Word on the Street: Tony Romo's Practice Habits Were Horrible

The Cowboys' season ended ingloriously three weeks ago, and yet they remain one of the most talked about teams in the league. I suppose that's what happens when the head coach is perpetually in danger of getting fired, the star wideout could possibly be released, and the offensive coordinator has not only fallen out of the owner's good graces, but doesn't have the respect of said star wideout.

With that as a backdrop, the latest scuttlebutt is hardly surprising: locker room chemistry was, indeed, a big problem, along with "team discipline, commitment and accountability." Perhaps we should applaud the Cowboys for finding a way to win nine games in the face of such adversity.

Via the Dallas Morning News' Calvin Watkins.

According to five sources, several offensive players lost respect for [offensive coordinator Jason] Garrett for his failure to corral quarterback Tony Romo in practice. Romo, sources said, often forced throws in practice and often did not treat practice work consistently.

The quarterback's practice habits were so bad, sources said, that they affected the way he played in games and could have factored into the offense's problems.

So maybe Terrell Owens was onto something? It gets worse: Watkins' sources also contend that players were chronically tardy -- five times the team plane left late for road games because of stragglers. And in addition to Garrett, players lost respect for since-fired defensive coordinator Brian Stewart because he "came across more as a player than a coach and made what they termed questionable play-calling."

On the bright side, owner Jerry Jones finally recognizes the problem and is committed to remedying it. Stewart's out, Pacman Jones has been released, Tank Johnson won't be re-signed, and T.O. might be next out the door. Phillips and Garrett are still around, however, and after Jones they're just as culpable as anybody in Dallas for the current state of the franchise.

No need to worry, though: Ray Lewis will magically fix everything.