Troy Aikman on Tony Romo: 'You Better Worry About Perception'

After failing to lead his team to the playoffs this season, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is facing mounting criticism of his ability to lead this football team.

Much of that criticism is warranted. After all, Romo has never won a playoff game, and he found a way to lead Dallas to a monumental late-season collapse when a playoff berth appeared to be a certainty. It doesn't help matters much when people begin to anonymously complain about his practice habits.

Romo, who doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would turn down advice from a Hall of Famer, would be wise to listen to advice at this point. This is especially true when that advice comes from the last Hall of Famer to play quarterback for the Cowboys.

Troy Aikman made an appearance on former teammate (and fellow Hall of Famer) Michael Irvin's radio show. It was there that he made his thoughts clear on Romo.

Hey, Tony, it's not about the truth when it comes to fans and the media. It really is about perception.

"I think maybe things happened so quickly for Tony in terms of obscurity to all of a sudden national spotlight that he hasn't fully grasped what being the Cowboys quarterback is all about," Aikman said to Irvin. "And you don't go to Cabo the week before a playoff game. You just don't do it.

"It didn't take away from his preparations. I know that. I mean, everything he says is I think accurate. I don't think that had any bearing.

"But to say, 'I don't worry about perception,' you better worry about perception, because it's a big part of making it through some very difficult times."

I'm confident that the much-ballyhooed Cabo trip didn't affect Romo's preparation for that Giants game, either. But no one cares about the likely truth. They care about the perception, which was that Romo went on vacation when he should have been starting his preparation for the most important game of his life.

Stories that are overhyped by the media don't do much for me. And the Cowboys are such a high-profile team that you hear about everything that goes on. It makes Romo and the team very easy to dislike, even though they're probably not behaving any differently than any other NFL team. They're just doing it for a franchise that's always commanded attention, both good and bad.

But when you choose to play for that kind of team, you do it with the understanding that these things are going to happen. Your job is to avoid them, not pretend they don't exist. Part of what made Aikman such a great leader was his ability to stay away from controversy, both on and off the field. If Romo is to ever be half the player Aikman was, he has to learn to stay away from in-season vacations and Mr. Belding (NSFW).

Latest Cowboys Photos

** FILE ** In this Jan. 18, 1976, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll, center, leaves the field with Jim Allen (45) who holds up his finger indicating the Steelers are No. 1 after defeating the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in Super Bowl X at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Now that Pittsburgh is headed to its seventh Super Bowl, each of the Steelers' three coaches in the last 40 years has taken them there. Noll first got there in his sixth season in 1974, Bill Cowher in his fourth. Mike Tomlin needed only two years after unexpectedly being hired for one of the best-known coaching jobs in American pro sports. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin, File)

** FILE ** This is an Aug. 4, 2007 file photo showing Michael Irvin at the Pro Football Hall of Fame during induction ceremonies, in Canton, Ohio. Irvin says he calmly chatted with a gunman in another vehicle after the armed passenger turned out to be a Dallas Cowboys fan, Monday night Jan. 12, 2009 in Dallas. Irvin, who was not harmed, says he was "very afraid." (AP Photo/Phil Long, File)

** FILE ** This is an Oct. 5, 2008 file photo showing Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer before an NFL football game in Irving, Texas. Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer was arrested over the weekend after a disturbance outside a downtown Indianapolis nightclub. Spencer was arrested on preliminary charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct about 3 a.m. Sunday Jan. 11, 2009 outside the Have a Nice Day Cafe, city police Sgt. Matthew Mount said. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

** FILE ** In this Oct. 9, 2008 file photo, Dallas Cowboys' Adam Jones is seen at the Cowboys training facility in Irving, Texas. Troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was released by the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 following a season in which he had no interceptions and was suspended six games for an off-field fight. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File)

** FILE ** In this Aug. 28, 2008 file photo, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Adam Jones gestures to the crowd before an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Irving, Texas. Troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones was released by the Dallas Cowboys Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 following a season in which he had no interceptions and was suspended six games for an off-field fight. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

** FILE ** In this Dec. 28, 2008 file photo, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb looks for a receiver in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Philadelphia. Much has happened to Donovan McNabb since he took his last playoff snap in the 2005 Super Bowl, and most of it is negative. He got benched, booed and written off only to play his best football down the stretch in crucial games. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek, File)

** FILE ** In this Dec. 21, 2008, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (5) is brought down by Washington Redskins' Demetric Evans (92) and Jason Taylor (55) during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Landover, Md. The Eagles, who lost to the Redskins but beat the Dallas Cowboys the following week, face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 4, in the first round of the NFC playoffs. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

** FILE ** In this Sept. 7, 2008, file photo, Cleveland Browns coach Romeo Crennel talks to his team on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Cleveland. Following a 4-12 season that began with Cleveland pegged as one of the NFL's rising teams, the Browns fired Crennel on Monday, Dec. 29, 2008. The ouster came one day after general manager Phil Savage was dismissed by team owner Randy Lerner. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

1-21-2009 @ 3:02PM

Thursday Night! said...

Mr. Choke -- what a mediocre quarterback, yet always in the news.

1-21-2009 @ 5:26PM

grandprixgtp99 said...

I think Aikman is right about perception. But here's some more perception. It's a big "if", but say Romo hadn't broken his pinky, Dallas could have easily won atleast 2 of those next 3 games and all this talk wouldn't be going on. I personally think people need to lay off of him and my team. I know injuries happen to everyone but if he had been in those next 3 games the cowboys would have made the playoffs. Also, i know more wins equals playoffs, but honestly, the cowboys played the Bengals and won, philly couldn't plain and simple, so why does the "tie" trump that fact?

1-21-2009 @ 6:12PM

geldonski said...

When you start blaming loses on injuries, that is nothing more then loser talk. The Cowboys are what they are.

1-27-2009 @ 9:13PM

rharrigfeld124 said...

grandprix, who cares about the pinky?? That's not the subject of the article, nor is the 3 games he didn't play in due to injury! The subject is the playoffs and the implosion at the end of the season! Get with the program! And it's pure speculation that they would have won 2 of the 3 games if he had played! As a Giants fan, it was great to see the Giants lambast them 35-?

1-21-2009 @ 4:04PM

Dan said...

How can you be that confident the Cabo trip didn't affect him? Just navigating the security line in an airport is a bit stressful and I feel it the next day. I can't imagine that flying to a tropical vacation and back wouldn't have an effect when he has to prepare to do ANYTHING at the absolute highest level the following week.

That aside, maybe people just expect him to be better than he is. He could just be a below average QB with a high profile.

1-22-2009 @ 10:46AM

patr728 said...

Nicely put. I'm surprised that your opinion hasn't been explored prior to now!

1-27-2009 @ 7:21PM

becarefulangel said...

That's not a good excuse, at all. It's not like he didn't practice or anything. He just had a string of terrible performances at the end of the season, and that's the facts.

1-21-2009 @ 4:05PM

ApimpnamedslickV said...

Dude ain't winning shit in Dallas

1-22-2009 @ 10:20AM

boxdog said...

And that's the bottom line.

1-21-2009 @ 4:56PM

dubbz3030 said...

this dude is too busy trying to look cool. im not a steelers fan, but didnt rothlesburger get hit by a car, concusions, and this guy is back in the super bowl. I know Big Ben is not the greatest example, but winning QB's find themselves in Super bowls. Romo is not the answer.

1-21-2009 @ 5:20PM

Comeback Kid said...

Romo isnt that bad of a Quarterback. watch next season when we actually win a playoff game with him everybody is going to be all over him. its not just him on the team. our D cant play 4 quarter football. what we need next season is better secondary coverage and a more dominant running game.we already have two amazing tight ends. we need to incorpate Roy Williams more in the passing game.

1-21-2009 @ 6:24PM

Heres the difference between Dallas beating Cincinnati and Philly Tying them: that game didnt decide the playoffs. In the end, when it counted, Dallas had to beat Philly to make the playoffs and couldnt do it. Philly, unlike Dallas, put everything else to the side and did everything they needed to do to A)win and B)make the playoffs. My problem with dallas is their Entire team, not just romo, is in a giant funk, and i wouldn't be surprised to see them go 7-9 nxt season. 8-8 if they get lucky. The St. Louis game showed that teams arent scared of Dallas anymore

1-21-2009 @ 6:23PM

checka624 said...

Geldonski, hahaha you are so right, and tell it like it is brotha!! Cowboys suck and their fans (like their players) sound like a bunch of whiney sallys. Plain and simple, you cant win ANYTHING, not even a freakin playoff game. You know how long ive been hearing "just wait till next year when we win the superbowl" or "wait till next year when we when that playoff game" Cowboy fans, cant you learn? STFU until it actually happens, its been what, 12-13 years and still NOTHING? not even a playoff win? and you sent 13 pro-bowlers to hawaii last year? most talented team in the NFL? PSHHHHTTT, give me a break!!! Even the Redskins have at least won a few playoff games and went to the NFC championship in 99/00 i believe. and they won a playoff game in 05'. The Giants have consistantly won playoff games, and so have the eagles.. What's wrong with the cowboys?? they SUCK!

1-21-2009 @ 7:34PM

faitdemal38 said...

Romo and the rest of this team are sloppy, undisciplined, overpaid and just plain lazy and Coach Marshmallow is in over his head with this team. As I see it he couldn't lead these "players" into a bordello even if they were on Viagra and Love Potion Number 9 much less a winning season.

Jerry has created his own personal Frankenstein in these people I wonder if he can haul that away in his Ford pickup.

1-21-2009 @ 8:04PM

RKW said...

Wow even when Dallas isn't even in the playoffs their articles get alot of hits, geez I wonder what this franchise has done to you all to make you hate them so much, this is laughable.

1-22-2009 @ 5:16AM

truckcabbie2 said...

Being called "America's Team" didn't help.

1-21-2009 @ 8:05PM

Faitdemal, I'm in now way a cowboy fan but they did have a "winning" season, they just didnt make the playoffs. You have a losing season when you go 7-9 or under.

1-21-2009 @ 9:10PM

i never blamed losses on injuries, i said all teams go through injuries. I was trying to show more perception but i guess some people don't read each word that people type and that's cool. Some more perspective, Ben Rothliesburger or however you spell his last name was hurt after they won the superbowl and they sucked the year after and look where they're at now. That being said, an injury to your QB, unless you're the san diego chargers, hurts the teams chance of winning more than if some other player gets hurt. It really don't matter what any of you guys say though, win, lose, or tie i'll be cowboys fan til I die. And also, about the playoffs, you people act as if the cowboys have been in the playoffs every years since 1998 and they haven't. A playoff win will come but for real people if they make it every year then say they can't win a playoff game and that would be a legitimate point but that isn't the case. God Bless!

1-21-2009 @ 9:20PM

George said...

Aikman is in the HOF because of that offensive line,the same reason Smith will make it,plus he rushed for like 32 years. Horseteeth was barely above average and a lousy 4th quarter QB unless they had a lead,look up his stats. I hate the Cowboys but at least Romo is fun to watch,Aikman was always a bore.

1-22-2009 @ 1:44AM

jerry and fluffy said...

It starts at the top. Anytime you have a BO T.O., or a person named after a GM car,or a tank well you get the picture. Oh buy the way a QB that I would rate in the bottom 10.The only thing I can say is Jerry Jones kiss my ass.

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