As one of the most scrutinized positions in sports, starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys is no picnic in the sun. Working for one of the most cutthroat owners in the league, no not the ghost of Al Davis, Dallas’ offensive centerpiece is under more pressure than Rex Ryan’s belt buckle. Tony Romo has appeared in 115 games with a star on his helmet, throwing for over 25,000 yards and 177 touchdowns. But what do regular season statistics mean if you haven’t won the big game? Ask Dan Marino.
In his 16 seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Marino threw for 61,361 yards and 420 touchdowns. While Marino’s individual statistics make him one of the greatest of all time, the former Dolphin never won a Super Bowl title. There is no comparing Romo to Marino statistically, yet the two share in the fact that neither has won the ultimate prize in the game of football. Certainly Romo still has time to achieve every player’s dream, but unless the Cowboys’ quarterback improves his record in season deciding contests, he will never truly succeed in the NFL.
The man they call the automatic transmission has played in eight season-deciding matchups: four missed-chances to go to the playoffs, one division win in 2009, a wild card clinch in 2006, and two playoff losses. Take the 2012 season for example, Romo placed third in the league while passing for over 4,000 yards. But, in typical Romo fashion, the Cowboys were eliminated from playoff contention after losing to the Redskins in week 17 in a game in which Romo had three interceptions. In fact, in those eight games that either ended or extended Dallas’ season, Romo had a total of 12 turnovers. At the end of the day when it really counts, Romo does not have the mental fortitude to succeed when the game is on the line.
Statisticians use championships to determine who the best of the best truly is. Because Romo follows in the footsteps of two of the games greats: Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach, and because of the aforementioned Jones’ level of control on his struggling franchise, too much is expected of the current Cowboys quarterback. Romo’s career statistics are impressive, but his play in crunch time is not good enough to bring a Lombardi Trophy into Jerry Jones’ clutches. Bottom line is this: the automatic transmission’s nickname fits, Romo has no clutch.