Tony Romo laughs off fat jokes, said to be in ‘great shape’

Tony Romo is not fat and out of shape.

And what’s most important is that the Dallas Cowboys quarterback is not sensitive or offended by the cruel memes going viral on social media, thanks to a poorly shot photo that seemed to show a portly Romo running onto the field for the first day of training camp.

He has seen all the jokes and even had a few laughs himself.

“I think I have gone through enough criticism in my career that that is the least of my worries,” Romo said with a smile Monday while speaking to the media for the first time since the opening of training camp. “Granted, if I was that big, we would have to have some talks. But I think I will be all right.”

Said Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones: “I think he’s in some of the best shape he’s been in. Everybody can always get a picture taken of you that makes it look different than it is. I don’t joke with Tony. Tony, actually, I go in there and work out, and Tony is in great shape.”

Despite undergoing surgery to repair a collarbone he fractured twice last year, Romo was able to do more this off-season than he has at any time since 2012. He was a full participant in the off-season program, organized team activities and minicamp.

“Yeah, it’s the best off-season I’ve had in a long time,” Romo said. “Just to be able to do all of the stuff you’re not always able to do. Obviously, camp is a lot more days in a row. Everything has been going good. We’ve just got to keep getting stronger and keep getting better.”

That Romo is back and ready to go is reason the Cowboys think they are going to be all right again after last season’s 4-12 debacle. He missed 12 games with the twice-fractured collarbone. The Cowboys went 1-11 in those contests.

The Cowboys do plan on monitoring Romo throughout training camp. He will practice two days on and one day off, as he did in 2014 when he returned from back surgery.

It’s about being smart and doing the right thing for the 36-year-old quarterback to ensure that his back and legs are strong for the regular season.

It also gives the Cowboys a chance to take a longer look at backup quarterback Kellen Moore, given the obvious importance of needing to find someone who can win games if Romo is not available.

The Cowboys are 1-14 since 2011 without Romo at quarterback.

But as far as Romo is concerned, he is on pace to return to the form he displayed in 2014 when he had the most efficient season of his career with 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions while leading the Cowboys to a 12-4 record.

“I think it’s very accurate,” quarterback coach Wade Wilson said of Romo’s performance Monday in what was his first day of full pads in 247 days. “His spring was really phenomenal. He threw with as much accuracy and velocity as I’ve ever seen, and from what I’ve seen today and throughout two days of practice before we got into pads, I still believe that.”

Romo has no problem revising the practice plan of 2014 because it worked and it’s the smart thing to do. He said it’s something he is comfortable with.

The Cowboys will largely go with how he feels, but the goal is to get better.

And when Romo talks about getting better, he is talking about him and the Cowboys not only matching the success of 2014 but surpassing it.

“I think in terms of style, we want to able to run the football,” Romo said. “We know we are going to be able to do some things pretty well. It’s just a matter of the execution being at the level our leaders want. That part takes a lot of hard work in practice.

“The expectation is to raise that bar, really better than 2014. Obviously we know we did a lot of good things then, but if you are resting on that as the standard then you are missing out on what possibly could be.”

What possibly could be and what the Cowboys are hoping for is not just another NFC East title and a trip to the playoffs, but a possible Super Bowl berth for first time since their last title in 1995.

That burning desire to win it all is why Romo still gets excited heading into what is now his 14th training camp. He tries not to think about the day he will have retire, although he knows that will happen and the moment is getting closer with each passing year.

His focus and sense of urgency remain on still trying to improve to become the best version of himself and finally win a Super Bowl.

“You appreciate it more,” Romo said. “I know I love to compete and I love to see how good I can be. You’re challenged in that every day and every year. Getting to a point where one day in your career, you get to be that version you always wanted to be.

“You’ve just got to wear it out for years. And you’ve got to go accomplish your goals. That’s what we’re trying to do.

“Every year you walk in you feel like it’s the most important season you are ever going to play. I feel that way again this year. That’s why you do everything you can to be at your best.”

And he is feeling good and at his best, despite the fat jokes.

This story was originally published August 1, 2016 at 10:55 PM with the headline "Tony Romo laughs off fat jokes, said to be in ‘great shape’."