely what contributes to this the most to this.

I think the leadership comments are bogus – he is widely reported to be one of the most active, committed players during the offseason. Until i hear a team mate or coach questioning that, it gets no credence.

And saving the best for last – ‘Personal Decision-making.’ Really ? This is an argument
for when you have little other objective evidence to support your case. The NFL is replete with players who do far more, far worse. Brady, Big Ben, even Terry Bradshaw(he married a figure skater) got passes because they won championships. Romo won’t until he does, but that doesn’t validate the argument. As I’ve commented before, I respect the fact that Tony doesn’t try to manage his image – he stays true to himself and who he is regardless of public perception.

I can’t wait for the season, this offseason has lasted waaay too long.

surprised that Tex did not jump in the conversation…..:)

I’m not a Romo hater nor am I a Romosexual, there’s some really good points made and some that I disagree with, but at the end of the day, all I know is that I’m glad to have him as the QB of the Boys. After enduring the likes of Leaf, Carter, Hutch, Bledsoe, Henson, Stoerner, and the rest. (I’m sure I’m forgeting about some other QB’s)

Yet maybe 30-40 different posters.

I wonder if the whole poll thing makes sense anymore. Maybe people are using proxy servers?

I’d like to know too, how the site overlords (Grizz, Raf, etc.) voted.

and this quote by Wade really says it all about #9.

“He’s a natural. He sees so many things and he has such a quick release, and he’s so accurate,” Phillips said. “He just makes fantastic plays. We see it every day on tape. … He makes a throw that you say, ‘Wow, what a play.’ That’s what the great ones do.”

http://dal.scout.com/2/889907.html