After the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Cleveland Browns 28-10 in the opening weekend of the 2008 season, the team flew home to Dallas. During the game, Tony Romo suffered a split chin that required 13 stitches. On his way home, Tony Romo spotted a couple who were stopped on the side of the road because of a flat tire. Romo stopped and helped the couple replace the tire. According to the couple, over 100 cars drove by without stopping. Romo did not tell the couple who he was, but they recognized him as the Cowboy quarterback. The grateful couple alerted the Dallas Morning News about Romo's deed.
During the second weekend of the 2011 season, Romo lead the Cowboys to a 27-24 comeback win overtime against the San Francisco 49ers. Romo played the game with broken ribs. Romo finished the game with 345 yards and 2 touchdown passes. Some believe that this game exemplified Romo's time in Dallas.
Romo has distinguished himself both on and off the field. As he leaves Dallas to join another team, he has every right to hold his head high.
Romo was a non drafted free agent. All 32 teams passed on Romo multiple times. Only the Cowboys and the Denver Broncos offered Romo a free agent contract. The Cowboys offered Romo a $10,000 signing bonus. The Broncos offered him slightly more. However, there were two reasons Romo chose Dallas. Number one, the Cowboys had a unsettled quarterback situation, as Quincy Carter's future in Dallas was uncertain. Conversely ,at the time, the Broncos were committed to Jake Plummer. Secondly, offensive coordinator Sean Payton was a fellow Southern Illinois alum.
Payton convinced coach Bill Parcells to give Romo a chance. During his career, Romo has become one of the most sucessfull non drafted free agents in NFL history.
Statistics don't tell the whole story. However, they can be an important part of evaluating an athelete's career. Romo' stats are very good. He has led 25 fourth quarter comebacks, which is tied for the 15th most since 1960. Romo has often played his best in the 4th quarter. He has managed the offense well when it mattered most. He has a knack for finding the open receiver in the waning moments of a game. He has played with poise and determination in the 4th quarter of games.
Romo has a career record of 78-49. While a Romo only has two playoff wins, he has a good winning percentage in the regular season. He has put the Cowboys in position to make the playoffs often. Four times he has lead the Cowboys to the NFC East Championship. Without Romo, they would not have won those titles. For three straight seasons the Cowboys were 8-8. Without Romo, they would have finished with a worse record. Since becoming a starter in 2006, Romo has elevated the Cowboys.
Romo has a career completion percentage of 65%. Romo has thrown 248 touchdowns . His 2014 completion percentage was 69.9%. He actually fell one completion shy of a 70% completion percentage that year. In 2014, Romo was the NFL's highest rated passer with a rating of 113.2. Additionally, Romo has passed for over 34,000 yards. Romo has thrown for more touchdowns than any quarterback in Cowboys' history. He has a higher quarterback rating than Don Meredith, Roger Staubach, Danny White and Troy Aikman. His completion percentage is the best in team history. Only Aikman has thrown for more yards.
Unfortunately, injuries have plaqued Romo's career. He has had two back surgeries and broken his left collarbone three times. He has suffered a myriad of injuries which have kept him sidelined for part of his career. He has left two of his last four regular season games with a serious injury which kept him off the field for multiple weeks. Additionally, he suffered a serious injury in his last preseason game.
Houston and Denver have been mentioned as potential landing spots for Romo who will likely be released within the next two weeks. However, Romo is scheduled to make 14 million dollars next year, so it is unlikely a team will trade for him. Instead, Houston or Denver may sign him when he becomes available. Once he is released, either team could renegotiate his contract. If he decides to retire, Romo could join Fox or CBS as an analyst. Many view Romo has a potential quarterbacks' coach as well.
As Tony Romo's time as a Dallas Cowboy draws to a close, he leaves behind a proud legacy as a Cowboy quarterback.
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