Tony Romo, not the ‘Cowboy’ the Cowboys need

Year after year the Cowboys head into the season with high hopes with Tony Romo leading the way. The problem is, year after year they aren’t making any progress. Actually, they’re not even making the playoffs.

Now some may make their Josh Hamilton-like comments that this town expects too much from it’s sports teams and everyone’s too hard on Romo.

Not Really.

Romo has been with the team for 10 years and what does he have to show for it? Three playoff game appearances.

Not exactly up to par for any town’s standard, well, unless you’re Carolina.

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) smiles prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Romo may be known for his game ending performances with 18 career fourth quarter comebacks and 19 game-winning drives, but why do the Cowboys always need to come back in the fourth?

Romo continues to fail at playing the role as the “Cowboy” quarterback, like we’ve seen from former greats like Brett Favre. When Favre went for one deep in the endzone or went for the short risky trick play he got it where it needed to go. Romo on the other hand seems to put all his risky plays exactly where they shouldn’t go. Let’s not even get started on last seasons Redskins game where he threw more interceptions than touchdowns.
And that’s not the first time he’s done so.

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) in action calls out a play against the Philadelphia Eagles at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Part of the reason Romo cannot measure up to these former greats or win a championship of his own deals with his rush skills. Last season Romo’s average rush yards-per-game was only 1.6 yards.

If Romo wants to be the “Cowboy” the Cowboys need, he needs to take some risks, but in the right places. When there’s a gap, it’s about time he takes the run.

Now Romo’s no Colin Kaepernick or Michael Vick, but that doesn’t mean he needs to stay stationary relying on his arm every game, every play. He can’t act like he’s Peyton Manning every game when he doesn’t have the arm to do so.

Last season Romo put a hefty 4,903 yards up, but with a touchdown count of only 28 trailed closely with 19 total interceptions last season, it’s clear why the Cowboys aren’t making the playoffs.

Romo is not a terrible quarterback, but he’s not a quarterback posing a real threat to any teams defense. Opponents can go into the game knowing the likelihood of them chasing Romo down running for the end zone is highly unlikely.

Giving Romo a $108 million six-year contract therefore making him the most paid player for the Dallas Cowboys ever is definitely questionable, but there’s a solid message sent with this.

Jerry Jones has counted on Romo since he became quarterback for the Cowboys but has been wearing rose-colored glasses ever since. The new check he’s writing for Romo is a way of saying “bring me a championship” and we all know when Jerry wants, Jerry gets.

Although the draft doesn’t offer any outstanding quarterbacks this year, with Orton only signed until 2014, drafting a quarterback might not be such a bad idea.

The Cowboys have all the players Romo needs to bring in a championship and now the pressure is on. If Romo starts making some rushing plays, we’re going to start seeing a positive difference on the scoreboard. If not, prepare for a change in the line-up.

The Cowboys definitely have other positions to focus on when it comes to the draft, but if Romo doesn’t deliver, Jones is going to bring in someone who can.