There is likely no quarterback more loved or hated than Tony Romo. A player who can make the big plays, and push his play to an elite level, only to falter through a key fumble or interception, as the case would have it. Still, Tony Romo has put together an impressive body of work.
For Tony, it all began back in 2003, when the Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent. Romo played college football for Div1-AA, Eastern Illinois. While the school boasted other famous NFL alumni like former Vikings head coach Brad Childress and current Saints head coach Sean Payton, this was not the hotbed of up-and-coming collegiate talent that scouts would likely look to, year in and year out, to draft. Romo was like many before him, a developmental prospect who landed on a Dallas Cowboys team, rich in history and tradition, by being signed ‘off the street,’ so to speak. While he had ability and intelligence, Romo needed some work and development in his skills to make it in the professional ranks.
From 2003 to 2005, Tony worked his way from third string quarterback, to the back-up quarterback, to the eventual starter in 2006. Since then, Romo has started 98 games and amassed 27,260 yards passing and thrown 190 touchdowns. Unfortunately, over the past seven seasons, the Cowboys have made it to the playoffs just three times, losing once in the wild card round, and twice in the NFC divisional round. It’s been three seasons since making the playoffs, and seventeen seasons since the team’s last Super Bowl championship (1995).
While there are many fans out there of different teams who would find it laughable that a franchise could be dismayed over a three year playoff draught, the storied history of the Cowboys is what makes three seasons feel like an eternity, and seventeen seasons a lifetime. While most fans look at past accomplishments as isolated moments in time, the Cowboys see it as a benchmark, an achievement to be accomplished in the here and right now. Anything less, including a winning season, simply will not do.
Well, Tony Romo has done his part. Besides being a 3-time Pro Bowl selection, Romo holds Cowboys records for single season touchdown passes, completions, yards passed, number of 300 yards games, and consecutive games with a touchdown pass. But, what lingers is the distaste of a gaffed field goal snap by Romo that cost the Cowboys a playoff win in 2007, and what seems to be countless (at least that’s the impression given) late game turnovers which have caused way too many Cowboys losses. Lost in all this, however, is the fact that Tony Romo is one of the most consistently good quarterbacks in the league.
Except for the first season he became a starter (10 games), and the two seasons he was injured, 2008 and 2010, Romo has been a model of consistency throwing for between 4,100 yards and 4,900 yards, 26 to 36 TDs, and 9 to 19 interceptions. Even in the seasons Romo was injured, when projected out, his numbers would have fallen into these ranges. This is why Romo has been a good quarterback despite the occasional ill-timed turnover. He’s consistent.
Right now, Romo is on pace for his best season as a professional quarterback, en route to a potential 4,900 yard, 40-plus touchdown on 6 interception season. Last week, against the high flying Broncos, who lead the league in scoring (46 points per game), Romo had his best game as a pro (506 yards, 5 TDs, and 1 interception) and joined an elite group of quarterbacks to have passed for over 500 yards. By the way, this is the second time Tony Romo passed for 5 TDs in his career.
This week, Tony faces a Redskins team whose pass defense is struggling. The unit is giving up an average of 298 yards per game (fifth worst in the league) and at least 2 touchdown passes per game. Tony Romo is a must start in all fantasy football leagues in Week 6. Tony Romo is The Fantasy Greek’s fantasy football player of the week.
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Written By: Jim Saranteas – @TheFantasyGreek and @JimSaranteas on Twitter
Founder of the fantasy football advice site TheFantasyGreek.com
