Tony Romo's words draw praise from all over
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff Writer
FRISCO, Texas -- When the Dallas Cowboys' 2008 season ended with a 44-6 fiasco against the Philadelphia Eagles, fans cringed when Tony Romo said, “If this is the worst thing that will ever happen to me, then I've lived a pretty good life."
Some likely never forgave him for having perspective, even if it was the correct perspective.
Maybe they listened to Romo’s words Tuesday. For nearly five minutes, Romo poured his emotions into a prepared statement that showed how much the game matters to him.
“You see, football is a meritocracy. You aren’t handed anything. You earn everything every single day, over and over again. You have to prove it,” Romo said. “That’s the way that the NFL, that’s the way that football works. A great example of this is Dak Prescott and what he’s done. He’s earned the right to be our quarterback. As hard as that is for me to say, he’s earned that right. He’s guided our team to an 8-1 record, and that’s hard to do. If you think for a second that I don’t want to be out there, then you’ve probably never felt the pure ecstasy of competing and winning. That hasn’t left me. In fact, it may burn more now than ever.”
Romo’s comments offered insight few players ever give. It was his truth, calling the compression fracture in his back a “soul-crushing moment.” He said he has felt like an “outsider” in the team’s 8-1 start. He said it’s been a “dark place.”
But he also expressed his commitment to Prescott and his teammates.
“We all know something magical is happening to our team,” Romo said. “I'm not going to allow this situation to negatively affect Dak or this football team by becoming a constant distraction. I think Dak knows that I have his back. And I think I know that he has mine. Ultimately, it's about the team. It's what we've preached our entire lives.”
The reaction from former coaches, teammates and competitors to Romo’s words was far-reaching.
Former teammate Tashard Choice:
Former teammate Bobby Carpenter, who was a groomsman in Romo's wedding:
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald:
Former Texas coach Mack Brown:
Minnesota offensive tackle Jake Long:
ESPN analyst Louis Riddick: