Romo in nearly the same breath after just starting 26 NFL games?
Look, it says here while Manning previously set the NFL record with 49 touchdown passes in 2004, broken this past season by Brady's 50, that is the only time he's thrown for more than 33 in a single season, and he didn't get there until his third season (48 starts). And you know what, he wasn't throwing to Terrell Owens and a bunch of wide receivers totaling no more than 75 catches - for their careers - when he hit the 49 mark.
I mean Romo, are you kidding me? What might the guy have done had Terry Glenn been healthy? What might he have done with say, a second-year offensive coordinator instead of the rookie Jason Garrett? What if the Cowboys' running game had consistently forced defenses to put that eighth guy in the box?
No telling.
Now I know there are always those who can never get enough of something or find someone good enough for them. And I do understand this thing people have with quarterbacks, giving them too much of the credit for the success and usually too much of the blame for the failures.
But if you need a sobering thought, just once again count the number of quarterbacks who started for this team from 2000 until Romo started the past 26 consecutive games: Troy Aikman at 34, Randal Cunningham, Anthony Wright, Quincy Carter, Clint Stoerner, Ryan Leaf, Chad Hutchinson, Vinny Testaverde at 41, Drew Henson and Drew Bledsoe. Of those quarterbacks, only Carter started more than Romo's 26 games (31) and only Wright still is in the league, that is unless someone yet again signs Vinny off what must be a very uncomfortable couch.
Me, I'd say cherish what you have and don't take for granted what Romo did last year - meaning don't start pulling your hair out if he throws like 29 touchdown passes and for only 3,800 yards this year. There are many an NFL quarterback who only wish they could do that.
And as for that elusive playoff victory, at least Romo gives the Cowboys a chance of winning one. That's more than can be said for nearly every other guy the Cowboys ran out under center this decade.
So maybe take a moment to let some of this sink in. Perspective, please, perspective.
