Romo said he doesn’t feel it. “Pressure and fear are all just in your own brain,” he said. “To me, it’s nothing more than you going out and your competing you’re butt off every day and trying to win everyday. So I don’t allow what outside influences affect my psyche or what my mental makeup is. It’s about this room, this team and how I’m going to get myself and my teammates ready to play. Outside influences don’t directly affect how your emotional state is.” When you think about the 2012 season for Romo, you smile about the final eight games of the season during which he went 5-3 with 18 touchdown passes and six interceptions. But there’s the loss in the regular season finale at Washington that stings. You also look at consecutive losses to the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons in which he threw just two touchdown passes and four interceptions. There was the four-interception game against the Giants in which Romo threw for 437 yards on 62 pass attempts. Of course, when the season ended, Romo ranked in the top ten in quarterback rating (10th), yards (third), touchdowns (sixth), completion percentage (fifth) and attempts (third). But the other Romo had him finished tied for the league lead in interceptions at 19, and he’s now 1-6 in win-or-go-home games.
Romo blows lead in 9th as Braves edge Giants 6-5
He said he will be ready to go for camp. “I wish it was tomorrow,” Randle said. “I’m just going to have a little brace on there, but I’m going to be good to go (after getting the cast removed).” The Cowboys drafted Randle to back up DeMarco Murray. Murray has missed nine games with injuries in his two seasons. Dallas knew when it selected Randle that he would not be ready until training camp, but Randle has spent the offseason staying in shape and getting “mental reps.” He weighs 207 now, up from 198 last season, and expects to play at that weight. “It is what it is,” Randle said of his injury. “All you can do is be your best. All I can do right now is work out and mentally be ready and know the plays and stuff like that. So I’ve just got to do what I can right now and continue to learn each day.” –Quarterback Kyle Orton has taken every first-team snap in OTAs and minicamp in place of the injured Tony Romo , who is recovering from back surgery. “I’m trying to make the most of it,” Orton said.
Tony Romo to reporters ‘You guys just don’t matter’
While Romo talked to reporters who wanted to know more about an offseason that saw him get a seven-year, $119.5 million contract in March, he dissed them a little, too. “Not to be rude, but you guys just don’t matter,” Romo told those reporters on Tuesday, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Tony Romo says in the end, the opinion of media members won’t affect the only thing that counts—the game. (AP Photo) Soon after, Romo clarified his position to say that he’s not affected by how he’s covered and how much attention he receives, and it’s “just stuff” that comes with playing the highest-profile position on the NFL’s highest-profile team. “I know you guys all have a job to do, and it helps grow the game and there’s a lot of talk about the game, and it’s a wonderful aspect of it,” he said. “But good (or) bad, none of it matters. It’s going to be played out on the field. No matter what, we’re going to have to open up the football season against the New York Giants, and whether you said great things or whether you guys may have said the Cowboys are whatever—the best ever, the worst ever, they can’t ever, they can—it doesn’t matter. You’ve still got to show up, and you’ve got to play.” Romo, coming off April surgery that removed a cyst from his back, isn’t practicing for what the team deemed as a “precautionary” measure. The Cowboys are protecting their investment, and considering how much Romo was just paid—including $55 million guaranteed—the continued intense media scrutiny is a small price to pay.
Tony Romo: I’ve been running and throwing, I’ll be ‘full speed’ by next week
Updated: June 14, 2013 at 08:53 p.m. Friend(s) Email More Columns > Tony Romo wasn’t in pads during this week’s mandatory minicamp with the Dallas Cowboys , but he was plenty busy with a second job: The veteran quarterback has taken on a coaching role of sorts. As part of the monster six-year, $108 million contract extension Romo signed in March, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones asked his signal-caller to spend “Peyton Manning-type time” at the team facility, digging into the offense and helping to formulate game-planning. So far, so good. “We talked to him very specifically in the beginning of the offseason, that we wanted more of that from him,” coach Jason Garrett told reporters Thursday. “I think he’s embraced the role, I think any quarterback would. And he has a real natural leadership style, where guys listen to him. They certainly respond to his play, but also his demeanor. And that’s a real positive thing for our football team.” The Cowboys also paid Romo to suit up, something he hasn’t done this offseason because of an operation in April to remove a cyst from his back . He was seen throwing passes at this week’s minicamp and he’s expected to be 100 percent by training camp.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback hasn’t been participating in off-season activities because he is still recovering from an April surgery to remove a cyst from his back. “I feel good. Just being smart,” Romo said Tuesday. “We could go this week but it looks like the training staff guys just want to be cautious, take it back a couple days after and then start up full speed next week.” Romo said he has been running on a treadmill and throwing. During that time, he said there haven’t been any signs that he isn’t ready to return and the procedure hasn’t affected his throwing motion. “I think more than anything, I feel ready to go,” Romo said. “I think as a player you’re always trying to push through, but this time of year it’s intelligent to really be patient with it. Anytime you go through anything like that, be smart and make sure you don’t do anything dumb.” During organized team activities and the first day of mini camp, Romo has been limited to observing off to the side and sharing his knowledge with players. So, what’s the biggest thing he’s missing out on? “More than anything, just the reps in general,” he said.
Garrett: Romo’s ’embraced’ heightened leadership role
Braves closer Craig Kimbrel (2-1) struck out Hunter Pence to end the ninth with runners on first and second. Pence drove in two runs. Pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco led off the ninth with a single off Kimbrel, but he was thrown out trying to steal second base. Replays indicated Blanco may have beat the tag. The call proved important because Blanco would have scored from second when Tony Abreu doubled for his third hit. Gaudin gave up four runs on eight hits in five-plus innings. Pence had a run-scoring single in the Giants’ three-run third inning and a sacrifice fly in a two-run fifth. Braves starter Mike Minor gave up five runs, four earned, on seven hits and a walk in six innings. San Francisco relievers Jean Machi, Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt combined for three scoreless innings before Romo gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks. B.J.
Meryl Yourish 