For as much grief as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo gets from the fans and media, you’d think he hadn’t had any success. Judged by stats and recent success that’s flat-out wrong. Judged by Super Bowl rings, that’s right. But the Dallas Cowboys chief operating officer today said Tony Romo’s lack of a ring isn’t the quarterback’s fault, but the Jones family’s.
The most ironic part of that comment is that the Cowboys COO is himself a member of the Jones family.
Speaking to a local Dallas radio program Wednesday, Stephen Jones said “the only thing missing on [Romo’s] resume at this point is a championship, and certainly that doesn’t sit in Tony’s lap. That sits in our lap, Jerry’s and our family’s lap.”
“Jerry” is, of course, Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones’ father.
The interview on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas was an interesting form of praise for Romo. The Dallas Cowboys QB has endured his share of blame for the Cowboys’ lack of a Super Bowl win in recent years. Often the victim of ill-timed passes, fumbles and interceptions, Romo has seemed incapable of getting over the hump with a variety of weapons on offense.
This season Romo has largely silenced his critics, passing for 2,244 yards and 18 TDs with just 6 interceptions. He’s also fourth in the NFL in total QBR, according to ESPN, with a 78.9 total. Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers are the only three quarterbacks ranked ahead of Romo entering Week 11.
Part of Romo’s success has been the play of wide receiver Dez Bryant, tight end Jason Witten and the NFL’s leading rusher this season, RB DeMarco Murray. But if Romo fails to lead the Dallas Cowboys to a Super Bowl this year, it doesn’t sound like fans should look for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys ownership to blame Romo.
“In terms of the organization, we have to do better at putting better people around him,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said of Romo. “It falls on our personnel department, the coaching staff and the players around him. It’s a team effort.”
The Dallas Cowboys currently have a 7-3 record and are have a bye week after traveling to London last Sunday. The Cowboys beat the Jaguars in Wembley Stadium 31-17 with Romo at the helm. Romo had been a game-time decision with two fractures in his back. The Cowboys won’t play again until Nov. 23, when they travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants in Sunday Night Football.
