Tony Romo, the Leader

It was right there, right there!

We will hear all the clichés, "We wouldn't have been in this position without Tony", "He got us here", "He drove them down there at the end". The reason we hear the same old clichés are because they are always true, and of course I believe that all of the ones I used are true. The concern I really have though is not that the Cowboys lost and as a fan I am upset, but how will it affect this kid?

Is it really his fault that they lost? Yep. And Bill's and Terrence's and Roy's and Terry's and TO's. The only problem is that the last guy that screws up gets all the blame. The positive I see in the game is what I saw after the game in the press conference, when Tony Romo took complete responsibility for the loss. I think this will make him a stronger person, which will make him a better quarterback, and just from tonight alone, it is apparent that he is a Leader.

"It hurts real bad right now," a sullen Romo said. "I cost the Dallas Cowboys a playoff win. That's going to sit with me a long time. I don't know if I've ever felt this low."

Responsibility = Accountability. Players on this team need to take heed to what Romo did tonight, no excuses, just responsibility.

Are you listening Terrell, I didn't try to commit suicide, and all the other whoa as me, how come everyone is coming down on me, things, oh and don't forget the 2 drops a game, my quota, Owens. It is because you put yourself in that situation TO, and I can give you 25 million reasons why you do that.

Big Bill, I think I will play for a field goal all game long, or probably go ahead and take responsibility and then blame someone else by saying, " I told the - insert player or coach, whichever is applicable- not to do it that way", Parcells.

Terrence, I can't cover Bobby "The Spare" Engram, Newman.

Terry, I dropped the ball on the first play of the game and then gave the ball up on the goal line, Glenn.

And of course "The Great Roy Williams". Man did you see the way he covered Jeremy Stevens?, yea, me neither.

I will give TO credit for taking responsibility in the Washington game, although in my opinion the loss was Roy Williams fault, though you never heard him take any of the load on his shoulders. The TO drop deep over the middle happened while the Cowboys still had a 7 point lead, as did the Roy Williams 48 yard penalty, which, of course, effectively lost the lead. {Reference below, from www.nfl.com :}

Responsibility, it's a lost art in sports.    

Dallas Cowboys at 05:32
1-10-DAL16    (5:32) J.Jones right guard to DAL 20 for 4 yards (W.Holdman, A.Carter).
2-6-DAL20    (4:54) J.Jones up the middle to DAL 25 for 5 yards (W.Holdman, T.Vincent).
3-1-DAL25    (4:27) J.Jones up the middle to DAL 26 for 1 yard (L.Marshall).

1-10-DAL26    (4:14) T.Romo pass incomplete deep middle to T.Owens.

2-10-DAL26    (4:06) M.Barber left end to DAL 34 for 8 yards (T.Vincent).
3-2-DAL34    (3:22) (Shotgun) T.Romo pass incomplete short middle to P.Crayton (K.Wright). PENALTY on WAS-K.Wright, Defensive Pass Interference, 6 yards, enforced at DAL 34 - No Play.
1-10-DAL40    (3:18) M.Barber right end to 50 for 10 yards (M.Washington, S.Taylor).
1-10-50     (2:33) T.Romo pass incomplete short left to T.Owens (W.Holdman).
2-10-50     (2:28) (Shotgun) M.Barber up the middle to WAS 41 for 9 yards (T.Vincent).
3-1-WAS41    (2:07) M.Barber left end to WAS 42 for -1 yards (M.Washington).
4-2-WAS42    (1:30) M.McBriar punts 42 yards to end zone, Center-L.Ladouceur, Touchback.
Washington Redskins at 01:21
1-10-WAS20    (1:21) C.Portis left end to WAS 23 for 3 yards (B.James).
2-7-WAS23    (:40) M.Brunell pass short middle to C.Portis to WAS 32 for 9 yards (A.Ayodele, B.James).
Fourth Quarter
Washington Redskins continued...
1-10-WAS32    (15:00) A.Randle El pass incomplete short right to B.Lloyd. Handoff from 8-M.Brunell to 82-A.Randle El PENALTY on DAL-

R.Williams, Defensive Pass Interference, 48 yards, enforced at WAS 32 - No Play.

1-10-DAL20    (14:53) C.Portis left tackle to DAL 18 for 2 yards (D.Ware, J.Ferguson).
2-8-DAL18    (14:12) M.Brunell pass deep left to C.Cooley for 18 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
N.Novak extra point is GOOD, Center-E.Albright, Holder-D.Frost.
DAL 19   WAS 19,   Plays: 4   Yards: 80   Possession: 2:16.

Kevin