Breaking News: Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo Has Broken Finger Could Miss Four Weeks
The Philadelphia Eagles aren’t the only team in the NFC East to fall victim to the injury bug.
Add the Dallas Cowboys to the list.
According to reports, quarterback Tony Romo has a broken finger on his throwing hand and could miss up to four weeks.
Romo broke his right pinkie on the first play of overtime in a 30-24 loss at Arizona on Sunday, according to a posting on the team’s official Web site. A team spokesman didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Monday.
The injury leaves the Cowboys (4-2) with 40-year-old Brad Johnson as the starter. Johnson, who won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, hasn’t started a game since 2006 in Minnesota.
Romo missed on three straight passes to start the overtime, but before then passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns despite heavy pressure. He was sacked three times and hit several other times.
Through Sunday’s games, Romo ranks second in NFC passing with a 103.5 rating. He has thrown for 14 touchdowns and been intercepted five times.
In 2007, his first full season as a starter, Romo led the Cowboys to a 13-3 record, best in the NFC. They lost to the Giants in the playoffs.
Johnson quarterbacked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the NFL championship in 2002. He has been Romo’s backup since last season and threw only 11 passes in 2007.
Report Courtesy of Fox Sports.
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October 13th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
The Cowboys may not be in trouble they do have Brad Johnson so the emphasis may be on the running game (terrell you can start screaming now)
October 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
The Rams, Bucs and Giants, then the bye week. He may be back for the rematch against the Skins.
October 13th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I think Marion Barber and Felix will get the majority of the work and in the short passing game it will be Whitten. The Boys o-line looked slow against that Cardinals pass rush yesterday.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Eric felix is out 2 weeks with a hamstring pull.
I think the cowboys win only 1 of these next 3 games without Romo.
The thing is that the defense can’t score. And Romo’s mobility and scrambling covered up just how bad the OL is.
Whitten will have to stay in and block because that OL will need all the help they can get blocking for old man Brad Johnson.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Sad to say but this looks good for my biy Mcnabb and the eagles.
Matt Ryan going down next week……….well unless they call ticky tack penalties trying to protect the golden boy.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Is it wrong for me to only feel bad about this because it affects my fantasy team?
October 14th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I think they’ll be fine. I see them going 2-1 and if the G-Men play like they played last night, they could go 3-0.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
They will still make the playoffs and the superbowl IMO.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Going against the conventional wisdom (but agreeing with that contrarian GN), I think the Cowboys will be fine and that this injury to Romo may help Terrell Owens. With Romo and his knowledge of the offense (and frenetic style), the Cowboys have emphasized spreading the field and opening gaps for the running game.
Brad Johnson cannot play the WAY Romo does. He can be as effective, but it will look differently. He’s going to stand in the pocket which means the Cowboys will not be able to run those spread formations and keep wide gaps on the O-line. They’ll have to tighten it up. In so doing, they should open the door for TO to do some serious damage on play action — going over the middle and over the top. Johnson is one of the better ball fakers in the game and is used to running those plays. He did in Tampa and Minnesota.
I would be surprised to see him throw the ball more than 25 times in a game, but I think a good number of those throws go to Owens off play action — where the defenses will be stacked up to stop Barber. Johnson won’t be as comfortable spreading the ball around to Miles Austin and Patrick Crayton.
MODI:
I have Romo, Barber and Witten on my squad and I’m undefeated — so I’m watching this very closely. One guy in my league drafted 12th and went back to back with Owens and Reggie Wayne. He’s 0-6. (That same guy has won the league 2 of the last 3 years.) Romo’s ability to spread the ball around has killed Owens statistically. He’s a big decoy in most games. Witten is still the #1 passing option on the team. He had 90+ catches last year…so, Owens is actually the #3 offensive option on the Cowboys…and maybe that’s why he’s so pissed off. When you throw in the injury to Felix Jones, Owens could break out next week.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I can see why you are undefeated! Did you take Barber in the first round and Romo in the second?
While I love Owens and Wayne, you just can’t grab two receivers in the first two rounds. He should have used one of those picks on a premier back. Backs are just more reliable week in week out.
I suspect that you are right about Owens breaking out next week…
October 14th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Yep. I took Barber 8th or 9th. Romo in the second. Witten in the 4th. The funny thing is that I did an Auto-Draft. I was on a road trip and couldn’t make our draft — even though we’d planned months in advance. So far, so good. The next few weeks are going to be rough. Bulger is my backup. Derek Anderson is out there and so is Damon Huard (I expect nice things from him after the bye.) It’s tight, though. I have no interest in Brad Johnson. Maybe I should.
The thing about this season coming in was that if I picked 12th, I might have done the same thing. Unless you knew about Matt Forte or really felt the Falcons would be able to run with Ryan at the helm, you had to figure all of the elite backs would be gone by #12. In our league, they were - except for Forte and Turner. If you want elite WRs, you can’t get them in our league after the 3rd round. They’re all gone.
I took Holmes, Dwayne Bowe and Kevin Walter (Texans). Actually, I picked Holmes…the computer drafted Bowe and Walter. If I wanted Reggie Wayne, I’d have had to pass on Romo and then I wouldn’t have been able to get Witten in the 4th round.
I suspect that if he’d taken Brandon Marshall and Greg Jennings, he’d be very happy right now — and he’d even have a couple of wins to boot.
I try to draft guys with upside — unless they’re in their prime. I seldom take guys who are on the downside of their careers. Owens is not in his prime and he’s on the downside (statistically speaking), but he’s still an elite talent. I actually have him in another league — but not because I wanted him — he fell to me. I also had Marques Colston, Plaxico Burress and Braylon Edwards.
[Caveat: I wouldn't be surprised one bit if Owens pulls a Rice and plays another 6 or 7 years at a high level.]
October 14th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
@T3,
“Brad Johnson cannot play the WAY Romo does. He can be as effective, but it will look differently. He’s going to stand in the pocket which means the Cowboys will not be able to run those spread formations and keep wide gaps on the O-line. They’ll have to tighten it up. In so doing, they should open the door for TO to do some serious damage on play action — going over the middle and over the top. Johnson is one of the better ball fakers in the game and is used to running those plays. He did in Tampa and Minnesota.”
I agree…..and what I also think would help is if the Cowboys lined TO up in the slot more but on the opposite side of Whitten. That move would cause nightmares for opposing D-cordinators as the likelihood of T.O. getting matched up with a LB would be greater when running those crossing routes. I’m surprised that they haven’t been doing more of that. But then again, like you said, T.O. is a 3rd option in this offense so that might explain it.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
This just in:
Adam Jones will be suspended indefinitely. I’m told that his next course of action is to head down to Fayetteville, Ark. for the weekend to mack some trailer trash and snort lines with his cousin Matt of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Matt has promised to split game checks as long as Adam goes 65-35 on all blow purchases. Matt has escaped felony prosecution and a suspension because of magical connection to Commissioner Goodell. Adam also has a magical connection to the Commissioner, but it works in reverse.
More at 11.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
G.N.
I used to always say the same thing about the Giants offense when Shockey and Burress always lined up on the same side of the field. I guess the offensive coordinator wanted to make sure that the strong side safety commits to either the WR over the top or the TE — and the QB can make his read off the initial move of the safety.
The Giants offense was not as prolific with Shockey as it has been recently (prior to last night). Now, Burress just abuses people — if Eli can get the ball there. T.O. had a run against tough corners who really don’t need a lot of help over the top (Woodson, Springs) + this recent matchup with strong, rangy guys (Rolle and Wilson) playing the backline. I wonder, if guys like Crayton and Austin with more straight line speed don’t tax the defense more by getting a jump off the line and running go routes.
Thoughts??
October 14th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Dallas is in trouble now. Early Christmas gift to get the Eagles back in the hunt.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Temple:
Wonder if a reporter will have the stones to ask Goodell what’s the difference between Matt Jones getting caught with coke and Adam Jones just acting a fool?
October 14th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Not a chance…at least no chance of that question and response being picked up by the national media. It’s a legitimate question. Clearly, based on the criteria that Goodell outlined last year (conduct, appearances, etc.) Jones merits something along the order of an 8-game or entire season suspension. The NFL security people know exactly what Joe Coke on the streets of Fayetteville knows - Matt’s a reputed regular. As such, this “culminating incident” should have set off a firestorm of interventions to break up whatever is going on in his life.
This is the beauty/ugliness of Americana — and it’s how white kids end up dead with no one giving a shit until the funeral. Heroin in the 1970’s…crystal meth now. It’s all good as long as “they” do TIME and “we” do REHAB. The road to the gravesite is littered with black and brown bodies who made recreational use of accessible drugs, but were demonized as sub-human. America will roll the Tragedy 101 Video if Matt Jones has a relapse, but not a moment before.
For my part, I tend not to give two shits about how millionaires make out, but I do see Adam Jones as a kid who has had the decked stacked against him for some time. He’s had opportunities to right the ship, but perhaps too much damage has already been done. Perhaps he needs a different type of intervention…and perhaps too much is being made of the types of things he’s done. I don’t his record well enough to say — I do know that the RED FLASHING banner at NFL.com should only be reserved for QBs from USC whose stock plummets because they’d rather hit skins than master their craft and learn from the best.
Dennis Green and Paris Hilton are probably thinking, “This is some bizarre shit.” Then again, so is Todd Marinovich.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Evidently its against league rules for Pacman to be at any events where other humans may be except work. Per ESPN, Pacman had already done wrong because he *gasp* was on stage with Nelly at a concert….and that’s at least a 2nd degree misdemeanor right there. He was at a restaurant where *horror of horrors* alcohol was being served….not sure where he can go to eat out since Marcus Vick made Mickey D’s a destination for drive-byes……oh well, its Pacman’s fault that he didn’t meet the unreasonable expectations to be a NFL player and hermit at the same time.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Nick Kazur is at practice in New England right now…even though he wore a WIRE for the DEA to get his azz outta trouble from carrying illegal pills across the Canadian border….Matt Jones was snorting 6 grams in FRONT of the cops and I still don’t know what the hell happened at Patrick Kerney’s house…..but Pacman is the real threat to the “shield”. whatever.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Just think: not one black superstar, whether it be McNabb, T.O., Ray Lewis, Chad Johnson, LDT, or whoever else will have enough gumption to say loud and clear, “This is WRONG!! One-sided justice is the same as no justice.” Too much to lose.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
And for those of you reading this post who’ll say, “Pacman Jones is more famous. That’s why he’s getting more publicity”, bullcrap!! Before the Vegas drama went down, nobody knew who he was except die-hard fans and fantasy geeks.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I spoke with someone with a lot of prestige in the media and their explanation of this bullshit was disappointing at best.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
@Matthew
This is the most upsetting thing about this..Not only Black Athlete, not one Black Sport Journalist..No is standing up and asking what is so different about Kerney, what is so different Jones? The media blew this up.
I am just pissed off..I got Euro newscaster talking crap like having a black athlete on your team is a liability. (Having some issues on my Semi pro bball team over here) Will somebody have the nuts to say what needs to be said..Scoop, Jemele, somebody speak up and say this is foul..something is rotten in the state of Den… I mean Texas
October 14th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
The Cowboys will give up a first-round pick in 2009, plus a third- and sixth-rounder that year for Roy Williams and a seventh-round pick in ‘09.
The Cowboys are also trying to negotitate a long-term deal with Williams before completing the deal. Williams has expressed unhappiness playing for the winless Lions and can become a free agent after the season unless the team places the franchise tag on him.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes Williams is a game-breaker who provides an immediate boost to a faltering offense without quarterback Tony Romo and views him as a potential long-term solution as the eventual replacement for aging Terrell Owens, according to another high-ranking Cowboys source.
The Lions had been demanding a first-round draft choice just to consider a deal. The Cowboys could offer a second- and third-round pick, since they have multiple choices in the third round.
Are they that desperate fam to win the Super Bowl to mortage their whole future the Vikings did this and didn’t get back to contender status until 1996.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Temple, on fantasy it also depends on the rule structure to determine the importance of a receiver vs. a RB. I was fortunate to grab Michael Turner in the 3rd round. Damn, that is some receiving corps in the other league with Colston, Burress, and Braylon. Damn. You must have some weak backs…
jdubb, I doubt anyone in mainstream will touch Pacman Jones. Even though there is merit there it is one of those “unwinnable fights”. It just won’t happen. the whole idea of silly stuff like constitution rights, and innocent until proven guilty is for those radical card carrying members of the ACLU…
October 14th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Apparently, not many of you have much of a clue about the conditions under which Jones was reinstated this season. You may disagree about the stringency of these conditions, but they were what they were. He’s a complete moron for putting himself of the compromised position he has, and he’s the only one to blame for violating the conditions that Goodell laid out for him. If you were on parole, for example, would YOU be stupid enough to hang around with known felons who like to shoplift occasionally from the local Walmart? Of course you wouldn’t. You’d do everything in your power, if you had any brains, of avoiding any situation that even gives the appearance of violating your probation. Jones has no such intelligence, however, so he deserves what he gets. He never had to accept Goodell’s terms in the first place if farting around clubs was so important to him.
Expend your energy sticking up for people who are worth it, please.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Dajon is one of those self-hating negroes. Listens with white ears and a white mind. Fool thinks people are standing up for Jones. Fool can’t see what people are doing is citing their frustration with the ridicluous, racially motivated double standards that are so obvious.
Anyway, this black-hating black will learn soon enough how much of a Goddamn fool he is. Or maybe he never will.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I here you Jdubb you are preaching to the choir.
Also didn’t Jamal Lewis get suspended for trying to make a drug deal.
Yet the Pats OL man didn’t get one game suspension for buying dope.
Same with White girl sniffing Matt Jones.
OH well thats why I won’t financially support the NFL in any way.
As brotha Kevdog said NFL = Negroes for lease league.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Orgin
I stopped watching the league a few years back as they started clamping down plantation wise. But now, well, brothas need to boycott that bitch.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
@Dajon I love how the media is comparing this to parole (conjurs images of criminal already) It about the saying one thing ans talking out the side of your neck. Do you know all of the details of this latest incident. Love you can spout about the intelligence of Jones when your post lacks the same and does not even touch of what most people are frustrated an angry about(thanks KevDog)
Double standard..cocaine? making it rain? secuity guard scuffle ? cocaine? if this was spades, Cocaine is the Big Joker. either the league dont know how to play or matt jones gets to play with the tricked out deck
October 15th, 2008 at 12:01 am
I agree and have followed with your step brotha.
My daughter and wife asked was I going to take them to a cowboys game. I said he11 no we can go to houston, or Jackson (MS) and watch a SWAC game.
Or go see a Mavs game here in Dallas.
Only thing I do is watch the games that Mcnabb, Jason Campbell and Jamarcus Russell play. Since they don’t show those games here I watch them on live feed on the internet on different websites. I refuse to pay a cent to the NFL for the league pass.
Since the NBA has started all my sports free time will be spent on that.
Also Jdudd I was saying awhile back how I go on alot of these Euroleague forums and those Euros get down for their bigot crown like the good ole boys here in the USA. Said to say with Europe’s history I expect nothing less.
If you don’t know ask that brotha from England that was shot for wearing an Obama tee shirt last week.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Kev thanks for saying this has nothing to do with DEFENDING Adam Jones.
Do I have to repeat?
If you come on this board and begin your argument there, you will be discredited.
Get past the obvious and then we can talk.
It’s more about the visceral response to whatever this man has done and the disturbing parallel–or media lack thereof–between White athletes and Black athletes who’ve gotten into trouble.
It’s as simple as that.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
MODI:
I have Adrian Peterson, Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams - and someone else. Can’t remember. I don’t actually pay attention in that league since I don’t know the other dudes. I just did it for the draft.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Has anyone actually read the Code of Conduct?
October 15th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
MODI:
And Rivers, Cutler, and Eli Manning.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Jemele’s blog (my first visit) has a post about this issue. It hasn’t been posted to ESPN (maybe later).
It’s interesting — even though there are bits of amnesia laced throughout the piece — like how Vick’s case became a referendum on Black manhood (without the disclosure of having written an Open Letter to Young Black Men because of the Vick case).
Not some young black men — all young black men…from Compton to Soweto; from the South Bronx to Brixton; rich and poor; silver spoons and lead bullets — each and every single one…because of Vick’s situation. That’s biological blindness at it’s height and selective memory. In any case…that’s just one thing that’s there.
By the way;
The NFL’s lawyers are probably going to say that Matt Jones was not suspended because his incident was covered by the CBA and that since he was not convicted, the Commissioner had the latitude to suspend or not suspend. Under the CBA, Jones could not have been suspended. If Jones used HGH, he could have been suspended - and would have been.
Cocaine, however (think back to the witch hunts of the early 90’s that have disappeared as not a single member of the entire national media has demonized Matt Jones), has a different status precisely because the union recognized these attacks for what they were. Treatment and support for players was the result of hard work by people like Upshaw and others. Drugs which are not performing enhancing are subject to immediate suspension.
The deal with Adam Jones (Jemele still reserves her right to call him Pac Man because she doesn’t really give a fuck or something to that effect.) is that his agreement centers on this issue of “violent and criminal” incidents - language from the conduct policy. The incidents don’t have to be criminal (they can simply be violent) in order to draw a suspension. It all makes for interesting stuff as it reveals a great deal about the psyche of American whites who are amped up over this.
It all reminds me of the case of Phil Spector. Famous dude with tons of loot — kills blond woman and walks…Not a peep from the public. Who knows, maybe someone will file a civil suit and snatch up Phils’ royalties…then he can bum rush the publishers to get his shit back — get busted and go to jail. Working on OJ’s 13 year timeline, Phil should get sent up for life sometime around 2020.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I’m writing something on this now. I will say that Jemele stepped up today and offered criticism regarding her network’s portrayal of Black athlete incidents.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Guess this means her ESPN days are numbered if she keeps calling the network out. Somebody has to call B.S. on this.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
It’s unacceptable they keep calling him Pac Man. That’s just crazy.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Forget that. I wanna see Brett Favre do what Billy Blanks did in “The Last Boy Scout” and shoot somebody at midfield just to see Berman and Madden trip over themselves to defend him.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
They’ll do anything to make you look foolish and immature at all costs. Chad Johnson is the perfect example with the who Ocho Cinco bit. He can’t shake that if he wanted to know.
Had he come into the league as Adam Jones and wanted to take up the nickname “Pac Man” the media would’ve jumped on it.
But the first time he tries to show him some maturity and drop the nickname the media still refer to him as “Pac Man” like he’s some sideshow attraction. I’m really ticked of at many of the so-called Black sports journalists that continue to do this.
Jason Whitlock went as far as to refer to him as TuPac Man Jones. That’s flat out disrespectful on so many levels.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Guess Brett “Hee-Haw” Favre doesn’t roll off the tongue.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Wo, wo, wo!! Slow down there Mizzo.
She didn’t step up at all…in fact, much of what she said is interesting for what it reveals about her psyche.
She says explicitly that she does not sympathize with the young man (and that’s what he is - last time I checked), even though she recounts his family history (which she recounts would be worthy of some mention if folks were explaining the psychosis of David Benoit or some such character). Incarcerated father, drug dealing mother, deceased caretaker and no sympathy from hard rock Jemele. Nope.
“Phuk you dude. You’ve got money. No excuses. Hell, you went to West Virginia University. You should’ve been studying finance instead of drinking and mackin’ hoes. You should’ve done 99 out of 100 people in your same situation can’t do. You should’ve done it. No excuses…and, by the way, you’re making ME look bad…because this reflects on ALL of US because WE are ALL the same in their EYES. Since I don’t have a brain, history, culture or language of my OWN, I must view you and have contempt for you through their EYES because that justifies who I AM. I am a WRITER for THE WWL. You are nothing - except an example of a double standard that thankfully was NOT applied to me when Jason Blair blew it at the New York Times.”
Now, ain’t no way her piece should be construed as Stepping Up. Her lone reference to Sportscenter has nothing to do with the PRODUCERS of the show, but of a news clip rant. She doesn’t explicitly name ESPN. She doesn’t delve into the psyche of the psychopathic racial personality. She does talk about how AJ contributes to ESPN’s bottom line. Not a goddamn word. She didn’t step up.
Moreover, even though she notes that ACADEMICS have found that depictions such as employers of Adam Jones actual imperil the physical well-being of ALL BLACK PEOPLE because it gives license to misguided white supremacists, she can muster no sympathy for AJ nor any outrage at ESPN…only bewilderment and a mimicking, cavalier disrespect of a 25-year manchild who was branded beast at every feast before he ever became a man.
YOUR GIRL is A FUCKING BUSTER. Let it go. Let it go. PLEASE, please, please, please let it go.
I’m done.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I’m talking about on the show today bruh.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
BTW - I’m only pissed because she tries to straddle the fence. At least Whitlock has the decency and crass materialism to say, “You niggas can eat a dickup. I’m rollin’ with Rupert!”
Of course she has the right to SAY what she chooses, but she cannot straddle without getting smacked the phuk over to the other side. If you eat in Bristol, shit in Bristol. Don’t shit on our most talented and defenseless and manipulated youth. Now I’m really done.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Brothaman I can’t argue with anything you are saying. I really can’t. She’s talking about AJ on the show right now if you have access to a TV. She steps up. I was impressed. I’m not just saying that because she’s my peoples.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Thanks for the clarification about the televised piece. I’ll take your word for it. If she stepped up, her broadcast will have exceeded her writing and it’s all to the good.
October 15th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I’ll have to read Jemele’s piece before I make any judgments on her attitudes on Adam Jones.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Georgia’s not revoking Adam’s probation
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2008/10/15/pacman_georgia_probation.html
But they’re gonna kill Troy Davis on the 27th….this is so utterly sad.