The current Cowboys quarterback is getting some support from a guy who knows a thing or two about winning big games.
And Cowboys legend Roger Staubach can’t believe what he’s hearing.
Staubach was at Sunday’s 51-48 loss to the Broncos, and he’s baffled by the criticism of quarterback Tony Romo for his late pick that took the shine off an otherwise brilliant day.
“He played one of the most sensational games I’ve ever seen,” Staubach said, via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. “It makes no sense. Those people who blame him, I don’t know, they ought to take a look at their lives.
“I’ve been a quarterback and I know this guy is playing great football. Seeing critics blame these tough losses, especially this game, on him sends a message to me that some people will never cut him a break. I can’t believe it.
“I mean, there were 48 points created by the offense against a good team. The defense gave up 51 points. It makes no sense. This was one of the greatest performances by a quarterback in Cowboys history.”
Of course, Staubach could just be circling the wagons for a fellow member of the exclusive club of star quarterbacks for America’s Team. But he insisted that it wasn’t blind belief, saying he had a lot more help when he was under center than Romo does now.
“I was fortunate to have great defenses,” Staubach said. “I didn’t worry as much that if I did make a mistake that, ‘Hey, it will cost us a touchdown’ or ‘We’re going to lose this game.’ The same goes for Troy.
“But with Tony, it sometimes seems as if on every single play he has to be the guy, be the hero. When you feel like you’ve got to be perfect on every play, it’s tough. He’s been in positions where he can’t afford that one mistake.
“You can’t be in that position as a quarterback. You can’t be in a position where you feel every play you make could be the difference in the game.”
Much of Romo’s problem is one of expectations, which have been created for him and he’s benefited from. His owner bragged about not pursuing Peyton Manning because of Romo’s presence, and then gave him the big contract to match. And now, people want to see Manning-level play (which he’s not far from, really, when you consider Peyton’s long line of one-and-dones in the playoffs) while surrounded by a cast that has hovered around .500 for a decade-plus.