There are no promises with Tony Romo. He’s approaching his mid-30s and coming off back-to-back off-season back surgeries. There are no promises. But the Cowboys’ QB lessened concerns about his readiness in Saturday’s 37-30 pre-season loss to the Ravens at AT&T Stadium.
Meaning there is promise.
“You never know coming off an injury how you’re going to feel, the progression it’s going to take, the time frame, I guess you could say,” said Romo, who was 4-of-5 for 80 yards with a TD in his preseason debut. “You have an idea, but it’s nice to see you can go out and play and your back holds up, your body holds up.”
Owner Jerry Jones expressed comfort with the QB’s work. So did coach Jason Garrett. And maybe Dez Bryant – who caught a 31-yard TD pass midway through the second quarter that ended Romo’s night – said it most eloquently. ”He wanted to show the world he is ‘9’ and he’s a baller,” Dez said.
Baltimore’s defense and special teams each scored a touchdown, but those can be crossed off as flukes. Dallas’ defense is attempting to avoid again being the NFL’s poorest, and to put it kindly, that is a work in progress.
But the story of this game is a story of Romo, who in his first game since December back surgery that ended last season, spun out of trouble, threw deep and with touch, moved assertively and even threw his body in harm’s way in an attempt to make a tackle.
“It felt good,” said Romo, who is likely to play even more next weekend in preseason game No. 3 at Miami. “I thought it was great to get out there and help the football team and go through the checks and balances you have to do to get your team in a position to compete.”
Even that quote establishes that there is nothing promised here. But with Romo on the field, there is at least promise.
