Romo Breaks Finger; Likely Out A Month

[ribosoma]

Bad Gets Worse
Romo Breaks Finger; Likely Out A Month
DallasCowboys.com Report
October 13, 2008 11:38 AM


IRVING, Texas - Losing two of the last three games is bad enough for the Dallas Cowboys.

Now things just got worse.

The beating quarterback Tony Romo took in Sunday's 30-24 overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals will cost the Cowboys his services for likely a month, the sprained right fifth metacarpal he suffered on the first play of overtime turning out to be a broken finger.

For now, the Cowboys will go as is at the quarterback position, turning the 4-2 Cowboys over to veteran backup Brad Johnson, with third quarterback Brooks Bollinger serving as the No. 2 guy in Romo's absence. Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips will update the situation at his 1:30 (CDT) Monday press conference carried live on DallasCowboys.com.

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, and certainly the Cowboys will canvass the league for any available candidates, but sensed desperation certainly would drive up the price if the Cowboys are even thinking about bringing in another quarterback for the time being.

And with Johnson and Bollinger having to spend their time preparing to run the Cowboys' offense, the Cowboys might be forced to sign a practice squad quarterback to run the scout team. Richard Bartel, last year's practice squad quarterback, has worked out for several teams since being released when the club signed Bollinger to the 53-man roster but hasn't been signed and would be available for emergency practice squad duty.

Romo, who left the locker room at University of Phoenix Stadium with his right hand heavily iced and wrapped, said he injured his hand on the first play of overtime when Cardinals blitzing linebacker Chike Okeafor beat Deon Anderson's block to not only sack Romo but force a fumble Romo was able to recover for a seven-yard loss.

Romo obviously had trouble throwing his next pass with Antonio Smith in his face, one-hopping a wide open Terrell Owens on the sideline, his hand also likely throbbing at the time. Despite the loss and lack of protection, getting sacked three times, just one more time than he had been sacked in the first five games, Romo somehow was able to throw for 321 yards and finish with a 113.3 QB rating.

But for the first time in his NFL starting career, Romo will have to watch from the sideline, ending his streak of 32 consecutive starts since taking over for Drew Bledsoe in Game 7 of the 2006 season.

Johnson last started an NFL game on Dec. 17 of 2006 while playing for the Minnesota Vikings. The 40-year-old quarterback started 14 of the 15 games he played in that season, along with the final nine of the 2005 season for the Vikings.

But the 17th-year veteran has not thrown a pass for the Cowboys this season, and only threw 11 passes last year as Romo's back, all in the season-finale against Washington, having played in mop-up time only five times.