Dallas' December Doldrums Aren't Tony Romo's Fault

Tony Romo is an NFL-best 24-5 in November.

Altogether now, “Oh yeah, what’s he do in December?!”

He does fine, thank you very much.

His team? Notsamuch.

The notion that Romo chokes in December is more passé than The Jonas Brothers. Or at least is should be. Tony Romo has been great in December. The perception otherwise is just convenient, lazy and flat-out wrong. It’s a reaction that’s grown into a reality.

Proof?

Since 2009 in 13 December games Romo has thrown 27 touchdowns and only five interceptions. His quarterback rating in those games (106.3) is bettered by only one NFL quarterback – the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers. Problem? In those games the Cowboys are only 6-7.

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And, granted, we all remember Romo’s late pick in Washington to lose the NFC East Championship Game to the Redskins. Has he had failures? Of course. But has he played better than this teammates? Has he, more times than not, played well enough to win? Absolutely.

“I think it’s real and I don’t mean to be trite,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of his team’s December doldrums on his radio show this morning. “We’ve had a Tony Romo playing well, really the last two years and haven’t gotten there. I’ve often said it is one of the biggest disappointments of my entire time to have Romo as quarterback and not to be in better shape for the playoffs as we looked to his career.”

The Cowboys face the Bears, Packers, Redskins and Eagles in this season’s final month. Jason Garrett’s job might be on the line. But Tony Romo’s legacy shouldn’t be.

I’m not worried about Romo’s play in December. It’s his teammates’ that concerns me.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

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