Tony Romo can't wait to get back on the field. He can't wait to start throwing passes to new teammate Roy Williams. And apparently he can't wait for the broken pinkie on his throwing hand to heal.
Romo has reportedly informed Cowboys coaches that he will try to play against the Rams this Sunday with a splint on his thumb despite the advice of the medical staff, which told him to sit out four weeks while the pinkie healed. Whether Cowboys coaches will allow Romo to take the field may not be known until game time on Sunday.
While Romo, who did not practice Wednesday but threw on the sideline, was resigned to sitting out three games, a phone call from his idol Brett Favre apparently changed his mind. According to ESPN, Favre, who has started in an NFL-record 258 regular season games, called Romo and encouraged him to play through the pain and continue his streak of 30 consecutive starts. "The only thing I said was, it's worth trying if you can deal with the pain and can function good enough with a splint,'' he said. "If not, don't try.''
Steve Young offered the same advice, suggesting that Romo play through the injury by taping his pinkie to his ring finger.
Talk about peer pressure. It would almost be a shot to Romo's manhood at this point for him not to at least tape up his pinkie, put it in a splint and do whatever he could to get back on the football field. Even Kobe Bryant, an Eagles fan who hates the "Cowgirls," said he would play through the injury. In fact, he already has. Last season, Bryant played the second half the season with a torn ligament and loose bone fragment in his right pinkie finger, bypassing surgery to continue playing and ended up winning the MVP and leading the Lakers to the NBA Finals.
"What it really came down to for me is that I just didn't want to miss any time 'punching the clock' for the Lakers, given all we are trying to accomplish as a team," said Bryant. "If I can avoid being on the sidelines, I will."
If Romo is able to throw the ball effectively and play on Sunday, so be it, but I hope he isn't letting Favre's advice prevent him from getting the treatment and rest he needs to play efficiently down the stretch. By the way, I'm sure Favre has become close with Romo over the past couple seasons but what is he doing calling him up and telling him to go against the advice of team doctors and play? Not only that but relaying that information to ESPN, as if to say, "I played with a broken finger, he should, too. If he can't, well I guess he's not as tough as me. If he can, well, I guess he's just following my lead."
What do you think of Romo's sudden change of heart? Do you think he's doing this in the best interest of the team or to prove that he can play through pain like Favre? After all, as good as he is, he has been prone to making costly mistakes in games even when he's healthy.
Jarah Mariano
Anne V
Mavs Dancers
College Football, Top 25 Review
Comments (55) Add A Comment
The part mentioning Kobe sums it up most; he needs to man up and play through the pain. Heck, Kobe will have been doing just that for TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS with the same exact ailment as Romo after this season ends. Also when a legend that also happens to be your idol calls you and personally tells you to do this, you're a pansy if you don't at least try.
blackhammer35
Riverside , CA
Total Comments (4)
try it and if it works, great. if not, have a seat.
one thing about kobe though...hates the cowboy cheerleaders?
dont tell me-- he was quoted as saying that right after buying a 4 million dollar ring for his wife.
DoIt4Johnny
Bay Area, CA
Total Comments (162)
The issue isn't pain. It is can he grip the ball and throw it precisely. If he can go. If he can't then he would only hinder the team and doing it just to show you can would be dumb.
Plus it depends where the break is. If at tip more readily able to isolate it then if middle or lower part of the finger.
Sooner in WA- beat…
Tacoma , WA
Total Comments (1698)
I agree with Farve, man up sissy! Many pro atheletes play with injuries more servere than this. I can't believe that they even considered sitting him out with out trying the injury out first against the pathetic rams! Oh! yeah I forgot Brad Johnson's ready to go.....back to the rest home called the BENCH.
Go Mizzou!
Saint Louis , MO
Total Comments (1)
of course this is a great time to show some toughness and let your team know your going to battle thru thick and thin, ie with a broken finger on your throwing hand...
but what if he starts throwing picks left and right? or incomplete passes?
the decision to play him is less a testament to his macho-ness, and more a judgment of how he helps the team win games.
losing in OT by having a punt blocked and returned for a score (for the first time ever) is not good. dont continue the losing trend if you cant contribute antonio.
DoIt4Johnny
Bay Area, CA
Total Comments (162)
ronnie lott had his finger cut off...
come on romo...
j/k.... if you can't play, don't play... how's jess gonna explain to her fans that her beau only has 9 fingers.... :)
ryu048
Total Comments (1)
Tony Romo will play. He will play the same as always. He will win some and lose some but as always he will be exciting to watch. better get your popcorn ready!
JfwSooner
Shawnee , OK
Total Comments (11)
Well I guess he has no choice now, with everyone from Brett Farve to Joe the Plumber to the Carolina Couger demanding he get that pinky chopped off and go out and play. You're number is NINE Tony and thats plenty of fingers to get the job done.
TeddySalad
Blue Point, NY
Total Comments (257)
If a Basketball Player can play with a broken finger(we all know if they get a hang nail they dont play) the Man Up Romo.
Miami95
Brandon, FL
Total Comments (234)
Who cares. He's an overrated schmuck on an overrated team full of whiners.
seriously1
Fort Collins , CO
Total Comments (1)
Um take him out, not like hes locked in a cage.
Riggs (McDUDD)
Total Comments (2205)
Where do you get that Romo has had a 'change of heart'? Far as I know, Romo hasn't spoken to the media about the injury at all, the medical staff has said the typical recovery time for this sort of injury is 4 weeks but never said Romo couldn't or wouldn't play in the meantime, and Wade Phillips immediately termed him day to day after seeing results of the MRI. You guys just ran with the '4 week recovery time' and assumed that meant he was out for 4 weeks despite the fact NO ONE in the organization ever said any such thing. Where do you get your info that 'team doctors' advised him not to play? I'm real sure team doctors aren't available for media sessions.
Why do people insist on making a huge deal over something Brett Favre or Steve Young said when they haven't even heard from Romo, yet? If he CAN play he will, I don't think that was ever in question.
Cowboys-Celtics-Chis…
Middle, TN
Total Comments (19169)
Only Romo knows, I have had surgery on my back and shoulder, I have worked through pain years ago while playing football --- now I am in business and people take weeks off for what I think is little to nothing. It depends on him. when I had my back surgery, I was in a wheelchair right before and the next day I went home and started work the day after.
69Mets
Total Comments (42)
Why take a risk its still early in the season Brad Johnson is a good backup ROMO doesn't have to worry about losing his starting job unless Brad Johnson is RED HOT and Dallas develops a long winning streak
darron710@MSN.COM
Newark , NJ
Total Comments (834)
Why would Favre call Romo, he has Nothing to do with Dallas. I don't think you know what you are Talking about
darron710@MSN.COM
Newark , NJ
Total Comments (834)
he could **** up his finger if he gets sacked and you cant compare bball to the nfl lmao
coolman123
Essex Fells , NJ
Total Comments (3)
wohoo - another objective and reasoned opinion on fannation...haha..
Kiwicraig78
Total Comments (175)
Romo first has to do what gives the Cowboys the best chance on winning. If he can go, great. If not, there's no need to rush things. An injury to a QB's throwing hand is not an altogether fair comparison to what Kobe has experienced. While he should be admired for playing through pain and putting his team first, shooting and ball handling are only two of the many things Kobe must do as a basketball player. Romo on the other hand has throws and handoffs; that's it. Either one can reinjure or worsen his pinky. Add that to the many hits Romo takes during a game, even if the when not sacked. Also keep in mind that Kurt Warner has not been the same player since he injured his thumb several years ago.
diamond_joe_quimby
Total Comments (1)
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