Everywhere you look these days, you see the symptoms. Rapid pulse, dilated pupils, rapidity of speech, muscle twitching, an unconstrained impulse to speak opinions as being fact, the tendency to ignore well established practices of interpreting factual statistics and a belief that one is part of a larger group that has discovered the fountain of youth.
Yesterday, I was in the office of a local insurance agent and the discussion turned to the Cowboys. I told him I was one of the staff writers on a Cowboys forum and told him that I was the boogie man. One of the few really vocal ones that chose to wait a bit before crowning Tony Romo as a gift from the one true God, who everyone knows is a Dallas Cowboys fan Himself. As the old joke goes. . . "why does Texas Stadium have a hole in the roof? Answer: "so God can watch his team play football."
My friend was duly impressed by my exalted status as staff writer. Not being one to let that diminish in any manner, I neglected to tell him that my salary for my writing efforts amounts to the same number the Pittsburg Steelers had in their column for points scored in their last game. Zilch, Zero, Nada, Nothing. For the mathematically challenged, here's the figure: $0.00.
That would have made him think less of me and since I was holding court, as the obvious expert as an exalted staff writer, I just left off that bit of information.
Anyway, I told my friend that I thought Romo had done amazing things in his first five games. And that if he continues, he will definitely be what the Cowboys have been looking for since Aikman left the stage.
Of course, we discussed the upcoming Giants game and came to the conclusion there's no real reason for the Giants to even show up this weekend. The Cowboys are going to win. They can use it as a voluntary bye week and heal up some of the injured guys.
I was not surprised to hear my friend say he thought it was a bit early to be talking Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame and all that for Romo at this point. Most fans around my neck of the woods love the way Romo is playing, but are realistic enough to know it's just too early to tell.
There are a few, though, of the hardcore Romo fans. The ones that believe the NFC East title is in the bag, that the Playoffs are a mere formality before Romo leads his team into the NFC Championship game, only to totally humiliate the Bears defense, while the Dallas offense dissects Chicago's offense like a frog in biology class, and the SuperBowl game pitting the Dallas Cowboys against the AFC winning Colts will be a replay of their earlier meeting this season, except Romo will toss 6 touchdown passes this time, just to add a personal touch to the season. The Pro Bowl might not even be played, since no other quarterback can be found to step on the field, only to look pathetic beside Romo, whose head has strangely started to have a glow around it, like many of the older paintings of Jesus. Even Drew Bledsoe wouldn't step on the field against Romo when politely asked to. Defenses, of course, know they cannot play in the glare of that light, so they won't step on the field either and the game is forfeited without one play being run.
All of this is, of course, made up, but if you listen to these guys, this is the picture that comes to your mind of what they think is likely. Not just possible, but likely.
Numerous times this year, I have been chastised for what was perceived to be my unbelief. Because I wasn't ready to place the crown, jump on the bandwagon, and become a "Romo Homo", "Romosexual" or whatever. I just didn't drink the Kool-Aid.
So I've studied this phenomena. Trying to figure out whether it's a disease/malady/condition, etc. or if this is a religion. I lived through, and survived, the Quincy Carter religion. Before you start saying I'm comparing Romo to Carter, you're out to lunch. I'm comparing the two fevers that overtook some Cowboys fans during these QB tenures. Quincy Carter shouldn't be allowed on the same field with Tony Romo.
In the Quincy Carter years, there were those fans who simply believed he would be the one to take the Cowboys to the Superbowl, i.e. the "promised land". No infusion of facts to the contrary would sway them. Here's a quote from about a week ago from a Cowboys forum:
Re: Romo being "the man"
"Romo is the chosen one.... Follow him and he will lead us back to the promise land!" - after Romo's 4th game
See any similarities?
After Chad Hutchinson entered the picture, there was a three way rift. Those who were Carter fanatics, those who were Hutch fanatics, and a few of us that didn't think either of them were going to make it. Fans of each of those QBs elaborated on why each of them would make the Pro Bowl. Particularly Carter, who, with the help of a fairly good defense managed to put together some wins, most of the time, in spite of Carter whose stats were dropping like a lead balloon. But the hardcore Carter fans were saying Carter would be in the Pro Bowl. Here's another quote from the other day:
Re: Romo in the Pro Bowl
"speaking of that, i need to vote him into the pro bowl" - after Romo's 4th game
Note that this speaker didn't say he was going to vote "for" him, but that he, apparently, thought he had the power to actually vote him "into" the pro bowl. Also note, this wasn't expressed as a desire to do this, but a "need".
Some of Carter's die hard fans thought he would eventually be selected to the Hall of Fame. Granted, there was only a couple, but they were there, nonetheless. Here's what a couple fans have said recently on a Cowboys forum:
Re: Romo being a Hall of Fame Inductee
"You wont need to worry about that because I already commissioned a reputable sculptor to start on Romo's bust after the Colts game." - after Romo's 5th game
"I used Aikman as an example simply because this is a Cowboy site. I could just as easily have said that he is playing better than any number of other HOF QBs." - after Romo's 5th game
Now, by the end of the season, Tony Romo might have shown the world why he should be in the Pro Bowl, and actually be elected to go. But these statements were made after he had played 5 games. I recall some statements similar to these about Julius Jones in his first few games. I guess the potential of him not completing a full season just didn't enter into the thought process. Nor has that potential entered into the thought process in regards to Tony Romo.
Of course, Carter was compared to Aikman, whom he replaced. When the fever struck some of the fans, they were not reticent to inform us quickly how great Carter was/would be. Comparisons to Aikman abounded. So here's a few things that have been said in the last few weeks.
Re: Romo being better than Aikman
"He is playing better than Aikman ever did." - after Romo's 5th game
"The facts are that Romo is more accurate than Aikman ever was though a 5 game peiod. (Editor's note: the original poster's misspelling, not mine)" - after Romo's 5th game
"I'll take what I've seen from Romo over Troy any day." - after Romo's 5th game
"We all realize that 5 games is not a career and nobody knows what Romo's future play will bring but the reality is that he is playing better football over his 5 starts than Troy Aikman ever played." - after Romo's 5th game
"No, I would argue he is playing better than Troy ever did over any five game stretch of his career." - after Romo's 5th game
Did you notice that these things are stated as fact. "the reality is. . . ." and "the facts are". When Carter was playing, and his QB rating was dropping weekly until he was in the lower 1/3 of NFL QBs by rating, Carter fanatics still would argue how well Carter was playing. I remember posting statistic after statistic, but it went into deaf ears. The fever, or religion, or whatever it is, simply prevented them from absorbing cold hard facts. One of those quotes says "we all realize that 5 games is not a career". I would have to classify that as an untrue statement. I firmly believe there are some out there that are clueless to that point, therefore "all" could not be true.
Now, I've said all that, to say this. I think Tony Romo has done a fantastic job as quarterback since he became the starter. He's making the throws, not turning over the ball and generally doing what great quarterbacks do. But great quarterbacks have a track record behind them that shows that quarterback can sustain that type play for an extended time. 1/3 of a season is simply not an extended time. It's not Romo's fault he doesn't have that track record. And he won't ever have that track record if he doesn't play any more games. At this point, for Dallas Cowboys fans, he's the greatest quarterback anomaly to come down the pike since the invention of football. If he continues like he has been playing, he will prove to be the best quarterback the Dallas Cowboys ever did have, or probably ever will have. I would venture to say that if the Cowboys, with Romo at the helm, play consistently like they have played since Romo took over for 5 more years, they'll be the owner of a minimum of 4 new SuperBowl rings.
But folks, it hasn't happened yet. Romo's number of SuperBowl rings equals the salary I get for my exalted position as staff writer. The number of times Romo has received a solid hit equals that number also. The number of playoff games Romo has won equals that number. The number of Pro Bowl appearances Romo has made equals that number. The number of NFC Championship games he's won equals that number. The number of NFC East titles he's won equals that number, too. Zero, Zilch, Nada, Nothing. I repeat: $0.00.
So, is this a religion, or is this a medical condition. Frankly, I'm beginning to think it's a medical condition that manifests itself after what is perceived to be a spiritual experience. Lord knows, there are many things on this planet that can make a man lose touch with reality. A nice pair of legs in a short skirt. A snake crawling in your fishing boat when you're miles from shore. Telling your buddies about the shot you made to kill the prize deer at the hunting lodge. And apparently, quarterbacks who haven't played enough games yet to be crowned Emperor of the NFL, but are playing well at the moment.
Having a team like the Cowboys have been for this millenium as your favorite football team is just tough. You want them to excel. You want them to regain the glory of what they have been in the past, on several occasions. You want to be able to point with pride and say "that's MY team!" The playoff famine that has been our plague for years can make one see visions of grandeur, even when that grandeur is not a proven thing yet.
The Cowboys have had quarterbacks that started cold. Aikman is a prime example. His first year would give no one reason for hope. Staubach got the starting job, lost the starting job, got the starting job, lost the starting job his first couple years. No one would have predicted his success in the beginning. On the other hand, Quincy Carter had a couple good games in the beginning of his first full season as the starter. But it went south quickly. And we all know how that deal turned out.
Tony Romo has had an excellent beginning of his real career with the Dallas Cowboys. If he continues, he'll be King of the Mountain. But he's got to earn his crown first. Bill Parcells keeps saying that and folks accuse him of just never saying anything positive to a quarterback. I tend to lean on the wisdom and experience of a man who has been around the block a couple of times with quarterbacks. I can't imagine why a coach would want to spend his time convincing his quarterback that he's going to screw the pooch any day now. If anything, I would think he would be working to help him keep a positive mental attitude. No, I don't buy that Parcells is just trying to get into Romo's head. I think Parcells is simply calling a spade a spade. Romo is going to screw the pooch. The question isn't whether, it's when. Then we get to see what the boy is truly made of.
Until then, take two aspirins and call me in the morning.
Rod
Yesterday, I was in the office of a local insurance agent and the discussion turned to the Cowboys. I told him I was one of the staff writers on a Cowboys forum and told him that I was the boogie man. One of the few really vocal ones that chose to wait a bit before crowning Tony Romo as a gift from the one true God, who everyone knows is a Dallas Cowboys fan Himself. As the old joke goes. . . "why does Texas Stadium have a hole in the roof? Answer: "so God can watch his team play football."
My friend was duly impressed by my exalted status as staff writer. Not being one to let that diminish in any manner, I neglected to tell him that my salary for my writing efforts amounts to the same number the Pittsburg Steelers had in their column for points scored in their last game. Zilch, Zero, Nada, Nothing. For the mathematically challenged, here's the figure: $0.00.
That would have made him think less of me and since I was holding court, as the obvious expert as an exalted staff writer, I just left off that bit of information.
Anyway, I told my friend that I thought Romo had done amazing things in his first five games. And that if he continues, he will definitely be what the Cowboys have been looking for since Aikman left the stage.
Of course, we discussed the upcoming Giants game and came to the conclusion there's no real reason for the Giants to even show up this weekend. The Cowboys are going to win. They can use it as a voluntary bye week and heal up some of the injured guys.
I was not surprised to hear my friend say he thought it was a bit early to be talking Pro Bowl and Hall of Fame and all that for Romo at this point. Most fans around my neck of the woods love the way Romo is playing, but are realistic enough to know it's just too early to tell.
There are a few, though, of the hardcore Romo fans. The ones that believe the NFC East title is in the bag, that the Playoffs are a mere formality before Romo leads his team into the NFC Championship game, only to totally humiliate the Bears defense, while the Dallas offense dissects Chicago's offense like a frog in biology class, and the SuperBowl game pitting the Dallas Cowboys against the AFC winning Colts will be a replay of their earlier meeting this season, except Romo will toss 6 touchdown passes this time, just to add a personal touch to the season. The Pro Bowl might not even be played, since no other quarterback can be found to step on the field, only to look pathetic beside Romo, whose head has strangely started to have a glow around it, like many of the older paintings of Jesus. Even Drew Bledsoe wouldn't step on the field against Romo when politely asked to. Defenses, of course, know they cannot play in the glare of that light, so they won't step on the field either and the game is forfeited without one play being run.
All of this is, of course, made up, but if you listen to these guys, this is the picture that comes to your mind of what they think is likely. Not just possible, but likely.
Numerous times this year, I have been chastised for what was perceived to be my unbelief. Because I wasn't ready to place the crown, jump on the bandwagon, and become a "Romo Homo", "Romosexual" or whatever. I just didn't drink the Kool-Aid.
So I've studied this phenomena. Trying to figure out whether it's a disease/malady/condition, etc. or if this is a religion. I lived through, and survived, the Quincy Carter religion. Before you start saying I'm comparing Romo to Carter, you're out to lunch. I'm comparing the two fevers that overtook some Cowboys fans during these QB tenures. Quincy Carter shouldn't be allowed on the same field with Tony Romo.
In the Quincy Carter years, there were those fans who simply believed he would be the one to take the Cowboys to the Superbowl, i.e. the "promised land". No infusion of facts to the contrary would sway them. Here's a quote from about a week ago from a Cowboys forum:
Re: Romo being "the man"
"Romo is the chosen one.... Follow him and he will lead us back to the promise land!" - after Romo's 4th game
See any similarities?
After Chad Hutchinson entered the picture, there was a three way rift. Those who were Carter fanatics, those who were Hutch fanatics, and a few of us that didn't think either of them were going to make it. Fans of each of those QBs elaborated on why each of them would make the Pro Bowl. Particularly Carter, who, with the help of a fairly good defense managed to put together some wins, most of the time, in spite of Carter whose stats were dropping like a lead balloon. But the hardcore Carter fans were saying Carter would be in the Pro Bowl. Here's another quote from the other day:
Re: Romo in the Pro Bowl
"speaking of that, i need to vote him into the pro bowl" - after Romo's 4th game
Note that this speaker didn't say he was going to vote "for" him, but that he, apparently, thought he had the power to actually vote him "into" the pro bowl. Also note, this wasn't expressed as a desire to do this, but a "need".
Some of Carter's die hard fans thought he would eventually be selected to the Hall of Fame. Granted, there was only a couple, but they were there, nonetheless. Here's what a couple fans have said recently on a Cowboys forum:
Re: Romo being a Hall of Fame Inductee
"You wont need to worry about that because I already commissioned a reputable sculptor to start on Romo's bust after the Colts game." - after Romo's 5th game
"I used Aikman as an example simply because this is a Cowboy site. I could just as easily have said that he is playing better than any number of other HOF QBs." - after Romo's 5th game
Now, by the end of the season, Tony Romo might have shown the world why he should be in the Pro Bowl, and actually be elected to go. But these statements were made after he had played 5 games. I recall some statements similar to these about Julius Jones in his first few games. I guess the potential of him not completing a full season just didn't enter into the thought process. Nor has that potential entered into the thought process in regards to Tony Romo.
Of course, Carter was compared to Aikman, whom he replaced. When the fever struck some of the fans, they were not reticent to inform us quickly how great Carter was/would be. Comparisons to Aikman abounded. So here's a few things that have been said in the last few weeks.
Re: Romo being better than Aikman
"He is playing better than Aikman ever did." - after Romo's 5th game
"The facts are that Romo is more accurate than Aikman ever was though a 5 game peiod. (Editor's note: the original poster's misspelling, not mine)" - after Romo's 5th game
"I'll take what I've seen from Romo over Troy any day." - after Romo's 5th game
"We all realize that 5 games is not a career and nobody knows what Romo's future play will bring but the reality is that he is playing better football over his 5 starts than Troy Aikman ever played." - after Romo's 5th game
"No, I would argue he is playing better than Troy ever did over any five game stretch of his career." - after Romo's 5th game
Did you notice that these things are stated as fact. "the reality is. . . ." and "the facts are". When Carter was playing, and his QB rating was dropping weekly until he was in the lower 1/3 of NFL QBs by rating, Carter fanatics still would argue how well Carter was playing. I remember posting statistic after statistic, but it went into deaf ears. The fever, or religion, or whatever it is, simply prevented them from absorbing cold hard facts. One of those quotes says "we all realize that 5 games is not a career". I would have to classify that as an untrue statement. I firmly believe there are some out there that are clueless to that point, therefore "all" could not be true.
Now, I've said all that, to say this. I think Tony Romo has done a fantastic job as quarterback since he became the starter. He's making the throws, not turning over the ball and generally doing what great quarterbacks do. But great quarterbacks have a track record behind them that shows that quarterback can sustain that type play for an extended time. 1/3 of a season is simply not an extended time. It's not Romo's fault he doesn't have that track record. And he won't ever have that track record if he doesn't play any more games. At this point, for Dallas Cowboys fans, he's the greatest quarterback anomaly to come down the pike since the invention of football. If he continues like he has been playing, he will prove to be the best quarterback the Dallas Cowboys ever did have, or probably ever will have. I would venture to say that if the Cowboys, with Romo at the helm, play consistently like they have played since Romo took over for 5 more years, they'll be the owner of a minimum of 4 new SuperBowl rings.
But folks, it hasn't happened yet. Romo's number of SuperBowl rings equals the salary I get for my exalted position as staff writer. The number of times Romo has received a solid hit equals that number also. The number of playoff games Romo has won equals that number. The number of Pro Bowl appearances Romo has made equals that number. The number of NFC Championship games he's won equals that number. The number of NFC East titles he's won equals that number, too. Zero, Zilch, Nada, Nothing. I repeat: $0.00.
So, is this a religion, or is this a medical condition. Frankly, I'm beginning to think it's a medical condition that manifests itself after what is perceived to be a spiritual experience. Lord knows, there are many things on this planet that can make a man lose touch with reality. A nice pair of legs in a short skirt. A snake crawling in your fishing boat when you're miles from shore. Telling your buddies about the shot you made to kill the prize deer at the hunting lodge. And apparently, quarterbacks who haven't played enough games yet to be crowned Emperor of the NFL, but are playing well at the moment.
Having a team like the Cowboys have been for this millenium as your favorite football team is just tough. You want them to excel. You want them to regain the glory of what they have been in the past, on several occasions. You want to be able to point with pride and say "that's MY team!" The playoff famine that has been our plague for years can make one see visions of grandeur, even when that grandeur is not a proven thing yet.
The Cowboys have had quarterbacks that started cold. Aikman is a prime example. His first year would give no one reason for hope. Staubach got the starting job, lost the starting job, got the starting job, lost the starting job his first couple years. No one would have predicted his success in the beginning. On the other hand, Quincy Carter had a couple good games in the beginning of his first full season as the starter. But it went south quickly. And we all know how that deal turned out.
Tony Romo has had an excellent beginning of his real career with the Dallas Cowboys. If he continues, he'll be King of the Mountain. But he's got to earn his crown first. Bill Parcells keeps saying that and folks accuse him of just never saying anything positive to a quarterback. I tend to lean on the wisdom and experience of a man who has been around the block a couple of times with quarterbacks. I can't imagine why a coach would want to spend his time convincing his quarterback that he's going to screw the pooch any day now. If anything, I would think he would be working to help him keep a positive mental attitude. No, I don't buy that Parcells is just trying to get into Romo's head. I think Parcells is simply calling a spade a spade. Romo is going to screw the pooch. The question isn't whether, it's when. Then we get to see what the boy is truly made of.
Until then, take two aspirins and call me in the morning.
Rod
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