For the past ten seasons you’ve all done it at least once.
You’ve called him overrated; you’ve called him a ‘choke artist’; and you’ve more than likely probably called him something you wouldn’t repeat in front of your kids. But I’m here to get ahead of all the debate that will come about in the next five years regarding Antonio “Tony” Ramiro Romo:
Today, April 4, 2017, marked the end of a Hall of Fame career.
Let that wash over you for a moment. Tony Romo. Hall of Fame. Yeah I know, it’s a lot to take in when you think back to the Seattle playoff game in 2006 or the Giants playoff game in 2007. It’s hard to fathom that someone so maddening could even be in the discussion for the highest individual honor in the sport. Well believe it, because Tony Romo will be inducted and the reasons won’t be made apparent until some time after he plays.
Interestingly enough (or maybe it’s weird, whatever) when news broke that Romo would be retiring and headed to the CBS broadcast booth my first two thoughts were 1.) he’s going to the Hall of Fame, and 2.) anyone who argues that can look no further than Dan Fouts. I say this not to diminish the accomplishments of either, especially the already enshrined great, Dan Fouts. But I say this to give some perspective as to how good Romo actually was in the grand scheme of football, whatever that is.
We’re talking about a guy who ranks fourth all-time in career passer rating (even ahead of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Steve Young). He’s top-25 or top-30 in just about every statistical category at the position for his career.
The glaring omission will always be the lack of a Super Bowl championship.
I won’t go into too much detail about why that is, but as I get further into the sports matrix (not a thing but go with it) I understand that the shortcomings of a team can’t be pinned to one man. And given the performance of Romo after the carousel of quarterbacks at the position after Troy Aikman retired it shouldn’t all fall on Romo, either.
Tony Romo’s career will be one remembered for moments of absolute brilliance (like this performance on his first Thanksgiving Day start), and low points like the 2009 34-3 embarrassment to the Vikings in the playoffs.
But despite everything we like to think we know, in five years (or more) Tony Romo will receive a Gold Jacket. And it won’t be fully comprehended why until the dust fully settles on his career.
Check out Season 1 & 2 of my podcast Because of Sports Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher. Also, Follow me on Twitter (@dacubbage) and Instagram (@adamcubbage).
