The quarterback with the star has played like one. Ever since he became a starter, Tony Romo has dissected defenses, dated celebrities and watched his jersey become the top seller in the NFL. He’s the Hollywood story: a former undrafted free agent turned superstar.
Meanwhile, Jason Campbell, two years his junior but only three starts shy of him, entered the NFL as a first-round draft pick. He’s praised for his potential, which he reveals in glimpses – and sometimes entire games. But he’s not a finished product.
Romo’s already at the point Campbell aspires to reach.
“They run a different style offense, they’re more a downfield attack offense,” Campbell said. “It’s two different offenses and two different quarterbacks, so it’s hard to [compare] quarterbacks at that level. You just have to do what you’re allowed to do and do what you’re doing on a consistent level.
“Quarterbacks are measured by wins and losses, [but] it’s not all about just the quarterback.”
Romo, in his fifth year, has made 19 starts; he’s 14-5, likely headed to the Pro Bowl and, possibly, the Super Bowl. He’s throwing to one receiver likely going to the Hall of Fame in Terrell Owens. In his starts, Romo, who did not play his first three seasons, has completed 65.2 percent of his passes for 5,458 yards, 42 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.
“It’s no real secret,” Romo said, “we have a scheme and we have good players and we just try to get it in their hands.”
Said Campbell, “Those guys are exciting to watch.”
Campbell, in his third season, has made 16 starts; he’s 7-9 and he’s throwing to a receiving corps that won’t get anywhere near Hawaii this season let alone Canton. He’s completed 56.8 percent of his passes for 3,032 yards, 19 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The Redskins run a more conservative offense and his line is missing two starters.
But Campbell has clearly progressed in subtle areas. At times, for example, he’ll come off the field and tell quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor that he looked off the safety on a particular play.
“We’ll look at the film and he would look off a little bit and then he looked back fast,” Lazor said. “Then the next game we run the same play and now he looks off for three steps and then comes back. Every time we see one of those advances, we know he’s getting better.”
It’s a victory, just like his ability to run the no-huddle with much success against Philadelphia.
“It’s a long process,” Lazor said, “and we’re in the middle of it.”
