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PRO: After signing with the Cowboys as a rookie free agent in 2003, Tony Romo displayed enough potential during training camp to earn a spot on the club's regular season roster as the third quarterback. After spending a year adjusting to the professional game, he split time as the team's No. 2 quarterback in 2004. With the confidence of the coaching staff, he held on to the No. 2 spot and served at the club's holder on kicks the entire 2005 season.
2005: Romo won the training camp battle with Drew Henson for the second quarterback spot on the club's roster. In preseason play he completed 23-of-37 passes for 273 yards and one touchdown. He saw action in all 16 regular season games, serving as the team's holder. Against Philadelphia (10/16), he took a knee on the final drive of the game to run out the clock.
2004: With a year of NFL experience under his belt, Romo went to training camp battling for the club's second quarterback spot. After completing 24-of-39 passes for 250 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in preseason play, he started the season as the team's back-up signal caller, a position he held for the first six games. In the season opener at Minnesota (9/12), he took over as the holder for PATs and field goal attempts in the second quarter after a fumbled snap on the second field goal attempt of the game. He became the club's full-time holder the following week against Cleveland (9/19). For seven games, beginning with the contest against Detroit (10/31), he served as the team's third quarterback. He returned to the back-up position at Philadelphia (12/19) and against Washington (12/26), but did not see any action with the offense. He closed out the season at the N.Y. Giants (1/2/05) as the third signal caller.
2003: After signing with the Cowboys as a rookie free agent May 1, Romo spent the entire season as the club's third quarterback. In preseason action, he converted nine-of-17 passes for 134 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was one-of-four rookie free agents to make the full-time roster following training camp.
COLLEGE: Romo became the first player in Eastern Illinois and Ohio Valley Conference history to win the Walter Payton Award, given annually to the nation's top player at the NCAA Division 1-AA level. He finished his career holding school and conference records with 85 touchdown passes. He was second in school and third in conference history with 8,212 passing yards. He was also second in school history with 584 completions and 941 attempts. As a senior, he set school and conference records for completions with 258 in 407 attempts for 3,615 yards - which placed him second in conference and third in school history for a season - and 34 touchdowns. As a junior, he led Division 1-AA in passing efficiency, completing 138-of-207 passes for 2,068 yards and 21 touchdowns as he earned All-America, All-Ohio Valley Conference and the OVC Player of the Year honors. As a sophomore, Romo ranked second in Division 1-AA in passing efficiency, completing 164-of-278 passes for 2,583 yards and 27 touchdowns as he was named All-America honorable mention, All-Ohio Valley Conference, and the OVC Player of the Year.
PERSONAL: Romo, a communications major at Eastern Illinois, lettered three times in football for Burlington, Wisc., High School. An avid golfer, Romo attempted to qualify for the 2004 Byron Nelson and 2004 and 2005 U.S. Open golf tournaments but fell short. As a member of the Cowboys 2003 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area - he participated in charity visits to various non-profit organizations serving children and adults. Visits included work with the ChildCareGroup, The Salvation Army, Children's Medical Center Dallas and Kid's Caf? at The Voice of Hope Ministries. He also attended a special movie screening of Radio hosted by the Cowboys for 400 youth from area non-profit agencies and volunteered to play Bingo with over 100 senior citizens at The Brady Center as part of the Cowboys annual United Way Hometown Huddle event. During the 2006 offseason, Romo participated in the FUTURES Golf Classic. His participation along with members of the local media, other Dallas area professional athletes and FUTURES tour players all benefited Boys & Girls Club of Collin County, HomeAid, City House and Hope's Door. | 