It took Troy Aikman 11 years to accumulate these stats. 32,942 passing yards, 165 TD's, and a QB Rating of 81.6. These numbers look very modest considering how people remember the golden boy now. He's considered one of the games top performers in the playoffs and one of the league's most clutch by some people.
In about half that time Tony Tomorrow has literally put most of Aikmans numbers to shame because of the pace at which he's been doing things. Since 06 Rolo has accumulated 20,834 passing yards, 149 TD passes, and a QB Rating of 96.9 which ranks him first all time. When thinking about that it's a bit crazy the amount of flack Romp gets year in and year out despite the fact he's made glaring mistakes at times while being a Cowboy.
The benefit of playing with numerous great players and hall of famers hides the fact that Aikman was at best a game manager most of his career. On both sides of the ball each year Aikman had playmakers every year he suited up in Cowboy Blue. If it wasn't Emmit Smith it was Michael Irvin and if not Irvin it was Novacek. And of all those things failed they had one of the best defensive units put together back then or maybe ever.
Now Romo has had none of these things. He's had TO, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, and more recently Dez Bryant. That's just the receiving core. He's only had a consistent running game for this one season with a back in Demarco Murray that can shoulder the load of a whole season. Julio Jones and Marion Barber are not Emmit Smith. And defensively they aren't the team they were in the Aikman years by a long shot. One consistent player on that side of the ball in Demarcus Ware. Though he is the best pass rusher in football he's one man.
Jerry Jones the owner of the team really should be the scapegoat. It's hard to blame a man with the charisma and fame that he has. Jones has not done much to give Romo the help needed to make the team a winner. It's weird to think with all the numbers put up by Romo Dallas has yet to be in a Super Bowl under his watch. Maybe now with Murray and Bryant coming into there own and the team keeping defensive coordinator Rob Ryan another season they'll be in the hunt. In a division that has Eli Manning and Micheal Vick Romo has proven skill wise he's the most talented of the bunch year in and year out. The stats show us this is true. Jones must put together a team that doesn't want the spotlight, but can handle being in it when the time comes. Mature players that will not put there own publicity above the team. And last but not least a coach that can handle the personalities. Jason Garret might be that guy and we'll find out this next season.
The fact that Romo has always performed at high level is hard to believe now because of how the media covers him. If it's not Jessica Simpson its how he smiles too much or how his demeanor isn't that of a champion because he doesn't beat himself up enough over tough losses. They call it quarterback memory for a reason. You make a mistake, learn from it and let it go. That's what a professional QB has to do for his team to be ssuccessful. Along with thy they can't make the same mistake twice. And realistically Romo rarely does.
Jerry Jones unfortunately takes this form of thinking and he uses it. Owners have to strive to make there team better not just forget the bad moves made to put the team Whee they are. If Jerry Jones doesn't embrace the role of owner and stop trying to be a Cowboy himself the team is doomed. Quarterbacks memory applies to quarterbacks and not owners. So instead of just forgetting the bad moves he's made he should embrace them, learn from them, and make his team better.
And in case anyone was wondering Romo's TD to INT is 149-72. Aikman's is 165-141. One year from now Romo will have that record as well. The fact that Aikman has that many picks reiterates what I'm saying about QB memory. He still managed 3 rings out of all those picks because the next drive it was out of his head. Probably helped knowing he had a hall of Famer to throw or hand off to on the following drive though.
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