Tony Romo sat patiently on the Dallas bench. It had become a place oh so familiar, as he watched and learned, knowing one day he’d get his opportunity to take the field. Well when coach Bill decided he had seen enough of Drew Bledsoe and the ball and chain around his leg, he decided to free the one around Tony’s and called him into the game. Romo responded like a savvy seasoned pro. Dallas went from mediocre, to everyone thinking perhaps this team may be bearing rings come February. Tony Romo rose from obscurity, to the front pages of all the Sports pages. He went from unknown to hugging and kissing American Idol winner Carrie Underwood before a game. He was leading America’s team to the promiseland. Could he get it done in the playoffs, and really become king of Dallas?

The score Seattle 21 Dallas 20. There are 4:24 seconds left in the game. Romo drives Dallas in Pro Bowl fashion from their own 28, to the Seattle 2. Martin Gramatica is summoned onto the field to kick a game winning FG from a distance a bit less than an extra point. Tony is the holder. he must be envisioning his leadership driving his team down the field, how is he going to answer the post game questions that will compare him to John Elway, and his game winning drives. That’s what the NFL is all about. How he is leading Dallas to its first playoff win since 1996. He became a hero during the season, he is going to be King after this game. Then the unthinkable happens. A good snap is muffed by Tony, but he alertly gathers himself, and turns left toward the end-zone. It looks like he has the daylight to break the plane, or at least reach the first down marker. It is like a dream, where your trying to run away from someone so fast, but everything suddenly seems like it is in slow motion. A hand reaches out, it is the hand of Jordan Babineaux, the Romo Empire has fallen, hard, and fast! The silence is deafening. Final score Seattle 21 Dallas 20. For he that so much is given, so much is expected. Romo has experienced what it is like to be on top of the world, and what it is like to reach the very bottom. he has experienced the full array of emotions, that come from life in the high profile NFL. He rose from the obscurity of being a career back-up, to the glory of being a savior for America’s team, and fell hard and flat, and all the glory disappeared in a split second. Can he rise again, and learn the lesson of what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger? Will he be better for this, and become even better, more focused, more driven? ….or will the overwhelming self blame destroy his ego, his competitive spirit, his swagger? The Romo Empire has risen swiftly, and fallen even faster. The story has not ended…it has just begun…..