Cowboys, Romo insist best years are ahead

Tony Romo sat at his locker and held court Monday. It was just like any other day, only as he talked, other players carried out garbage bags full of personal belongings and hugged each other goodbye.

It was a frustrating season. It was a disappointing season. It was a forgettable season.

“It was just a disappointing year for everybody,” said Romo, who talked to the media at Valley Ranch for the first time since Thanksgiving Day. “... It obviously was a very ... just wasn’t a great year.”

Romo played only 226 snaps this season. He made it through two full games and parts of two others. The Cowboys went 4-12, including 1-11 with three backup quarterbacks.

“You don’t want to live in the world of what ifs,” said Romo, who finished 83-of-121 passing for 884 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. “It happened; it’s unfortunate. We all knew when you come back what the reality of a collarbone situation is. But you know, I think we’ll take steps and do some things to make sure that doesn’t happen. You’ll see us hopefully play at a much higher level going forward.”

The Cowboys waited until they were eliminated from postseason contention before placing Romo on season-ending injured reserve. Although Romo’s fractured left collarbone isn’t fully healed — almost six weeks since he reinjured it against the Panthers — Romo insists he would have played in the playoffs.

“Yeah, I would have figured out a way obviously to get back out there,” Romo said. “That’s what we play the game for, playing those games. It’s disappointing that we’re not in that part of it right now. Believe me, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Romo first fractured his left collarbone in Week 2. He missed seven games on short-term injured reserve before returning Nov. 22. But Romo fractured the collarbone again on Thanksgiving.

Romo missed 10 games in 2010 with the same injury.

Romo said a decision will be made this month about whether to undergo surgery to have a plate inserted to help prevent further injury to his collarbone.

Romo has not played all 16 games in a season since 2012, and he turns 36 in April. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he and Romo discussed the future of the position two weeks ago.

Jones has not ruled out using the No. 4 overall pick on a quarterback for the future.

“We’re going to evaluate everybody, and the organization is going to look at who to take, and they’re going to take the best player,” Romo said. “If the best player there is a quarterback, then that’s what our team needs.

“Our team needs good players. That’s what we need. And if it’s the best player at a different position — I’m just obviously a player on the football team, and I don’t have to make those decisions, and I’m glad. My job is go out and get better and make sure this team wins next year. And I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that.”

The Cowboys, though, still believe in Romo. They continue with the thought that he has several more good years in him.

“We’re confident about him,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Monday. “I really do believe that Tony’s a young player. He’s dealt with some injuries the last two or three years with his back and then with his collarbone, but I do think he’s done what’s necessary to come back from those injuries.

“He didn’t have a lot of tread on his tires from early on in his career. He’s obviously been the starter here for the last eight years, but we do think he has a lot of football ahead of him. He’s committed to get himself healthy and ready to play physically. He’s done a good job of that, and we’re excited to have him back next year.”

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 8:59 PM with the headline "Cowboys, Romo insist best years are ahead."