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IRVING -- Has it come to this point already?
It seemed like it was just yesterday that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo embarked on his Cinderella-like path from undrafted and on-the-street unknown to quarterback of America’s Team.He had replaced Drew Bledsoe giving the Cowboys Romo-mentum en route to a playoff run, sparking a craze called Romo-mania and a Pro Bowl selection after just eight starts and building a following of diehard Romo-sapiens.But that was two and half long years ago.Romo is officially under fire now.According to a source, the Cowboys receivers -- namely Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, and Patrick Crayton -- called a meeting with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett to discuss the distribution of the football and what was termed "a buddy system."At issue is the perception that Romo relies too heavily on tight end and best friend Jason Witten, and doesn’t always throw to the open man. The breaking point was Sunday’s 20-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, in which the Cowboys blew a 13-3 fourth-quarter lead in the final 7 minutes, 15 seconds.Romo committed four turnovers, a fumble and had three passes intercepted. The final interception was returned 25 yards for the game-winning score.Romo was throwing to Witten on the final interception. Owens openly acknowledges he was open on the play and complained vociferously on the sideline during the game. Romo also missed a wide-open Crayton down the seam on the final drive of the game, and then threw incomplete to Witten on the final play when Crayton was also open.Crayton said it was a good meeting, a needed meeting, in the interest of trying to win games and have a better offense.He said they weren’t complaining because they went in with a positive tone and had a frank and honest discussion.Romo, who talks on Wednesday, was not available for comment.Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said he doesn’t know anything about the receivers complaining about not getting the ball.When asked about the discussion, receivers coach Ray Sherman said his guys are competitors who want what’s best for the team. He said it would be wrong to characterize any discussion they might have had as complaining.But the bottom line is that it was the latest salvo fired at Romo during what has been a tumultuous week. His poor fourth quarter against the Steelers has rekindled a perception that he can’t win the big game and fails in crucial times, pointing to his failures in December and January the past two seasons. Since taking over as the starter, Romo has rewritten the Cowboys record books as a passer, he has been to two Pro Bowls and he has earned a $67 million contract.But, seemingly, the only numbers people care about right now are 4-8 and 12-13, his won-loss record and touchdown-interception ratio in December and January.It’s the main reason former NFL quarterback-turned-analyst Joe Theismann said Sunday’s game against the New York Giants is the biggest game of Romo’s career.Win and prove to the world you can lead the Cowboys to victory in a big game, and possibly spark a playoff run. Lose, and possibly be labeled as a quarterback who can’t win the big one forever.
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