>>
>>
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/10/26/bc.fbn.cowboys.jones.romo...
>>
>>IRVING, Texas (AP) -- While Jerry Jones is disappointed the Dallas
>>Cowboys are going to their backup quarterback, he won't get any
>>complaints from Terrell Owens.
>>
>>T.O. said Thursday he already feels better chemistry with Tony Romo
>>than he ever did with deposed starter Drew Bledsoe. Owens even had an
>>example, pointing out his 8-yard touchdown catch against New York
>>Giants on Monday night.
>>
>>"I looked across the formation and he looked at me and he knew what was
>>going on," Owens said. "It's just two players making a play."
>>
>>Did he and Bledsoe ever develop that bond?
>>
>>"I honestly tried to do that time and time again," he said. "But for
>>whatever reason it didn't happen."
>>
>>What happened with Bledsoe were turnovers, far too many for coach Bill
>>Parcells to tolerate. So he switched to the unproven Romo at halftime
>>against the Giants, then on Wednesday announced that Romo would keep
>>the job when Dallas (3-3) plays at Carolina on Sunday night.
>>
>>Jones hinted Tuesday he wanted to stick with the veteran. He explained
>>Thursday that he actually was clinging to his preseason belief that
>>Bledsoe would lead Dallas to the playoffs.
>>
>>"I'm disappointed at the reason we're having to make this change,"
>>Jones said.
>>
>>The QB switch has forced Jones to lower his expectations for this
>>season. He's no longer convinced this team could be "special," the code
>>word he and Parcells used this summer instead of saying they expected a
>>deep playoff run.
>>
>>"I have to be a realist," Jones said. "I hadn't thought or hoped that
>>we'd be sitting here after the sixth game making these adjustments. ...
>>I did not want to this year go to an inexperienced quarterback. I
>>wanted to have the benefit of Drew Bledsoe. It hasn't worked out as of
>>today. It just hasn't worked out. That to me is a step back."
>>
>>Romo is in his fourth year with the Cowboys, but had never thrown a
>>pass until two games ago. In his relief appearance Monday night, the
>>former Division I-AA player of the year was 14-of-25 for 227 yards and
>>two touchdowns and ran for a 2-point conversion. He also threw three
>>interceptions.
>>
>>Interceptions were Bledsoe's undoing. He had three in each of Dallas'
>>first two losses, then a costly one against New York on what became his
>>final pass.
>>
>>Parcells wasn't the only one on the Cowboys sideline disgusted by that
>>play. Teammates were frustrated by the same old, same old, too.
>>
>>It hadn't gotten to the point that players were lobbying for a change,
>>but linebacker Bradie James said it was being discussed.
>>
>>How strong was the support for Romo?
>>
>>"I don't know if it was sizzling," he said. "It might've been
>>lukewarm."
>>
>>James said everyone is rallying around Romo "because that's who we need
>>to believe in."
>>
>>"It'd be that way if it was Matt Baker," said James, referring to the
>>team's practice squad QB. "We're going to roll with Romo and get it
>>going. This is the guy. He's the golden child right now."
>>
>>Romo has been getting ready for a long time, having sat by while Quincy
>>Carter, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Bledsoe all got their
>>chances.
>>
>>The organization liked his potential enough that he received a second
>>contract extension, and a $2 million bonus, in the preseason, locking
>>him up through 2007. Yet he was never trusted enough to throw the ball
>>until recently.
>>
>>"I saw him coming along. I saw things I liked in the player," Parcells
>>said. "Now it's time. I guess I was ready now."
>>
>>Parcells said he's not nervous about starting Romo. He said the better
>>description is "anxious to see what is going to happen."
>>
>>Confidence is not an issue with Romo. Neither is mobility, Bledsoe's
>>biggest weakness. Romo also has a quicker release, all of which should
>>lead to fewer sacks -- and, as Owens hopes, more hookups to No. 81 on
>>broken plays.
>>
>>"Once he gets outside that pocket, he can make some things happen,"
>>Owens said. "He has some coaches who will be in his ear to just get the
>>ball to the playmakers and everything will work out well."
>>
>>The knocks on Romo are his lack of experience, obviously, as well
>>average arm strength and a tendency to make what Parcells calls
>>"impulse" throws.
>>
>>But now Romo may have a chance to get comfortable. Each game will be an
>>audition to see if he deserves to start the next one, and at the end of
>>the season the Cowboys will have a better idea if he's their
>>quarterback of the future. He's already set to become the ninth starter
>>since Troy Aikman.
>>
>>"I think Bill's expectations are for us to go 10-0. That would be
>>ideal," Romo said. "You are going to lose in this league. That's going
>>to happen. You just have to make sure you take it week by week and get
>>yourself ready to go every week for a new challenge."
>>
>>Jones has taken pride in "consciously tried not to go to the top of the
>>draft to get a quarterback." However, he acknowledged Thursday that he
>>might have to change that philosophy if things don't pan out with Romo.
>>
>>"Part of the responsibility I have is how you address the long term
>>situation at quarterback," said Jones, who also is the team's general
>>manager. "My mind-set would be to say, positively, it's going to work.
>>... In my mind, we're going to see a player that makes some plays,
>>makes some things happen."
>>
>>Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may
>>not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
>>
> This is a perfect example of how T.O. is. However so subtle his remark about
> Bledsoe. It is what it is. A swipe at the QB. That's Owens performing up to
> expectations. Keep it up T.O. Keep it up.
