Dallas Cowboys quarterback Romo evolving, proving himself in big games
December 20
Dallas Morning News Columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor
"The evolution of Tony Romo continues tonight against Baltimore.
That's when the quarterback, who many of you think can't win a big game, must win yet another big game to keep the Cowboys in complete control of their playoff destiny.
We all know Romo is 0-2 in the playoffs. And 5-6 in December.
But let's not act like Romo hasn't won any big games. If you don't win big games in the regular season, then you never have an opportunity to win big games in the playoffs.
Actually, the first step any quarterback must take on his championship journey is winning big regular-season games.
Think about this season. Wasn't the win in Washington huge? Wasn't beating the Giants monumental?
Let's not forget about big wins on the road last season against Chicago, Philadelphia and the Giants. Or the win on Monday Night Football against the Packers that essentially clinched home-field advantage for the Cowboys throughout the playoffs.
Sooner or later, Romo will have some postseason success. He's too good for it not to happen.
Yes, he's too reckless with the football, but much like Jerry Jones owning the Cowboys, that's never going to change, so you're better off focusing on the positives.
Now, no one can tell us just how much postseason success he'll have, but the adversity he's endured this season will make him a better player.
Again, that's part of the evolution from clipboard holder to backup to starter to star to champion. You simply can't rush the maturation process of a quarterback no matter how much that process gets on your nerves.
Romo's too cocky - perhaps he's simply in the midst of the moment and doesn't have perspective - to admit he's learned some things about himself this season.
"Maybe, I learned how to handle certain situations better like what not to do on a third down against a certain coverage," he said the other day, "but I haven't really learned that much about myself on the football field."
I don't know how he could experience the ups and downs this season has provided and not learn something about himself. After all, every time you go through something you've never experienced, you prove to yourself that you can handle it.
Like in the opener, when Cleveland's Shaun Rogers drilled him in the chin, opening a gash that eventually required 13 stitches to close. On the next play, he stood tall in the pocket and completed a perfect pass to Jason Witten for a big gain.
Last week, Romo showed he could play through the pain that accompanied the constant beating the Giants gave him without flinching.
Romo suffered a deep back bruise in the first half that nearly forced him out of the game, but he persevered and finished with 244 yards passing and two touchdowns in a 20-8 win over the Giants.
Don't take that for granted.
When some quarterbacks get hit hard enough and long enough they start focusing on the pass rush instead of t
Link
Calendar
