TONY ROMO OVERRATED?

Other than Jay Cutler has anyone ever received so much hype after so few career NFL starts? Tony Romo is in his first full season as the Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback. Just two days before Halloween he signed a 6-year $67.5M deal to remain with them through 2013. May I ask why he's been given the Holier than Thou label? Let's break down exactly what he has done to deserve this recognition from NFL analysts and his new contract.

In 2006 Romo became the starter for Dallas in week 7. This is after not being able to beat out 34-year-old Drew Bledsoe in training camp. He proceeded to go 6-5 as a starter. He lost the Cowboys last two games while in a fight for playoff positioning and tossed 3 INTs in those two games. After Dallas squeaked into the post season as a Wild Card team, Romo managed to throw for under 200 yards in that game against Seattle and even dropped a 19 yard go ahead FG snap as the holder with 1:19 left to win the game. (A Playoff Game!!)

So far in 2007 he has led the Cowboys to a 6-1 record, but lost at home to the New England Patriots in the biggest game of the year for Dallas. In his 7 starts he has thrown 9 INTs, including 5 against the lowly Buffalo Bills. In fact, there are only two games this year where Romo hasn't thrown at least one pick. Most other NFL quarterbacks would be ridiculed for this statistic, namely Donovan McNabb.

Yet here we are in week 9, watching the un-drafted Tony Romo receive over $11M a year for his 18 NFL starts and 22 career interceptions. Isn't the most important part of being a NFL starting quarterback to NOT turn the ball over? (He also has 4 fumbles)

Don't get me wrong I really do see some talent in his escapability and his arm strength, and he did throw for more 300-yard games in a row than Troy Aikman or Roger Staubach, but take away Terrell Owens as a target and you might see Romo turn into Damon Huard. After all, the Chiefs are leading their division too and in a much tougher conference, and Huard has only thrown 16 INTs in his 55 career starts (granted he's played 11 seasons).



All in all I believe that being the starting quarterback for "America's Team" is what has brought him such recognition so quickly and not his propensity for winning big games. I guess I'm just tired of hearing about his love life and new contract while other young quarterbacks with more accomplishments seem to get ignored (i.e., Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, and Vince Young).

Let's just wait and see what happens with Romo before we crown him as the next coming of "Baby Jesus Landry".
Original Story: http://www.myspace.com/wpsn.
Vote this post up or down: 

83 Comments On: "TONY ROMO OVERRATED?"

 
oh wait, youre an idiot

Good point. Way to back it up with facts.

Romo is winning and so are the Cowboys. He is their QB. The QB is the only "skill player" who's hands touch the ball on every offensive play. That is a lot of responsibility. He deserves whatever he gets. That's the nature of the job. It's all about accountablility.

youre really saying vince young and big ben are ignored? rookie of the year and superbowl winner? and phillip rivers, uhh

your logic is completely flawed.

it was never about "beating out drew bledsoe" bledsoe was drafted by parcells in NE. bledsoe was his man. romo was also a prodigy of his. take away TO, witten, crayton, glenn, JJ and MB3 and then yeah, tony romo sucks.

get real dude.

Take it easy Cowboys fan. The guy is an average QB so far, nothing more yet. All I'm saying is let's wait and see if this guy is the real deal before we annoint him as the next John Elway.

Every Sunday morning I have to listen to NFL analysts talk about Romo this and Romo that. Big Ben won a Superbowl already and his team is in 1st place yet again, but yet no talk about his play this year. Their too busy hyping Romo....Rivers has gone farther than Romo already in the post season, won more games, and didn't drop a 19yd FG hold in the playoffs to lose....Vince Young has more "come from behind" wins already than Romo and on a team with much less talent.

funny you should mention Big Ben...I was reading an article about Favre and Elway this lunchtime and started wondering why noboby says much about Ben...afterall he did win a SuperBowl. Will Romo even get to one??

I feel the chargers have just as much talent as dallas and also the chargers didn't play a top noch team in the play-offs. The patriots were in their worst of the last 6 years when they played them and still loss. I think the main outcome of the games thats gonna be won by the chargers is heart and hunger.If your not hungry u wont feed yourself.Right now they did win against indy but indy without marvin harrison is hardly indy at all.Indy would've even beat the pats wit him on there passing game because joseph was running like a rat for cheese against them.

To say "wait and see" is not the same thing as saying "way overrated." Poor communication skills always lead to misunderstandings.

Overrated after 18 games? Yes. Let's wait and see means "will he live up to that contract"?

i'm not a Cowboy fan (but i'm not a hater either)... Romo has good weapons and makes good decisions. TO has his back. that should say plenty, especially when you consider just how much he's turned on other QBs.

It does speak well to Romo. Yet, TO and McNabb were best buds until the 2nd year together too. He even got along with Jeff Garcia for a while also. Give him time, we may see him turn on Tony.

as long as he has the weapons (and don't forget, they don't even have the excellent Terry Glenn), he'll be fine... well, as long as the O-line holds up.

and TO turned on McNabb because he thought Donovan should've taken his side in the contract dispute with Philly... not because of on-the-field performances.

McNabb is just a self-centered person. People talk about T.O. being that way, but McNabb is just as bad, if not worse. It was not totally T.O.'s fault tht things blew up in Philly. Need to take a good look at their own QB who can't make it to the Super Bowl himself after he's had how many tries????

Oh, I forgot. He did make it to one and that was mostly due to an injured T.O. playing on a bum ankle.

TO and Mc Nabb persona wise seem like 50 Cent and Kanye West. I don't know though. Kanye West might be meaner than Donovan. I've been waiting for Mc Nabb to go berserk and just blow up, but I guess things are just too good? I don't get it. I don't know, I like him, but he never seems to get real fired up. You know, pissed off like he means serious business and he wants to just bludgeon the damn ball down someone's throat. I know I would have been like that by now. Start kicking ass Donovan.

God. Jurassic 5 might be meaner that Donovan. That's scary.

Well if TO is giving 110% and making the probowl while hurt half the season then yeah give the man his money and get your popcorn ready.

The Cowboys havent been excited about QB since Troy Aikman, the contract was a way for Jerry Jones to say that Tony Romo is here to stay, and to let the fans buy up all of the season tickets to fill up the new stadium when it gets done. I like Tony and he has alot of talent, I don't believe he is overrated, but he indeed needs at least another season under his belt before anointing him the next John Elway.

You are dead on with your reasoning for Jerry Jones signing him. I just keep looking at his resume and other than having that star on the side of his helmet he only compares to average QBs so far. Especially with the amount of INTs he's throwing.

Bills fan here. I loved how before the Bills/Cowboys game about 57 minutes of the pregame talk was all "Romo is the golden boy" type of stuff. Then the game happened where the Bills defense showed just how good he is. And unfortunately, the offense showed their true colors too. He should thank Nick Folk for saving his reputation in that one.

so he had nothing to do with getting them in FG range with that pass to Crayton?

That's one game, dude. You going to judge him on one game? Didn't I see McNabb get his ass sacked 12 times by the Giant defense?

Who the hell drove the team down and got the opportunity for Folk to win the game. As a matter of fact. Who drove the team down and helped get the game within reach?

If the bills couldn't finish the job with that kind of stat sheet i have to say that next year is a primary goal.

I'm a Jets fan, my life sucks, but I feel like I can be objective here. This article screams Cowboy hater. All of the statistics you used in your article are so skewed that you basically invalidate it. He has throw 19 interceptions in 16 games, you're right about that. You forgot to mention the 35 TD passes and 2 runs over his career. So what we are looking at is 37 TD's/19 Int over a full season. Don't forget that he threw 5 interceptions against Buffalo, so that sort of skews his numbers. So his career starts have represented about a full season. 37 TD's wins the MVP in years that Tom Brady doesn't throw for 60 or Manning for 50.
Criticizing him for the Buffalo game is completely missing the point. How many QB's throw 5 picks and still lead their team to victory. Romo had the worst game of his career and kept plugging away. He left the 5 picks behind him and picked apart the defense on the last drive to get his team in field goal range (not that Nick Folk didn't kick two absolute bombs). To me, this was the most impressive game in his career.
The talk about the talent on the field is completely overblown. Even some of the more casual NFL fans realize that Terrell Owens drops an ton of balls. Over Romo's starts, Owens has been good for one or two drops a game and plenty of those have been touchdown passes. Owens doesn't make Romo better, Romo makes Owens better. QB's that can avoid pass rushes as effectively as Romo does help their receivers and tight ends get open. Look at Jason Wittens improvement this year under Romo.
I would easily take Romo over Rivers and Young. I live in San Diego and have the misfortune of seeing Rivers play every week. If it wasn't for LT opening up the pass and Antonio Gates catching anything within ten fett of him, Rivers is not an NFL starter. Talk about a guy looking good because of the talent around him. I'll give Rivers his due once one of his receivers other than Gates has a 100 yd game. Young has taken a gigantic step backwards this year. His running ability is what opens up the pass. Since he's been playing hurt, the offense has completely sputered. 23 passing yards in a single game is much worse than anything Romo has ever done. Roethlisberger has been great thsi year and proven a lot. The Superbowl win was about him not making mistakes and handing the ball to Bettis and Parker. But he has really emerged this year as a pasing threat and I am very impressed. While Roethlisberger has been very good this year, Romo has been dominant. Still, it's a toss up. I do know Romo isn't an idiot meathead who might ride a motorcycle without a helmet.

ohhh....why does your life suck?? what if you lived in St Louis? they have not even won 1 game this year..love you r QB.

Objective? Did he lose the Seattle Playoff game by choking? If Buffalo had an offense Romo loses by 24 in that 5 INT game. "America's Team" obviously applies to New York/New Jersey. Rivers played in the AFC Championship Game. The NFC you would agree fails in comparison right now. Romo squeaked into the Wild card slot last year. Why does the star hold so much weight??

Well, it's going to take a lot of work for your Iggles to squeak into the playoffs this year. After last night, you still think he is overrated? I think the McNabb choked in the NFC Championship game a couple of times. If Romo gets into the playoffs this year, let's see how he does. Have fun watching your QB the rest of the year.

9-1 wit a 2nd year QB is a good sign. Unless your an eli manning fan.

He is DEFINITLY not over rated..I mean Bledsoe was in that postion last year and did nothing..as soon as Romo took over he handled everything the way a QB should. He has dominated and executed in clutch situations...plus he gets along with TO and someone actually coached him to be so PC to the press it is amazing. He is the ultimate QB for Dallas. They could not get any better then that right now...although..his ears could use some work..but hey he still pulls all those chicks

Executed in clutch situations? uhm....19yd FG? Catch......hold........DOH!

Rivers did not play in any AFC Championship game. He got knocked out of the playoffs in the divisonal playoffs by New England. New England and Indy played in the AFC Championship game.

Your right. My Bad. If Mcree holds onto that Brady INT, Rivers would have been in the AFC Championship game.

just say it Tony Fumble stinks he isn't even a football player.

Hey Bucs!!! Did you watch him today? Keep smiling, buddy!!!!!!!!!!!! ROFLMAO

NFL analysts, every week and sometimes every other day talk about what AMERICANS want to hear.
Rather it be good or bad news the DALLAS COWBOYS will always have a spot light on them. Why do you think T.O. so happy here.
If it not TONY being OVERRATED it's TO,Witten, JJ,and MB3 and let's not forget Roy Williams. Regardless, either you LOVE the BOYS or you LOVE to HATE them.
GO COWBOYS !!!!!!!

Spoken like a true Cowboy fan. Let me guess your a Dallas fan that lives in Vermont?

WRONG guess, I live in DALLAS.

Phuck Philly you are a fool i am a Eagles fan and TO got injured BEFORE the season ended and was out until the SB. We beat all those teams without TO like Freddy Mitchell said We got to the Super Bowl without TO" They didn't need him for anything.

Who's the fool now chump???? TO ate your sorry defensive backs up tonight along with our overrated QB. HOpe you enjoy it at the bottom of the NFC East.

No, he is not over-rated.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
overrated my ass
romo just got like 450+ yards on philly. HILARIOUS!!!!

Who hasn't done that to the Eagles this year, it isn't 2004 anymore.

That's right. It isn't. Fun, huh??

Ok, I am neither a cowboy or eagles fan and like to base my "opinions" largely on facts/stats. So here goes. The question..... is Romo over-rated? Well thats a pretty general statement that requires more definition. Is he overated in the sense that we should nominate him to the hall next year?.... yes. Is he over-rated in the sense that we should just give him three or four super bowl rings and call it a day?...yes! Is he over-rated in the sense that he doesn't deserve a 6 year 67m dollar deal?....NO, is he overated in the sense that he is really only an avg QB with a star on the side of his helmet? NO. Now lets review ursportspro's reasons and then some explanations to my reasoning.

A 6 year 67m contract is not applying a holier than thou label. What are far poorer performing Qb's contracts looking like? Say Mcnabb for example. What is it 150m with all the bonuses and what not.
Didn't Vince Young get a 60million dollar deal before even taking a snap in an nfl game? In comparison there is nothing wrong with a giving a QB putting out the performance Romo is putting out and the numbers he is putting up a 67m deal. As far as not beating out bledsoe, I don't think there was really a chance. Bledsoe was the guy. If you can think back that far you may remember a guy named TOM BRADY that could also not beat out bledsoe for a job.........................................................

Actually your reasoning is flawed and I don't feel a need to defute every statement you make because things like flubbing one snap or having one game with 5 picks is meaningless as far as a career is concerned. That and you seem a bit uneducated as far as the league is concerned. Especially with the much tougher conference comment. The Pats and the Colts are what throws that curve upwards. and only the teams in thier respective divisions have to play them twice. Secondly the NFC EAST is one of the toughest DIVISIONS in the league. A much tougher DIVISION then the AFC EAST, As a matter of fact the only division tougher than the NFC east with more wins collectively in it is the Colts division. Its not like the cowboys are playing in a division with 14 total wins and 9 of them are the cowboys........You replace the patriots with the 3rd place NFC East Redskins and the Redskins are in 1st place in the AFC East. So anyway I've totally lost interest in this topic. IS romo the best thing ever, no. Is he so over rated that we should be discussing it.... no. The man is putting up a performance worthy of being talked about. After all he is the 3rd ranked Qb in the league with a 100.4 season qb rating. Until he has 3 career ending injures in 5 years and stinks up a season like Mcnabb did this year I won't call him over rated.... I'd just call him good.


Why do we have to compare him to McNabb?? Is he the only other Qb in the NFL or just because the Cowboys played the Eagles this week. Besides McNabb's been to 4 NFC Championship games and 1 Superbowl. Could Romo get his team into the NFC championship game or let alone the Superbowl with James Thrash, Freddy Mitchell, and Todd Pinkston as his starting wideouts??

1) It wasn't "JUST" a flubbed snap, it was a game winning FG attempt in an NFL Playoff game. (you know the reason teams start the season, to win the Superbowl)

2) Brady couldn't beat out Bledsoe in 2001 as a 2nd year QB not 2006 when Drew Bledsoe was 34 and Romo had been on the roster for 3 years already.

3) 5 INTs is 5 INTs. Do you remember the last time Manning, Brady, Senaca Wallace, or even Trent Difer through 5 INTs in one game??

4) Pats and Colts rule the AFC yes. But do the Steelers, Ravens, Jaguars, or Chargers raise the curve at all?

I will agree with you that Romo is good. But, until he wins a playoff game, he is just another QB with 19 games under his belt.




Hmmm.......what happened after he threw those 5 Int's?? He got off of his butt and came in and directed a game-winning drive. I don't remember them losing that game. Do you? And , I do remember Manning throwing mutlitple int's in more than one game, and losing. He finally got the monkey off his back by winning a Super Bowl last year. For a QB with 19 games, Romo is putting up some impressive stats without Terry Glenn in the lineup. If we had Glenn, the Philly defense would have given up 500+ last night because they wouldn't know who to cover, not that they did anyway. Good luck.