PRO: Marc Colombo is a big, strong lineman with playing experience at both tackle positions who provides Dallas with consistency and dependability after starting all 16 regular season games the last three seasons. Due to his durability and productivity on the Cowboys offensive line through the past three seasons, Colombo was rewarded with a four-year contract extension on December 25, 2008 that will keep him with the club until 2012. After becoming the Bears first round selection (29th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft, he was limited to seven career starts at left tackle and played as a reserve right tackle in 11 other games in three seasons with the Bears. He suffered a serious knee injury toward the end of his rookie season, then spent all of 2003 and most of 2004 rehabilitating the injury. He entered the 2006 season as healthy as ever, starting all 16 games for the first time in his career. He also provides Dallas with an able body on special teams, having blocked two field goal attempts in his career.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
12/25/08: Signed a four-year contract extension with Dallas.
3/9/07: Signed a two-year contract extension with Dallas.
11/2/05: Signed with Dallas as a free agent.
9/13/05: Waived by Chicago.
11/8/04: Activated from Reserve/PUP to the active roster.
8/13/03: Placed on Reserve/PUP for the entire season.
11/26/02: Placed on Reserve/Injured with a knee injury.
4/20/02: Drafted in the first round (29th overall) by Chicago.
2008:
Made all 16 starts at right tackle for the third consecutive year with the club.
Dallas' passing game finished ninth in the NFL (fifth in the NFC) with 236.8 yards-per-game.
The rushing offense ranked 21st in the NFL (ninth in the NFC), gaining 1,723 yards on the season, 107.7 yards-per-game.
With an average of 344.5 yards-per-game of total offense, the Cowboys finished the season 13th in the NFL (eighth in the NFC).
In the win at Cleveland (9/7), the offensive line did not allow a sack as the offense rolled up 487 total yards - the highest yardage output on the road since 541 yards at Washington (9/12/99). The ground game picked up 167 yards with three touchdowns while Romo had time to complete 24-of-32 passes for 320 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Allowed time for Romo to throw for 312 yards to mark back-to-back 300-yard passing games in the home-opening win against Philadelphia (9/15). Also did not allow a sack for the second consecutive week.
Provided holes for a running game that finished with 217 total yards on 35 carries at Green Bay (9/21) - the most team rushing yards since 217 on 41 carries at Tennessee (10/1/06). Barber finished for a career-high 142 rushing yards.
The line did not allow a sack in 47 passing attempts against Washington (9/28) as Romo threw for 300 yards - his 13th career 300-yard passing game, tying him with Troy Aikman for the most in club history.
In the overtime loss at Arizona (10/12), the line allowed time for Romo to throw for 300 yards for the 14th time of his career to become the first quarterback in club history to do so.
The offensive line blocked for the second 100-yard rusher of the season as Barber picked up 100 yards on 18 carries for a 5.6 average and one score at St. Louis (10/19). The passing game - led by Brad Johnson - gained 217 yards on 17-of-34 passing with one touchdown and three interceptions.
In a defensive battle against Tampa Bay (10/26), the offense only managed 172 total yards but was able to come away with a victory with no turnovers. The 172 total yards were the least amount gained in a win in team history. The club did not record a turnover - snapping a streak of 21 consecutive games with a turnover.
In Romo's first game back at Washington (11/16), the line did not allow a sack in 27 passing attempts and also blocked for Barber, who gained 114 rushing yards on 24 attempts and completely dominated the last six minutes of the game, allowing the Cowboys to run out the clock and seal the win.
Romo threw for a season-high 341 yards in the win against San Francisco (11/23) marking his fifth 300-yard passing game of the season - on 23-of-39 passes.
The offense scored on its first four possessions en route to a 34-9 victory against Seattle (11/27). The line did not give up a sack and allowed time for Romo to throw for 331 yards - the third-most yards by a Cowboy on Thanksgiving Day and his sixth 300-yard game of the season.
Helped block for rookie running back Tashard Choice, who finished with 88 rushing yards on 23 carries at Pittsburgh (12/7) - the highest individual rushing total against the Steelers all season.
In the win against the N.Y. Giants (12/14), the line allowed time for Romo to pass for 244 yards on 20-of-30 attempts and two touchdowns. They also blocked for Choice, who rushed for a team-high 91 yards and a score.
In the final game at Texas Stadium against Baltimore (12/20), the line protected Romo as he threw for 252 yards on 24-of-45 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions while allowing only two sacks. They also created holes for Choice, who finished with 17 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown.
2007:
Started every game at right tackle for the second consecutive year.
Played a key role in one of the most prolific offensive seasons in club history while helping the team to a club record-tying 13 victories and the first NFC East title for Dallas since 1998.
The Dallas offense finished the season second in the NFL in scoring (first in the NFC) with an average of 28.4 points-per-game. The 455 points scored marked the second-most in club history behind only the 1983 team (479 points).
With an average of 365.7 yards-per-game, the Cowboys were third in the NFL (second in the NFC) in total offense.
Dallas ranked fourth in the NFL (third in the NFC) in passing with an average of 256.6 yards-per-game.
In the rushing offense category, the Cowboys were 17th in the NFL (seventh in the NFC) with an average of 109.1 yards-per-game.
Offense gained 478 total yards and scored six touchdowns -tied for the fourth-most in a season opener in club history - against the N.Y. Giants (9/9) as Romo threw for a season-high 336 yards.
The line blocked for a 100-yard rusher (Barber), 100-yard receiver (Owens) and a 300-yard passer (Romo) at Chicago (9/23) for the first time since at Washington (9/12/99).
The offense put up a season-high 502 (336 passing and 171 rushing) total yards against St. Louis (9/30) - the most since the overtime game at Washington (9/12/99).
Offense put together a 14-play drive - tying the longest drive of the season - to open the game against Minnesota (10/21) and Romo completed a single-game career-high 31 first half completions.
Romo finished with a season-high 141.7 passer rating and a season-high 80.0 completion percentage at Philadelphia (11/4), completing 20-of-25 passes for 324 yards.
Romo threw four touchdown passes at the N.Y. Giants (11/11) and against Washington (11/18) to become the first quarterback in team history to throw four touchdowns in back-to-back games.
The running game picked up a season-high 174 yards against the N.Y. Jets (11/22) as Barber rushed for 103 yards.
The Dallas offense racked up 368 total yards as Romo finished with 302 passing yards - seventh 300-yard game of the season - and a 110.4 passer rating - his seventh consecutive game with a passer rating over 100.0 at Detroit (12/9).
In the Divisional Playoff Game against the N.Y. Giants (1/13/08), the offensive unit had a season-long 20-play, 90-yard drive for a touchdown in the second quarter that consumed 10:28, marking the longest time of possession on any drive this season. Also provided holes for Barber who rushed for a career-high 129 yards.
2006:
Earned the starting right tackle position after a training camp battle and started every game in one of the Cowboys most productive and efficient offensive seasons ever.
The Cowboys offense scored 425 points (26.6 points-per-game), the fourth-most in the NFL.
Dallas was second in the NFL in third-down efficiency (48.8%), the club's highest rating in that category since 1980.
Dallas also averaged 360.8 yards-per-game in total offense, the fifth-most in the NFL and the most for the Cowboys since the 1995 season.
Started the season opener at Jacksonville (9/10) for his first start since the final game of the 2004 season.
At Tennessee (10/1), the Cowboys rushed for a season-high 217 yards and three touchdowns, their best showing since December 14, 2003 (222 yards).
Dallas quarterbacks combined to throw for a season-high 310 yards against the N.Y. Giants (10/23).
Romo took over as the starter at Carolina (10/29) and the offense gained 414 total yards and controlled the clock for a season-best 38:16.
At Arizona (11/12), the offensive line did not allow a sack, and Romo threw for 308 yards, his first 300-yard passing game.
The offense gained a season-high 435 total yards (306 passing and 137 rushing) against Tampa Bay (11/23) and picked up a season-high 27 first downs, including 18 through the air, their most passing first downs since 1998. Romo also tied the club record with five passing touchdowns.
Against Detroit (12/31), the line allowed Romo to throw for a season-high 321 yards and two touchdowns.
2005 (Chicago/Dallas):
Returned to the Bears and played in the season opener at Washington (9/11) but was released the next week.
Was out of football until signing with Dallas on Nov. 1.
Inactive his first three games with Dallas.
Played on special teams at the N.Y. Giants (12/4), against Kansas City (12/11), at Washington (12/18) and against St. Louis (1/1/06).
2004 (Chicago):
Started the season on the reserve/PUP list while rehabilitating his knee injury.
Moved to the Bears active roster in Week 10 and played in eight games, starting two at left tackle.
At Tennessee (11/14), played in his first game since Nov. 18, 2002, and blocked a 52-yard field goal attempt, his second career blocked field goal.
Started his first game of the season at Detroit (12/26) and helped the Bears gain 124 yards on 25 carries (5.0 yards-per-carry).
2003 (Chicago):
Spent the entire 2003 season rehabilitating his knee injury.
2002 (Chicago):
Played as a reserve the first five weeks of the season before becoming the starting left tackle in Week 6.
Made his NFL debut in the season opener against Minnesota (9/8), subbing at right tackle for an injured James Williams.
Blocked his first kick - a 28-yard field goal attempt - against Green Bay (10/7).
Made his first career start, at left tackle, at Detroit (10/20) and started the next five games.
Suffered a dislocated left patella and femoral nerve damage at St. Louis (11/18).
Placed on Reserve/Injured list for the final five games of the season.
COLLEGE:
Did not allow a sack in 20 games - his final two years at Boston College.
In each of his four collegiate seasons, helped pave the way for a 1,000-yard rusher.
Earned All-Big East Conference honors playing both tackle positions as a senior as part of a line that helped the offense gain 4,361 yards, including over 1,000 rushing yards.
Started all 12 games for the NCAA's 21st-ranked rushing attack and the Big East's third-ranked offense as a junior.
Played in seven games, including the Insight.com Bowl as a sophomore.
As a true freshman, he played in six games, mostly on special teams.
PERSONAL:
Marc Colombo earned Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Brockton Enterprise and Taunton Gazette all-scholastic honors at offensive tackle as a senior at Bridgewater, Mass., State College.
Registered 75 tackles and five sacks as a senior defensive lineman.
Earned Brockton Enterprise all-scholastic honors as a senior, playing basketball and baseball.
Earned his degree in sociology from Boston College.
He and his wife, Jessica, had their first child, daughter Olivia, in January 2008.
COMMUNITY:
Annual Salvation Army Angel Tree Christmas Program.
2008-2009 Poker for Pets for SPCA of Texas.
Annual team Holiday Hospital Visits.
Annual team Kickoff Luncheon and Cowboys Family Cookbook benefiting Happy Hill Farm.
Cowboys Wives Christmas Party for The Family Place.
2009 Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Dallas Cowboys Tailgate Party benefiting the North Texas Food Bank.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.
Dallas Cowboys Early Thanksgiving Day meal at The Salvation Army.
