The Dallas Cowboys sent word on Tuesday afternoon that quarterback Tony Romo would be addressing the media for the first time since suffering his back injury during a preseason game on Aug. 25, and of course, it was expected that the veteran would take some questions from the large Dallas media corps.
But what happened instead was an emotional address, with Romo reading a statement he had written in which he touched on his reality, the state of the Cowboys, his successful successor, Dak Prescott, and also shared a bit why he loves football.
While it briefly seemed like Romo might be announcing his retirement, he instead said his desire to compete is stronger than ever, making it easy to believe he’ll be in another team’s uniform next season, looking to lead that club to glory.
As he read, Romo took frequent pauses, taking deep breaths.
Here is Romo’s statement:
“I really just came up here to talk to you guys. I wrote something that I wanted to read. I know you have a lot of questions [but] I’m not going to take any questions. I think it’s in the best interest of our team, but we’ll leave it at that. I’ll read this and I don’t think we’ll be too long, but I think it captures the essence of my mindset through all of this and our football team in this situation.
“To say the first half of this season has been emotional would be a huge understatement. Getting hurt when you feel like you have the best team you’ve ever had was a soul-crushing moment for me. Then to learn it’s not three or four weeks [recovery] but 10 or 12 is another blow and through it all you have a tremendous amount of guilt; on having let your teammates, fans and organization down. After all, they’re depending on you to bring them a championship. That’s what quarterbacks are supposed to do. That’s how we’re judged. I loved that. I still do.
“Then here you are, sidelined, without any real ability to help your teammates win on the field. That’s when you’re forced to come face-to-face with what’s happening. Seasons are fleeting. Games become more precious. Chances for success diminish. Your potential successor has arrived, [you’re] injured two years in a row and now you’re in your mid-30s. The press is whispering, everyone has doubts, you’re spent your career working to get here, now we have to start all over. You almost feel like an outsider.
“The coaches are sympathetic but they still have to coach and you’re not there. It’s a dark place. Probably the darkest it’s ever been, you’re sad and down and out and ask yourself ‘why did that have to happen?’ It’s in this moment you find out who you really are and what you’re really about.
“You see, football is a meritocracy: you aren’t handed anything. You earn everything, every single day, over and over again. You have to prove it. That’s the way the NFL is, that’s the way that football works.
“A great example of this is Dak Prescott and what he’s done. He’s earned the right to be our quarterback. As hard as that is for me to say, he’s earned that right. He’s guided our team to an 8-1 record, and that’s hard to do. If you think for one second that I don’t want to be out there, then you’ve probably never felt the pure ecstasy of competing and winning. That hasn’t left me; in fact, it may burn more than ever. It’s not always easy to watch; I think anyone that’s been in this position understands that.
“But what’s clear is I was that kid once, stepping in, having to prove yourself. I remember the feeling like it was yesterday. It really is an incredible time in your life, and if I remember one thing from back then, it’s the people that helped me along when I was young, and if I can be that to Dak, I’ve tried to be and I will be going forward.
“I think you all know something magical is happening to our team. I’m not going to let this situation negatively affect Dak or this football team by becoming a constant distraction. I think Dak knows that I have his back, and I think I know that he has mine. Ultimately it’s about the team. That’s what we’ve preached our entire lives.
“I can remember when I was a kid just starting out and wanting to be part of something bigger than myself. For every high school or college player, there’s greatness in being the kind of teammate who truly wants to be part of the team. Everyone wants to be the reason we’re winning or losing, every single one of us wants to be that person, but there are special moments that come from a shared commitment to play your role while doing it together. That’s what you remember. Not your stats or your prestige, but the relationships and the achievement that you created as a group. It’s hard to do, but there’s great joy in that. And all the while, your desire burns to be the best you’ve ever been. You can be both. I figured that out in this process.
“That’s what separates sports from everything else. That’s why we love it, why we trust it, it’s why I still want to play and compete.
“Lastly, I just want to leave you with something I’ve learned in this process as well – I feel like we all have two battles, two enemies going on. One with the man across from you and the second is the man inside of you. I think once you control the man inside of you, the man across from you doesn’t matter.”
And with that, Romo thanked those in the room and left the podium.
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