Warren Sapp: ‘Tony Romo is not made for the big stage’

The three-man crew of Warren Sapp, Cris Collinsworth and Phil Simms at Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” debated this week Tony Romo’s performance in the Cowboys’ 27-24 season-opening loss to the New York Jets.

Sapp is down on Tony big time.

“Tony Romo did something that no other Cowboys quarterback in the history of the franchise has done: That’s lose a 14-point fourth quarter lead,” Sapp said. “…Tony Romo is not made for the big stage.”

Cris Collinsworth and Phil Simms offered pro-Romo viewpoints.

“If you put him out there for a trade, I think there might be a few takers on that one,” Collinsworth said. 

Collinsworth zeroed in on the interception that Romo threw to Darrelle Revis with seconds left that led to Nick Folk’s winning 50-yard field goal. Revis easily stepped in front of a hobbled Dez Bryant to make the pick.

Collinsworth suggested Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was as much as fault as Romo for the interception.

“That was a poor play call at the end of the game,” Collinsworth said. “They had to have seen that Dez Bryant couldn’t run anymore…And now you’re going to throw into that area with a safety over the top. It was a poor choice.”

Simms had Romo’s back.

“If I’m a head coach or general manager, give me Tony Romo and let’s saddle up,” Simms said. “That’s a very good Jets defense. For the Cowboys, everything was wrong. Three defensive backs were out. The wide receivers: Miles Austin with a hamstring. He was 70 percent. Dez Bryant really done after the first series or so…Tony Romo really covers up so much on that team like most really good quarterbacks do.”

I agree with Simms. While Romo’s turnovers hurt, the blame for the loss can’t solely be placed on him. Jason Witten’s 64-yard catch and run should have gone for a touchdown, the blocked punt returned for a score by the Jets was inexcusable and Garrett’s play calling was suspect on both of the possessions that ended with Romo turnovers.

Romo’s play allowed the Cowboys to be in position to pull off the upset. He’s not nearly as bad as his critics make him out to be. Like Simms said, there are a ton of teams that would gladly have Romo running their huddle.

Click here to order Warren Sapp’s proCane Rookie Card.


(mysanantonio.com)