With a 2-1 record, the 2011 Dallas Cowboys are already ahead of where many local pundits thought they would be. Predictions of a 9-7 season were the norm, a record which would likely not give the Cowboys a chance to make the playoffs.

Game 1 Loss to the New York Jets

In game 1, the Cowboys played on the road against a very good New York Jets team, and they came very close to winning it but blew a 14-point lead in the 4th quarter.  Quarterback Tony Romo threw a last-minute interception after fumbling the ball during a previous goal line play in which he pretended he was former running back Marion Barber trying to bulldoze his way through a pile of bodies.  It was a play reminiscent of those that the former coach of the Cowboys, Bill Parcells, feared most about Romo’s decision-making ability in pressure situations.  Fans of the Cowboys will remember Parcells’ cautionary remarks when he was responding to criticism about staying with veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe as the starter, whom many thought to be on his last legs before he ever arrived in Dallas to play.

Romo: Worst Quarterback in History

Like every win and every loss in Dallas, the tendency is to overreact.  During the following week, the local and national press jumped on the bandwagon in blaming Romo for the loss, despite the Cowboys having given up a blocked punt for a touchdown and a botched field goal attempt earlier in the game from extra-point territory.

Romo the Messiah: Victory in San Francisco

The following week, playing the San Francisco 49ers on the road, they pulled off a narrow victory in which Romo and kicker Dan Bailey both redeemed themselves.  In a storybook scenario, Romo left the game with a broken rib and sat out much of it while old-timer quarterback Jon Kitna handled the Cowboys offense. That is, until Romo came running onto the field to lead the team to its first win of the season.  

The following day it was reported that Romo had not only broken his rib, he had also suffered a slight puncture in his lung.  It was played locally as an “outhouse-to-the-White-House” comeback for Romo given the bad publicity from the week before.  Like I said, it’s an overreaction city and always has been since the days of their earliest successes under coach Tom Landry.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is enjoying two weeks of reputation rehab after back-to-back wins.

His body is feeling better, too, two weeks after fracturing a rib and puncturing a lung.

“Each two or three days that goes by it just keeps getting better,” Romo said Thursday. “I was able to practice a little bit today and it’s good. I think it’s improving.”

Romo and the Cowboys (2-1) are preparing for Detroit (3-0) on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. The Lions’ stout defensive front is led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Detroit has eight sacks through three games, tied for 11th in the NFL. (Dallas leads with 13.)

“They rush the quarterback very well,” Romo said of the Lions. “Their coaches, they have a good scheme, they put them in good situations. It’s going to be a great test. We’ve got to be able to block them, we have to win on routes and we’ve got to get after them up front.”

Romo will still wear a protective vest on Sunday and said he plans on getting a pain-killing shot before the game.

Pass protection won’t be the only thing on Romo’s mind Sunday. There were a number of bad snaps in the shotgun from center Philip Costa in Monday night’s 18-16 victory over Washington.

Costa partially blamed the problems on the Redskins calling out the snap count. Whether Washington did — the Redskins deny it — the Cowboys say they’re ready to move on and fix the problem.

“The biggest that we have to do as a football team, as an offensive line, is we just have to get it rectified and solve the issue,” coach Jason Garrett said. “There’s been noise on the line of scrimmage in the NFL since Pudge Heffelfinger was around. That’s how it works. We just have to understand what the issues are there and we have to focus on whose voice we’re listening to and just get locked in and snap the ball when it needs to be snapped.”

Despite the mishaps, Romo led the Cowboys to a comeback win over the rival Redskins a week after playing injured in a win at San Francisco. The 31-year-old signal caller is being praised for his leadership skills around the league, not all that long after he was being pilloried for his turnovers and decisions in a season-opening loss to the New York Jets.

Such is life as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

“There’s only 16 days a year you’re called upon to do your job,” Romo said. “Each team goes through the same deal. When you lose, the sky is falling. When you win, the sky is moving higher. It just feels like that each week that goes by. Knowing that is why you put in all the time and effort because it’s important each week.”

Notes: Receiver Dez Bryant (thigh) didn’t take part in practice Thursday. Jason Garrett hopes the receiver is able to practice before Sunday. . Fullback Tony Fiammetta (hamstring), kicker David Buehler (groin) and Miles Austin (hamstring) also didn’t practice.
 

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is enjoying two weeks of reputation rehab after back-to-back wins.

His body is feeling better, too, two weeks after fracturing a rib and puncturing a lung.

“Each two or three days that goes by it just keeps getting better,” Romo said Thursday. “I was able to practice a little bit today and it’s good. I think it’s improving.”

Romo and the Cowboys (2-1) are preparing for Detroit (3-0) on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. The Lions’ stout defensive front is led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Detroit has eight sacks through three games, tied for 11th in the NFL. (Dallas leads with 13.)

“They rush the quarterback very well,” Romo said of the Lions. “Their coaches, they have a good scheme, they put them in good situations. It’s going to be a great test. We’ve got to be able to block them, we have to win on routes and we’ve got to get after them up front.”

Romo will still wear a protective vest on Sunday and said he plans on getting a pain-killing shot before the game.

Pass protection won’t be the only thing on Romo’s mind Sunday. There were a number of bad snaps in the shotgun from center Philip Costa in Monday night’s 18-16 victory over Washington.

Costa partially blamed the problems on the Redskins calling out the snap count. Whether Washington did — the Redskins deny it — the Cowboys say they’re ready to move on and fix the problem.

“The biggest that we have to do as a football team, as an offensive line, is we just have to get it rectified and solve the issue,” coach Jason Garrett said. “There’s been noise on the line of scrimmage in the NFL since Pudge Heffelfinger was around. That’s how it works. We just have to understand what the issues are there and we have to focus on whose voice we’re listening to and just get locked in and snap the ball when it needs to be snapped.”

Despite the mishaps, Romo led the Cowboys to a comeback win over the rival Redskins a week after playing injured in a win at San Francisco. The 31-year-old signal caller is being praised for his leadership skills around the league, not all that long after he was being pilloried for his turnovers and decisions in a season-opening loss to the New York Jets.

Such is life as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

“There’s only 16 days a year you’re called upon to do your job,” Romo said. “Each team goes through the same deal. When you lose, the sky is falling. When you win, the sky is moving higher. It just feels like that each week that goes by. Knowing that is why you put in all the time and effort because it’s important each week.”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

IRVING, Texas – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is enjoying two weeks of reputation rehab after consecutive wins.

His body is feeling better, too, two weeks after fracturing a rib and puncturing a lung.

“Each two or three days that goes by it just keeps getting better,” Romo said Thursday. “I was able to practise a little bit today and it’s good. I think it’s improving.”

Romo and the Cowboys (2-1) are preparing for Detroit (3-0) on Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. The Lions’ stout defensive front is led by defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

Detroit has eight sacks through three games, tied for 11th in the NFL. (Dallas leads with 13.)

“They rush the quarterback very well,” Romo said of the Lions. “Their coaches, they have a good scheme, they put them in good situations.

“It’s going to be a great test. We’ve got to be able to block them, we have to win on routes and we’ve got to get after them up front.”

Romo will still wear a protective vest Sunday and plans on getting a pain-killing shot before the game.

Pass protection won’t be the only thing on Romo’s mind Sunday. There were a number of bad snaps in the shotgun from centre Philip Costa in Monday night’s 18-16 victory over Washington.

Costa partially blamed the problems on the Redskins calling out the snap count. Whether Washington did — the Redskins deny it — the Cowboys say they’re ready to move on and fix the problem.

“The biggest that we have to do as a football team, as an offensive line, is we just have to get it rectified and solve the issue,” coach Jason Garrett said. “There’s been noise on the line of scrimmage in the NFL since Pudge Heffelfinger was around.

“That’s how it works. We just have to understand what the issues are there and we have to focus on whose voice we’re listening to and just get locked in and snap the ball when it needs to be snapped.”

Despite the mishaps, Romo led the Cowboys to a comeback win over the rival Redskins a week after playing injured in a win at San Francisco. The 31-year-old is being praised for his leadership skills around the league, not all that long after he was being criticized for his turnovers and decisions in a season-opening loss to the New York Jets.

Such is life as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

“There’s only 16 days a year you’re called upon to do your job,” Romo said. “Each team goes through the same deal.

“When you lose, the sky is falling. When you win, the sky is moving higher. It just feels like that each week that goes by. Knowing that is why you put in all the time and effort because it’s important each week.”

NOTES — Receiver Dez Bryant (thigh) didn’t take part in practice Thursday. Jason Garrett hopes the receiver is able to practise before Sunday. . Fullback Tony Fiammetta (hamstring), kicker David Buehler (groin) and Miles Austin (hamstring) also didn’t practise.

IRVING, Texas (AP)—Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo(notes) is enjoying two
weeks of reputation rehab after back-to-back wins.

His body is feeling better, too, two weeks after fracturing a rib and
puncturing a lung.

“Each two or three days that goes by it just keeps getting better,” Romo
said Thursday. “I was able to practice a little bit today and it’s good. I
think it’s improving.”

Romo and the Cowboys (2-1) are preparing for Detroit (3-0) on Sunday at
Cowboys Stadium. The Lions’ stout defensive front is led by defensive tackle
Ndamukong Suh(notes).

Detroit has eight sacks through three games, tied for 11th in the NFL.
(Dallas leads with 13.)

“They rush the quarterback very well,” Romo said of the Lions. “Their
coaches, they have a good scheme, they put them in good situations. It’s going
to be a great test. We’ve got to be able to block them, we have to win on routes
and we’ve got to get after them up front.”

Romo will still wear a protective vest on Sunday and said he plans on
getting a pain-killing shot before the game.

Pass protection won’t be the only thing on Romo’s mind Sunday. There were a
number of bad snaps in the shotgun from center Philip Costa in Monday night’s
18-16 victory over Washington.

Costa partially blamed the problems on the Redskins calling out the snap
count. Whether Washington did—the Redskins deny it—the Cowboys say they’re
ready to move on and fix the problem.

“The biggest that we have to do as a football team, as an offensive line,
is we just have to get it rectified and solve the issue,” coach Jason Garrett
said. “There’s been noise on the line of scrimmage in the NFL since Pudge
Heffelfinger was around. That’s how it works. We just have to understand what
the issues are there and we have to focus on whose voice we’re listening to and
just get locked in and snap the ball when it needs to be snapped.”

Despite the mishaps, Romo led the Cowboys to a comeback win over the rival
Redskins a week after playing injured in a win at San Francisco. The 31-year-old
signal caller is being praised for his leadership skills around the league, not
all that long after he was being pilloried for his turnovers and decisions in a
season-opening loss to the New York Jets.

Such is life as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback.

“There’s only 16 days a year you’re called upon to do your job,” Romo
said. “Each team goes through the same deal. When you lose, the sky is falling.
When you win, the sky is moving higher. It just feels like that each week that
goes by. Knowing that is why you put in all the time and effort because it’s
important each week.”

Notes: Receiver Dez Bryant(notes) (thigh) didn’t take part in practice Thursday.
Jason Garrett hopes the receiver is able to practice before Sunday. . Fullback
Tony Fiammetta(notes) (hamstring), kicker David Buehler(notes) (groin) and Miles Austin(notes)
(hamstring) also didn’t practice.