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Originally Posted by CW McGraw |
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What makes Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, or Carson Palmer better than Romo? None have won a playoff game either. Three have only had one good season. Two haven't even played in a playoff game. Why is Romo held to a different standard than every other starting QB? If the failures of the Cowboys are thrown onto Romo's shoulders, Cutler certainly deserves some flack for leading the most monumental December collapse in NFL history.
Romo has put up historically great efficiency stats in his three years as a starter. He has had several Pro Bowl caliber seasons. Like it or not, he's a proven QB. As evidenced by how terrible they were without him last season, he is not the product of a great supporting cast. He is a valuable piece of their offense.
People need to get over the Cowboys hate already. Unless you're an Eagles, Giants, or Redskins fan, it's really just annoying. I understand that you're sick of the overexposure they get on ESPN, but the bandwagon hatred for a team that's largely been irrelevant for a decade and a half is just sad and pathetic.
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A great QB can make up for an average line, but not a below-average one. Steve Young and Joe Montana did this to an extent, but those lines had their strengths. Even more significantly, a great offensive line can turn an average QB into a good one. That is exactly what is happening in Dallas. Romo is not exceptionally elusive; he does not have flawless decision-making skills, and he turns the ball over. He throws Brett Favre-like interceptions and gets away with it in the same way.
People believe Romo possesses something special because he is succeeding where those before him failed. But take a closer look. What does that really mean? It means he's better than an over-the-hill Drew Bledsoe and an under-the-hill Vinny Testaverde. And maybe not even that. After all, those guys did not have Terrell Owens, Marion Barber, or an offensive line with this much experience and cohesion.
Perhaps the most crippling flaw in Romo's game is his most glaring, which makes his exceptional reputation all the more confounding. He has yet to perform when something important—really important—is on the line. And I'm not talking bright lights and big audiences. I'm talking survival. I'm talking championships. I'm talking fumbling snaps on field goals in the playoffs. I'm talking letting an underdog march into your stadium and take the NFC Championship from you.
So what is Tony Romo, objectively? He is a good QB that can steer a uniquely talented offense through games they should win and then wilt when resistance increases. Sure, he puts up obscene numbers and dates gorgeous women. Put most QBs in the NFL behind that Dallas offense, and I bet the results are the same.
That is the thing about a great offense. If a QB knows he has time to throw and talent waiting to receive the ball, it's easy to be confident. Once a player has confidence, his natural ability and talent shines through. And let's face it; most QBs in the NFL have the necessary talent.