Tag Archives: Tony Romo
Top 10 Dallas Cowboy QBs of all-time: Did Romo make the cut?
With an impressive eight Super Bowls in franchise history the Dallas Cowboys have featured some of the most illustrious quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. From Gary Hogeboom to Troy Aikman, where does Tony Romo fit in amongst the top 10 signal callers in the history of the Dallas Cowboys?
5 crazy NFL destinations for Peyton Manning
What do you mean your team doesn’t want Peyton Manning? Unless you’re the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants or Pittsburgh Steelers you’ve got to at least for a second imagine the thought of have Manning under center for your NFL team. Only a fool wouldn’t and in the billion dollar industry that the NFL has become, no one can afford to be foolish when it comes to acquiring players. In 2012 the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback will run the offense of one very fortunate team. Here are five crazy destinations for Peyton Manning.
If it’s not the Cowboys then who is America’s team?
The Dallas Cowboys are without a doubt no longer “America’s Team.” The Dallas franchise was given that nickname in 1978 when the narrator of the teams highlight film opened the program by stating that “They appear on television so often that their faces are as familiar to the public as presidents and movie stars. They are the Dallas Cowboys, America’s Team.” From that moment on the term America’s team has been synonymous with the Cowboys. And although current Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and quarterback Tony Romo are constantly plastered all over the TV is anyone really buying that the Cowboys are still America’s team?
To add fuel to the fire Yahoo Sports contributor Zack Wassink recently wrote an article stating that the New York Giant’s were America’s team. That’s hard to argue seeing how the events of 9-11 united our Nation the fact that the Giants have won two Super Bowls since. But fair is fair, so we’ll let the fans decide. If the Dallas Cowboys aren’t America’s team then who is? Here are three possible candidates.
New York Giants: As mentioned previously the Giants have won two Super Bowls in the last four years and have done so with humility. Neither time were they expected to win it all and neither time did they field the best teams in the NFL going in to the playoffs. But like the foundation of our Nation and the hard-working men and women of this country, the Giants proved that through dedication and perseverance, anyone can achieve greatness. They did it twice. The city of New York also represents a new beginning for America. The events of 9-11 were the darkest moments in our Nation’s history and forever altered the way we live our lives. Every American feels pride when they think about the bravery of the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in attempt to save others. The Giants are an excellent representative of the city of New York and all that it has overcome.
Green Bay Packers: When you consider who is America’s team you have to consider the Green Bay Packers. The Packers are the only major professional sports franchise that is community-owned. In that sense they represent everything that is America. Because of its community ownership the Packers have been able to remain in the city of Green Bay despite the fact that its population is slightly better than 100,000. Most NFL franchises are based in cities with millions of people. To put that in context, the max capacity of Cowboys’ Stadium is greater than the population of Green Bay. Despite their humble lineage, the Packers have won 13 NFL championships; four of which came before the Super Bowls era.
New England Patriots: The name alone gets New England on this list. One of the biggest upsets in the history of war was when the US in its infancy defeated Great Britain for independence. Those who fought for independence were known as Patriots. Since the turn of the century the New England Patriots have been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. And like our country, their run at greatness too began with a huge upset; over the St. Louis Rams in Suber Bowl XXXVI. The Patriots have appeared in almost half of the Super Bowls since the turn of the century winning three, and losing two. The Patriots live and die by the motto of team before self as no one player is better than the whole. It’s a formula that has worked for the organization and is sure to keep them in the running for quite some time to come.
Follow Aaron on Facebook and Twitter @Da_Bear_Truth. You can also find him on Google+ or email him at AMoon@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com.
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5 teams that should turn to Packers’ Matt Flynn in 2012
Matt Flynn made himself a ton of money with a standout performance including a Green Bay Packers’ record 6 touchdown and 480 yards passing. Flynn was drafted in the 7th round of the 2008 NFL Draft and is now a free agent moving into 2012. Unlikely to stay with the Packers, as no one will be replacing Aaron Rodgers anytime soon, here are five teams that should turn to Flynn to find success in 2012.
Tony Romo Can’t Win this Weekend but Could Lose a Lot
The Dallas Cowboys need Tony Romo to play well this week against the New York Giants in order to have any chance at winning this game. Need proof? He threw for over 300 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in the first matchup in Dallas, and lost. He needs to now go into hostile New York and steal a win, or else the season is over.
History is against Romo. Last time he had to go on the road in the season finale to clinch a playoff spot, he was destroyed by the Eagles in a 44-6 loss. His legacy cannot afford another like that, injured hand or not.
Even if they win and make the playoffs, Romo will have to win against either the Detroit Lions or Atlanta Falcons or else the talk will again be that he can’t cut it in the playoffs. That didn’t end two seasons ago when he picked up his first playoff win, because he followed it with a terrible performance against the Minnesota Vikings, whether you want to blame him for his offensive line’s struggles or not. The Cowboys had an elite defense that year. He doesn’t have the same luxury this year.
Whatever happens at the end of the Cowboys’ season, Romo will take the blame unless it ends with an improbable Super Bowl run. Over forty thousand plus yards doesn’t matter. If he becomes the 6th quarterback ever to have 30+ touchdowns while throwing less than ten interceptions in a year (one touchdown, interception free game away from doing), it doesn’t matter if the team doesn’t get to the playoffs, and win at least a game there.
People will point to the blown games at the New York Jets and against the Lions, which were clearly Romo’s fault, and also to blown leads at New England, Arizona, and at home against the Giants, which clearly were the fault of the defense, as reasons he cannot and will not ever get it done for this team. People forget that he drove them into field goal range in the final minute of both the Cardinals and Giants games, only to have his kicker iced by his own coach and then blocked the next week. Is it fair? Probably not, but it seems to come with the territory of trying to fill the shoes left by Troy Aikman. Back in the Quincy Carter, Ryan Leaf and whatever-starting-quarterback-the-Cowboys-could-find days, Cowboys’ fans were happy with anything because they didn’t have much to hope for. Now, they expect good quarterback play, and the world expects it from him.
For his part, he’s done excellent this year. Yes, he had the mistakes againt the Lions and Jets, but he also lead 4th quarter comebacks against the Redskins (twice), the Dolphins, and the 12-3 49ers in San Francisco with a broken rib and punctured lung. He didn’t have the support of a run game at the beginning of the year, and with Demarco Murray out, who knows how much he’ll get from here on out. This defense is terrible. The secondary can’t cover a narcoleptic dog, much less an NFL receiver. The pass rush hasn’t been getting there lately, although Demarcus Ware is having a good season yet again. In fact, Ware and inside linebacker Sean Lee have been the lone bright spots of this defense. Going two on 11 isn’t going to help out the team very much, though.
Romo is in a tough spot. A win doesn’t do anything for his legacy, while a loss pretty much seals his reputation as a choke artist. Whatever happens, Romo will get the blame. This much is certain. I just hope, in the subject of fairness, that he has the ball at the end if the game is close, so that he at least has a chance to win instead of watching the defense allow him to lose.
Shawn Eveleth is an NFL team writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at seveleth@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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NFL Week 17 picks, predictions: Playoffs for Romo, Cowboys?
It’s Week 17 in the NFL and as the regular season closes as a new year begins. For some NFL teams the New Year will bring change.
Should the Dallas Cowboys Concede the NFC East to the Giants?
Let’s be honest for a few minutes. Who the hell are the 2011 Dallas Cowboys? They’re not the Cowboys of the Tom Landry, Roger Staubach era. They’re nowhere close to the Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman era teams. Nope, the 2011 Dallas Cowboys with Jason Garrett, Tony Romo and company, are just another mediocre football team with mediocre talent and mediocre coaching. And because of their mediocrity, it’s a foregone conclusion that if the Cowboys beat the New York Giants in Week 17 and make the playoffs, they are without a doubt a team that will lose in the first round. One and done. And does anybody really want to see that? I certainly don’t.
Don’t take my word for it though; the proof is in the pudding. Just look at who the Cowboys have beaten this season? Let’s see, they beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime in Week 2 — quality win, beat the Washington Redskins twice — a mess, beat the St. Louis Rams — pathetic, Seattle Seahawks — confused, Buffalo Bills — pretenders, Miami Dolphins – a good win and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — no contest. With the exception of the 49ers early in the season none, zero, zilch, nil, zip of the Cowboys other seven wins have come against a team with a winning record.
Now let’s look at some of their losses. New York Jets, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles twice, Arizona Cardinals, and the New York Giants. Four of their seven losses have come against teams with winning records; the Eagles and Cardinals just had the Cowboys’ number.
So in games against teams with a winning record the Cowboys are an abysmal 1-4. That’s a laughable .200 winning percentage against teams with a better than .500 record. Guess what Cowboys, even if you beat the Giants and squeak in to the post season every team that stands between you and the Lombardi has a winning record. You don’t stand a chance, so do us all a favor, admit that Eli Manning and the Giants have a better chance in the playoffs and fold on New Year’s Day like the feeble house of cards that you are.
The 2011 Dallas Cowboys reek of mediocrity and after falling to the Giants on Sunday they will have an 8-8 record to prove it. Sorry Cowboy fan, but it is, what it is…and the playoffs aren’t it.
Aaron Moon is the CEO and a Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. An active duty Navy Chief and avid writer, Aaron is a lifelong Bears’ fan who writes about his team from a critics’ point of view. You can contact Aaron on facebook or follow him on Twitter @DA_Bear_Truth. Contact Aaron directly by emailing him at amoon@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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An Open Letter to Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones: Let Go
Many things have changed in the sixteen years since the Dallas Cowboys last won a Super Bowl. In those sixteen years the franchise has seen five head coaching changes and an innumerable amount of player personnel changes. Specifically, the quarterback position, which has been occupied by five separate “franchise” quarterbacks. The defense has been overhauled multiple times. Some players, like 5-time Pro Bowl strong safety Roy Williams, just dropped off the planet in terms of talent. Some players, like 1-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Roy Williams, should have never worn a Dallas Cowboy uniform in the first place (the guy has a standardized celebration for first downs, of which he rarely achieves).
In all of the turmoil and all of the upheaval, through all of the tremendous hype (Tony Romo) and all of the ridiculous embarrassments (Quincy Carter), one constant has held. The owner has always been the same.
You have seen everything in your 22 years as owner of the Dallas Cowboys. One of the things that you’ve seen, surely with disgust, was the Week 8 beatdown your Cowboys suffered at the hands of your NFC East rival in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Eagles absolutely crushed the Cowboys in every aspect of the game, going so far as to score on their first six drives. Judging by what you said on Wednesday, it’s safe to assume that you’re scared of the Eagles. I say it’s safe to assume because you actually say it.
“After the butt-kicking they gave us up in Philadelphia, I’m scared,” you said bluntly on KRLD-FM, the Cowboys’ flagship radio station. Some jokingly wonder if you’re being cynically humble in an effort to offset any kind of bad luck your boasts might have attracted in the past. After all, most athletes are inherently superstitious, and you were the co-captain running back of the 1964 national champion Arkansas Razorbacks.
History says it’s safe to assume that you do indeed have an agenda in regards to this admission of fear. It could be a psychological withdrawal of confidence in Jason Garrett, or Tony Romo. It could be a way of deflating motivation in the Eagles themselves. Whatever it is, it’s not you being your normally over-confident self, and that says much more than even you’re probably prepared to admit. You are clearly uncomfortable with the state of the Dallas Cowboys. Your franchise won all three of those Super Bowls in the 1990’s with key players that Tom Landry drafted. As the team’s general manager you have never won anything without Tom Landry’s direct influence, even if the lot of those teams were drafted by yourself. Maybe you’re simply growing tired of the Dallas Cowboys being mediocre. Maybe you’re tired of stressing out over your favorite financial asset. You look much older than a 69 year-old billionaire should look. Jimmy Johnson left the organization in 1994 and he’s on television every Sunday looking 58, even though he’s 68.
If you ask me, and I’ll assume that you are, I think you’re being more honest than you’ve ever been when you say that you’re scared of the Eagles. It’s not so much that the Eagles are a force of any strength or consistency (they’re not), nor is it so much about this time of the season (as the Cowboys routinely underachieve in December). No, if you ask me, I think you’re scared that the decisions you’ve been making for far too long have, in fact, not been the right decisions for the Dallas Cowboys. You’re one of the best owners in the league. Hell, you’re one of the best owners in professional sports, period. But, you are nowhere near being one of the best general managers of the NFL.
Franchise quarterbacks don’t come along that often. Not that often at all. Tony Romo is a franchise quarterback and the prudent thing to do, to best take advantage of the closing window of this era, is to step aside. Let go. Follow the example of Art Rooney, Jr. and pick the best football mind you can, then let him pick the coach. Let him draft and sign the players.
You’re only one of two owners/general managers in the league, and though you’ve won three more Super Bowls than your counterpart in Cincinnati, you’re not doing Cowboy fans around the world any favors by keeping a stubbornly never-ending grip on the reigns of the franchise.
I think it’s time that you let go, Jerry, and I think the vast majority of Cowboys fans around the world would soundly agree. That’s, of course, if you were to ask them.
Trey Stancher is an NFL team writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at tstancher@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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NFL Week 16 power rankings: No Tebow time this week
Week 15 in the NFL was one of firsts. The Green Bay Packers took their first loss of the season. The Indianapolis Colts got their first win. Two interim coaches got victories in their debuts. And the New England Patriots reclaimed their accustomed position of first place in the AFC as for the first time Brady and Tebow met. With that, here are your Week 16 NFL Power Rankings.
Santa’s NFL Naughty, Nice List Exposed: Romo, Tebow, Others
…The players were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of Super Bowls danced in their heads… Last night in a covert operation, elite members of The Penalty Flag successfully infiltrated Santa’s North Pole headquarters in search of his secret NFL naughty and nice list. Early reports from the field indicate that the mission was a complete success as thousands of documents were seized. Although it may be months before all of the dots are connected the operation has uncovered information on NFL icons Aaron Rodgers, Tim Tebow, Drew Bees, Tony Romo and others. Here is what we know so far…
W A R N I N G – Santa’s Eyes Only – W A R N I N G
Santa’s NFL Naughty List
Ndamukong Suh: Ah, not so little Ndamukong. It seems you’ve been a bad boy this year. Suspended two games by the league for stomping a player on Thanksgiving, lying to police about the details of your car accident, nine personal fouls since 2010 and fined $20,000 for your preseason hit on Andy Dalton. Very disappointing. Because of your behavior and continued desire to restore the bad boy image in Detroit, Ndamukong, you will be receiving a lump of coal this year.
Sam Hurd: Little Sammy Hurd. What a disappointment you have been. Where you interest in Dallas Cowboys’ history is commendable why couldn’t you go back further than the 90′s? Purchasing cocaine with the intent to distribute? How dare you pollute the Windy City and the good name of the Chicago Bears. And to think you were going to get those razor blades and mirrors that were on your wish list. For you ignorance and stupidity you get jail time this Christmas.
Chris Johnson: Ah, yet another disappointment. First a hold out, then a new contract, followed by you sucking and then becoming good again. The good news is that since the slow start you’ve turned things around lately amassing 875 rushing yards with a four yards per carry average. But for not taking the money and running, you too will receive a lump of coal.
Tony Romo: Tony, Tony, Tony…What am I going to do with you? For years I’ve brought you books on how to rid yourself of those damn December demons and for years you have failed to read them. This season has been full of ups and downs for you. Goat one week, hero the next. Well, for being hard-headed this year you’re getting a book entitled, “101 Things to do When You’re not in the Playoffs.” You should get years of good use out of it.
Aaron Rodgers: My how you’ve blossomed into a wonderful quarterback Mr. Rodgers. Remember that football I brought you when you were six? Let’s see, why are you here? Undefeated season? No… 123.3 passer rating? No… 39 touchdowns? No… Ahh, here it is…Haven’t played anyone since Week 1. Yep that’ll do it! Aaron your season has been a lie. Where your MVP numbers can’t be denied, you’ve breezed through your lackluster competition so your Super Bowl hopes will. No ring for you this year, just a league MVP trophy.
Santa’s NFL Nice List
Tim Tebow: And then there was Timmy. Let’s see, great guy, 24-year-old virgin, doesn’t drink, 7-1 as a starter this year, saved the Broncos season, introduced the world to “Tebowing,” kisses babies but not their mothers. Timmy you’re an angel and for Christmas this year I’m giving you an appearance in the AFC championship game. I can’t tell you who your opponent will be just yet and once you’re there you’re on your own. Good luck.
Drew Brees: Oh yes, one of my favorites has made it again. Great guy, family man, community icon, 105 passer rating, 32 touchdowns, and 4368 yards passing with a 10-3 record. Most impressive. Since you’ve been especially good this year Santa is going to leave you something extra…How does Dan Marino’s coveted passing record sound for starters? Then, what about the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs? Wait…It gets better…I’m going to knock the Packers out of the playoffs in the divisional round so you can host the NFC Championship game. Now Drew, it will be up to you to beat the Giants because Eli Manning is on this list too and has a Christmas wish that I’m seriously considering.
Eli Manning: Ahhhh, Peyton’s little brother. Let’s see what he’s done this year. Leadership, standup guy, carried team, fourth quarter comebacks, beat the Patriots…again, 95.5 passer rating, 4105 passing yards, and 25 touchdowns. Hmmm, not bad at all. And what did Eli want for Christmas this year? (Santa thumbs through his Manning names) Archie…Peyton…Eli, here we go. Be as good as my big brother; check. Make the playoffs; we’re working on this one. Win a Super Bowl in Peyton’s stadium; Hmmm, interesting. But I like it…
Aaron Moon is the CEO and Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. An active duty Navy Chief and avid writer, Aaron is a lifelong Bears’ fan who writes about his team from a critics’ point of view. You can contact Aaron on facebook or follow him on Twitter @DA_Bear_Truth. Contact Aaron directly by emailing him at amoon@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
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NFL Week 15 power rankings: Cowboys’ kicker ‘Iced-Iced Baby’
Week 14 in the NFL saw trends continue. The Green Bay Packers continued to win. Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos continued to amaze while the Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo continued to choke. There is a new AFC South champion for the first time in eight years as the Houston Texans continued their winning ways and the Arizona Cardinals continued their late season playoff push with an upset win over the San Francisco 49ers. With that, here are your Week 15 NFL Power Rankings.
The Football Gods Hate the Dallas Cowboys
The football gods giveth and the football gods taketh away. How else do you explain the Dallas Cowboys’ Jekyl and Hyde win-loss record from November to December? No matter what the Cowboys did wrong they couldn’t lose in November and now it seems that no matter what they do right they can’t win in December.
I mean look at Tony Romo’s numbers from the last two games. He has completed 49 of 73 passes for 620 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions yet the Cowboys have fallen in both games. Romo has thrown an interception in only one game over the past six weeks and that was when he threw two picks in the Cowboys ’narrow win over the Miami Dolphins.
You really can’t blame the Romo-coaster for the Cowboys’ December record but where else could you put the blame? I know one place on the team that has unfairly received the spotlight over the past two weeks and that is the kicking game.
Jason Garrett unintentionally iced his own kicker Dan Bailey in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys’ overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals two weeks ago. Then in Sunday’s game versus the New York Giants, Bailey’s field goal attempt which could have sent the game into overtime was blocked leaving the Cowboys winless so far in the month of December.
Adding insult to injury, the Cowboys may have lost the one guy who was so critical to their undefeated November run and that is DeMarco Murray. Murray will miss the rest of the season after breaking his right ankle versus the Giants on Sunday. The Cowboys are now forced to resort back to Felix Jones who began the season as their starting running back before Murray took over the position back in October.
Murray’s loss may be more costly than Cowboys’ fans realize. With Murray out that puts the onus on Romo to beat teams by himself and we all know how risky of a proposition that is. Especially when you consider that the Cowboys will probably need to go undefeated the rest of the season if they want to make the playoffs.
And although the last two opponents they face this month are a combined 9-17, neither looks to be an easy win. Dallas has to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa this upcoming weekend. The Bucs will be looking to redeem themselves after an embarrassing loss in Jacksonville this past Sunday.
After that the Cowboys will finish the month of December at home versus the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Eve. The Eagles spanked the Cowboys 34-7 earlier this season and always seem to be a tough matchup for the Cowboys. Hopefully the Cowboys will have a much better outcome this time around since they will be facing the Eagles in Dallas.
At least their rematch against the Giants won’t be until January 1st. That way they won’t have the weight of their December demons hanging over them as they face off against the only team in the NFC East that could take the division crown from them.
The Cowboys definitely have a difficult road ahead of them though. As the football gods watch down on the NFL landscape from their mounted perch, they will be paying special attention to the Dallas Cowboys as America’s team fights for its playoff life. When their mettle is weighed in the scales will the Cowboys be found wanting? We’ll know for sure in a couple of weeks.
Roosevelt Hall is an NFL Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag and can be contacted at RHall@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com. Follow him on Twitter @rhall_tpfb.
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