Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo Quiz: How Bad Do You Really Hate Him?

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Gene Strother

Tony Romo is a lightning rod.

When Romo first burst onto the scene in 2006, replacing an ineffective Drew Bledsoe after halftime of a Sunday night game, almost every Dallas Cowboys fan was excited.

But that was then. Now, we are in December of 2011 and the Romo defenders are much fewer and far less vocal than the Romo haters. Or, at least that is the perception.

The reason the seat Romo sits in is so hot is simple: this is the Dallas Cowboys. The Standard for QB in Dallas is Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman and Lombardi trophies. Nothing less will do.

But even when guys named Staubach and Aikman are at the helm, the Cowboys are susceptible to the backup quarterback infatuation that permeates the NFL.

Just ask Danny White.

For years, White waited patiently behind Staubach. He served as the team’s punter and backup quarterback and was a fan favorite.

Then, Staubach retired and Danny ascended the throne. He was as good as advertised, too. His numbers were extraordinary. He set a number of team records. He guided his Cowboys to three consecutive NFC title games.

Guess what Danny White did not do?

You got it! Danny never won a Super Bowl. In fact, he never won an NFC championship game. By almost any standard, Danny White forged a highly successful career for himself.

But this is not almost any standard. This is the Dallas Cowboys.

Now, back to Tony Romo and some fun facts regarding this quarterback so many Cowboys fans and Cowboys haters love to deride:

  • Tony Romo is 46-28-0 as a starter. That is a winning percentage of 62%, which means over a 16-game season, you can expect his team to win 9.92 games.
  • Romo has thrown 144 touchdowns and 71 interceptions. This is a TD/Int ratio of better than two-to-one.
  • Romo has an average QB rating of 96.4.
  • Romo has led nine fourth quarter comebacks.
  • In six years as a starting QB, Romo has thrown for 20,296 yards.
  • Tony Romo was an undrafted free agent.

By comparison, Troy Aikman posted these numbers on his way to Canton and the NFL Hall of Fame:

  • Aikman’s record as a starting QB was 94-71-0. That is a winning percentage of 56.9. On average, his teams won 9.12 games per season.
  • Aikman threw 165 touchdowns and 141 interceptions. That is much closer to a one-to-one ration than Romo’s two-to-one mark.
  • Aikman had an average QB rating of 81.6.
  • Aikman threw for 32,942 yards during his 12-year career.
  • Troy Aikman was the first player taken in the 1989 NFL draft.

Now, why do you hate Romo?

There is only one reason that makes any sense at all. While Aikman was 11–4 in the playoffs with three Super Bowl wins, Tony Romo is 1–3.

With all of this said, I have a very good reason for Cowboys fans to hate Romo less. It is a simple one that only asks you to remember. Just…remember.

I am suggesting that a bad memory is a big problem with Romo haters. So, I would like to challenge you to a quiz. Just click on the link and take the quiz below and then ask yourself this question: How bad do I really hate Tony Romo?

Can you name the Dallas Cowboys Starting QBs Post-Aikman?

How did you do? I suffered brain freeze while taking it and could not remember three of them. When you consider the post-Troy, pre-Tony era of Cowboys football, does it do anything to lessen your Romomisery?

Or is that elusive sixth Lombardi trophy the only thing that will cure it?

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Nick Saban Will Be the Dallas Cowboys’ Next Head Coach! Right?

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Gene Strother

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

Unless, it is not smoke at all. Maybe it is just fog. And fog means water, which squelches fire.

None of that, of course, answers the question of the day: Is Nick Saban destined to become the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys?

A few guys down at the Central Freight Lines terminal in Dallas confirm that Saban has, in fact, been told by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to name his price. My friend John here in Mobile, Alabama (where I have been working for the past six months and counting) says it just ain’t so.

To be fair, the boys down on the docks are Cowboys fans; John, on the other hand, bleeds crimson.

Who is right?

Who knows?

I don’t and I doubt whether you do. So, let’s consider the reasons why and why not and try to reach a consensus, shall we?

Nick Saban WILL BE the next Cowboys coach because…

  • Jerry Jones has only won Super Bowls with former NCAA champion coaches. And he is the only owner that can say that. Jimmy Johnson became the first coach in history to win both an NCAA national championship and a Lombardi trophy. Barry Switzer became the last. So far.
  • Jerry Jones is to the NFL what P.T. Barnum was to the circus. He is the ultimate showman. He loves the spotlight and he loves to make the big splash. Hiring Saban would do that.
  • Jerry Jones is sitting on a billion-dollar time bomb. The eighteenth wonder of the world, or whatever number it is, known as Cowboys Stadium is an investment unlike any the former wildcatter has ever made. The main thing Jones can do to put butts in those seats is field a championship-contending team. Another thing he can try is create a firestorm and stir interest with a controversial move like this. Whether it works or not, Jones will have the attention of the planet.

Nick Saban WILL NEVER coach the Dallas Cowboys because…

  • He has been there and done that and by all reports was extremely unhappy in the NFL, where the demands of a head coach are of a quite different nature than those on a college coach. You cannot field a winner by just slick-talking your way into fielding a vastly superior football team. All NFL teams are supremely talented and today’s professional athlete does not always respond well to control freak coaches.
  • Jerry Jones saw what happened in Miami. That franchise has still not completely recovered from the Saban trainwreck.
  • Drew Brees. Saban could have signed him as a free agent. Instead, he traded a second round draft pick for Daunte Culpepper.
  • Alabama. Saban is revered in the state that measures every coach against the ghost of Bear Bryant. Why would Saban leave sainthood to return to the only place he has ever been demonized in his coaching career– the NFL?
  • Jerry Jones is an egomaniac. Nick Saban has his own sizable ego. Both men are control freaks. Jones is haunted by the unhappy marriage and very nasty divorce with Jimmy Johnson. He will not put himself in that position again…

Unless, of course, he feels he has no choice.

I am sure there are other factors to consider. Like money. I doubt, however, that the Crimson Tide will be outbid, even by Jerry Jones. Besides, this will not come down to just money. Saban has plenty of that and there is plenty more where that came from.

It will come down to ego.

Is Saban destined to coach the Dallas Cowboys?

I think not.

Jason Garrett is Jerry’s guy. He has all the tools: intelligence, leadership qualities, football acumen. He also understands as well as anyone can possibly understand how to coexist with Jerry’s Cowboys Stadium-sized ego.

Nick Saban will never be the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

Unless, of course, the team collapses under Garrett.

Does anyone have a BC powder?

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Dallas Cowboys Take Giant Step Backward in Loss to New York on SNF: Time to Point Fingers

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Gene Strother

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.

And I am still having a hard time believing what happened in this tale of two cities, two teams, and two football fates.

With a 12-point lead and just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Dallas Cowboys managed to squander what would have been a formidable division lead and lose a gut-wrenching, heart-rending, back-breaking game to the New York Football Giants.

Final score: 37–34.

As soon as the punch-drunk, dumbfounded Cowboys fan sobers up, he will want to know whose fault this is. To whom do we assign blame for this epic meltdown?

The usual suspects will be scrutinized first.

Coach Jason Garrett, fresh off the debacle in the Arizona desert and the worst day of his brief head coaching career, will get his share of crotch-kicks. There will be the usual complaints of how he should have run here or thrown there or done something else that might have saved the game.

Tony Romo will be targeted. By football idiots, mostly.

Romo was 21 for 31 with 321 yards passing. He threw four touchdowns and no interceptions. He did take a sack in his own end zone to start the game. He also missed a crucial downfield pass to Miles Austin that would have sealed the win.

Let us not forget, however, that, after the Giants had taken the lead and left but 46 ticks on the clock, Romo drove his Cowboys from their own 20 yard line to the Giants’ 30 and set up rookie kicker Dan Bailey for a game-winning field goal.

I guess Romo could have played interior line on the kick team and blocked Pierre-Paul to keep him from blocking the FG attempt. Other than that, I am not sure what more you could have asked of him on that last drive.

If you are blaming Romo for this loss, you either did not watch the game or have no clue about the game of football. Romo was solid with flashes of brilliance. His offense racked up 444 net yards and hung 34 points on the world’s biggest scoreboard.

Um, hello? That ought to be enough offense to win a home game in the National Football League. If you are too silly to understand that, then please refrain from watching football and stay away from sharp objects and Sudoku puzzles. We don’t want you hurting yourself.

So, whom do we blame?

How about Rob Ryan and the vaunted Ryan family tradition of blitzing every down, whether it is working or not? How about the uber-blitzing, coverage-blowing, 510 yards-and-37 points-yielding, Swiss cheese defense?

How about mixing in a defensive stop every now and then, especially when the game is on the line and your offense has presented you with a 12-point lead and just 5:30 to kill?

How about not lining Gerald Sensabaugh up 35 yards from the line of scrimmage so that he cannot even lend assistance on a 19-yard Eli Manning pass that looked more like a punt? May as well have sent your safety for a couple dozen Krispy Kremes. He was closer to the Krispy Kreme on Cooper Street than he was the line of scrimmage.

How about maybe not holding a receiver that was running into double coverage anyway, Frank Walker?

How about not sending DeMarcus Ware onto the field with his shoulder screaming and his arm hanging limply at his side, especially when Victor Butler is playing well in his stead? The result of putting the ailing superstar back into the game: two crucial neutral zone infractions.

This was a massive loss, a meaningful loss, with major implications.

It was another reminder that this Dallas Cowboys’ team is not ready to be called elite. They could not defend their home stadium. They could not defend their goal line. So, it is no surprise they were unable to defend their slim division lead.

They lost a game they could have won and there is plenty of blame to go around.

Blame it on Rob Ryan. Blame it on the defensive backfield for getting toasted at the end of the game. Blame it on the defensive front’s inability to put much pressure on Manning. Blame it on Jerry Jones and that deal he made with God (or was it the Devil?) back in the ’90s.

Heck, blame it on a gutsy performance by the Giants or the “brilliance” of Eli Manning’s quarterback play. But, don’t blame me. Don’t blame yourself.

And just once, please, don’t lay all the blame on Tony Romo.

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Crown Royal Presents a Free Rodney Atkins Concert at Cowboys Stadium Before the Cowboys – Giants Sunday Night Extravaganza

Posted on December 10, 2011 by Gene Strother

CROWN ROYAL® HEROES PROJECT™ AND COUNTRY MUSIC STAR RODNEY ATKINS TO HONOR TEXAS FIREFIGHTERS BEFORE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME IN DALLAS

Commitment to honoring America’s heroes focuses attention on Texas Wildfire Relief Fund with concert and care packages for troops 

DALLAS, Texas – Dec. 9, 2011 – Before football fans take their seats for the highly anticipated battle between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, Dec. 11, Crown Royal will provide them with the opportunity to give back to Texas volunteer firefighters who have worked hard to keep Texans safe during the worst wildfire season in the state’s history. As part of the Crown Royal Heroes Project – an on-going initiative by the whisky brand to honor and give back to everyday heroes—country music star Rodney Atkins will provide a free performance for fans at the stadium before the game to celebrate the courage and perseverance of the local volunteer firefighters. 

“Being a part of this on-going effort by Crown Royal to honor some of the most admirable people in our country is something really special,” said Atkins. “We’re looking forward to putting on a great show for Dallas fans and especially the Texas volunteer firefighters who were pushed to the limits this year.” 

Award-winning artist Atkins will take to the stage in the East Plaza of Cowboys Stadium one hour prior to kick-off with a special performance dedicated to members of the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund. Adult fans 21 and above attending the game will be able to show their support for the Texas-based charity by packing commemorative versions of the Crown Royal purple bags with items to be sent overseas. 

“The Crown Royal Heroes Project continues to shine a spotlight on some of the most deserving individuals and organizations in our country,” said Yvonne Briese, VP Marketing, DIAGEO North American Whisky. “We look forward to providing Dallas fans with the opportunity to demonstrate their passion for heroes both on and off the field, as well as attend a special performance by one of country music’s hottest stars.”

Crown Royal will donate $10 to the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund for every bag packed by fans before the start of the game. The Texas Wildfire Relief Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness for volunteer firefighters in Texas.   Members of the organization will be invited to attend the game and receive VIP access during the at Atkins concert. 

Former football standout Warrick Dunn, Founder of the Warrick Dunn Family Foundation, will also make an appearance at the Crown Royal Heroes Project bag stuffing event to show his support. Dunn and Atkins will be working with the Crown Royal Heroes Project throughout the course of the next year, helping to raise money and awareness for America’s heroes. 

Fans unable to attend this or any future Crown Royal Heroes Project events are encouraged to visit Facebook.com/CrownRoyal to help support Crown Royal’s efforts to show appreciation to servicemen and women. The “Message the Troops” tab allows adult consumers to write personal messages to troops that will be embroidered on an iconic Crown Royal purple bag or printed on a postcard to accompany the care packages.   

This along with a series of additional regional events will build momentum for an ultimate celebration of heroes, the Crown Royal Presents the “Your Hero’s Name Here 400” at the Brickyard. The annual race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 29, 2012 will mark the sixth time that Crown Royal has awarded race naming rights to an adult racing fan. The race in Indianapolis will recognize all unsung heroes, from firefighters and police officers, to local volunteers and military.  

Beginning in February, race fans can nominate their own personal heroes for a chance at naming rights to the race. The winner will be determined by consumer vote and will be celebrated in Indianapolis with true “purple carpet” treatment, including waving the green flag and delivering the trophy bearing his or her name to the winner of the race in Victory Lane. 

About Crown Royal

Crown Royal Canadian whisky is the number one selling Canadian whisky brand in the US by value and has a tradition as long and distinctive as its taste. Specially blended to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939, Crown Royal Canadian whisky’s smooth, elegant style reflects its aristocratic origins and is considered the epitome of Canadian whisky. For more information visit www.crownroyal.com. Crown Royal encourages all football fans to celebrate responsibly.

About Diageo

Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).

For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

About Rodney Atkins

Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Rodney Atkins has an impressive track record with hitting on sentiments that strike a chord with the country listener: landing six number one hits from his first three albums (“If You’re Going Through Hell,” “Watching You,” “It’s America,” ‘Cleaning This Gun,” “These Are My People,” “Take A Back Road,” and “Farmer’s Daughter,” which quickly skyrocketed to platinum,) and he’s sold over four million singles in the past five years alone. His latest album Take A Back Road hit stores Oct. 4th and features lead single and title track “Take A Back Road,” which has propelled him to even bigger heights with its irresistibly catchy chorus and easygoing, windows-down, breezy summer vibe. It held the No. 1 spot on the Country Billboard charts for two weeks in a row. In 2007, Rodney was named ACM’s Top New Male Vocalist and the same year, he garnered Billboard’s Most Played Song of the Year award for “Watching You,” among numerous other award recognitions. Since the start of his success, Rodney has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Early Show on CBS, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, CNN Headline News and many more. He is also the national spokesperson for CHEVY Silverado and the National Council for Adoption. For more information on Rodney Atkins, visit www.rodneyatkins.com

About the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund

The Texas Wildfire Relief Fund is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) committed to generating awareness and garnering support for Texas volunteer firefighters. The organization is working to provide the necessary resources to firefighters in need, including equipment, water, and food, as well as to ensure Texas is prepared for future wildfire disaster relief. For more information on the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund, visit www.txwildfirerelief.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nicole Anastasi
Taylor Strategy
704-644-6921
nanastasi@taylorstrategy.com 
 
Mike DaReDiageo North America
646-223-2016
Mike.DaRe@diageo.com

 (This is a news release by our friends at Taylor Global and a public service by your friends at SBB. You’re welcome!)

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Bill Cowher Criticizes Dallas Cowboys Jason Garrett, But Why?

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Gene Strother

Bill Cowher added his voice to the din surrounding the Cowboys’ loss Sunday by firing off biting criticism of Jason Garrett regarding his management of the Cowboys’ final offensive drive during regulation last Sunday versus the Arizona Cardinals.

When the Cowboys found themselves at the Cards’ 31 yard line with 26 seconds left on the clock and two timeouts still in their possession, their coach elected to clock the ball rather than use a timeout to set up a play to at least get a few yards closer to the goal post before sending his rookie kicker onto the field.

Carlos Mendoza of the The Fort Worth Star-Telegram attributed the following quote to Coach Cowher:

“I was totally mystified. I heard the coach’s explanation afterwards, and listen, I know in the heat of battle we all make decisions, we all do things that, sometimes, it’s a very quick decision. I know that he had confidence in his kicker.

“If I’m the defense, I’m kind of on my heels. Do I put eight guys in the box and stop the run because I don’t want them to get closer? And if I do that, I’m one on one on the outside? Or do I sit there? To me, you’ve got the advantage on the offensive side of the ball because you still have a time out. You can go up there and throw the ball or run the ball with a ‘check-with-me.’ Let Tony Romo read the defense. Eight in the box – let me throw a quick hitch or a slant to Dez Bryant. And if it’s incomplete, I can still run the ball again.

“So I think in that situation you’ve got to have more confidence in your offense and not look at it as being, ‘Well, you can lose yardage.’ Yeah, but you can also gain yardage. And I think championship teams don’t think about what they don’t do. They think about what they can do.”

Call me jaded. Call me crazy. Whatever you call me, I still have a hard time not thinking there may be ulterior motives behind the criticism of a former NFL coach when it is aimed at a current one.

I remember a few years back, when Cowboys coach-turned-Fox broadcaster Jimmy Johnson had the Miami Dolphins’ Don Shula in his cross-hairs. Johnson accused Shula’s Dolphins of underperforming, saying they had one of the best teams, personnel-wise, in the NFL, but were not fulfilling their potential.

Of course, you know the rest of that story. The Don Shula era in Miami ended unceremoniously and ingloriously and the Jimmy Johnson era began…the very next season.

I am not saying that Bill Cowher is wrong in his assessment of Garrett’s indefensible decision-making gaffes Sunday past. I am not even saying Cowher is coveting the Cowboys’ head coaching position.

That said, I cannot help but arch an eyebrow when a coach still so close to the game, with plenty of fuel left in his tank, publicly levels such acute criticism at the coach of a team he has been rumored to have interest in coaching in the recent past.

I’m just saying.

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