Who is the better quarterback: Eli Manning or Tony Romo? (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

Who is the better quarterback: Eli Manning or Tony Romo?

By Bucky Brooks NFL.com

Analyst

How do you measure a quarterback's greatness: wins or production?

That's the debate among evaluators when determining which quarterbacks deserve to be labeled elite in the NFL. While most NFL coaches and scouts favor quarterbacks with proven track records of postseason success, the overemphasis on playoff performance can cloud the evaluation of some of the game's premier players at the position.

In the case of Eli Manning vs. Tony Romo, the aforementioned standard makes for an interesting dilemma when determining who is the better player. Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion/MVP, is coming off the best season of his eight-year career, with career highs in passing yards (4,933) and yards per attempt (8.4), as well as unparalleled fourth-quarter brilliance. He took his game to another level in the playoffs, connecting on 65 percent of his throws for 1,219 yards with nine touchdowns and only one interception. In addition to his spectacular stat line, Manning made a number of clutch plays, including his 38-yard strike to Mario Manningham on the New York Giants' game-winning drive in Super Bowl XLVI, with the outcome of the game hanging in the balance.

Romo, on the other hand, quietly enjoyed another exceptional season at the helm of the Dallas Cowboys' offense. He finished the year ranked fourth in the NFL in passer rating (102.5), while completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,184 yards with 31 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. Remarkably, Romo has completed at least 61.3 percent of his passes and compiled a passer rating over 91.0 during each of his six seasons as a starter. Although the Cowboys were roundly criticized for their inability to capture the NFC East after sitting atop the division for most of the season, Romo played well down the stretch -- completing 72.1 percent of his passes for 1,158 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception during the final month of the season -- despite suffering a severely bruised hand in Week 16.

With both guys playing at a high level, let's match them up in five key categories to determine who is the better player:

Arm talent

Romo is one of the elite arm talents at the position in the NFL. He is a strong-armed passer with the ability to make pinpoint throws to any area of the field. His combination of zip and velocity stands out when he fits balls into tight windows between multiple defenders on short and intermediate throws. Romo also throws an exceptional deep ball with outstanding touch on balls thrown beyond 40 yards. He routinely lobs high-arcing passes down the boundary to streaking receivers in stride, and his precise ball placement is extraordinary. With the deep ball making a comeback in the NFL, Romo's ability to push the ball down the field is a huge asset.

Manning is not as physically gifted as Romo, but he certainly possesses upper-echelon arm strength. He shows outstanding zip and velocity on intermediate throws, and is certainly capable of fitting balls into small windows at all distances. Manning's supreme confidence in his strong arm will occasionally lead to turnovers, but it also produces big plays at critical moments. Manning also tosses a fine deep ball, displaying excellent timing and anticipation on vertical routes. While he lacks the pure arm strength to routinely heave tosses beyond the 55-60 yards, Manning's ability to get the ball out of his hand quickly with arc and touch allows him to connect with his receivers on vertical routes behind the defense. Last season, he finished with 18 completions of 40-plus yards, and the majority of those were the result of brilliantly timed bombs lofted well before the receiver made his break at the top of his route.

Advantage: Romo

Mobility

Romo is one of the finest athletes at the position. He impresses with his ability to move around within the pocket and is often at his best when forced to play the game in an improvisational manner. Although Romo has never racked up significant yardage as a runner, his ability to threaten the defense on the edges routinely leads to big plays. With athletic quarterbacks currently valued at a premium, Romo's elusiveness and ability to ad-lib makes him difficult to defend inside or outside of the pocket.

Manning is not an athletic playmaker in the pocket, but he is nimble enough to buy time against pressure with his footwork and lateral quickness. From stepping up into open alleys to fleeing on surprise scrambles, Manning's ability to extend plays is a testament to his grit, toughness and underrated mobility. Given the speed, quickness and athleticism of the game's top edge players, Manning's uncanny knack for avoiding pressure is exactly what scouts are looking for in traditional drop-back passers.

Advantage: Romo

Game management

Romo has been taken to task for his untimely turnovers, but a closer look suggests that he is one of the game's best quarterbacks when it comes to ball security. Since tossing a career-worst 19 interceptions in 2007, Romo has kept his turnovers in check by routinely resisting the temptation to force the ball into traffic. As a result, he has maintained an interception rate below two percent in his each of his past two full seasons, which is impressive considering he attempted 520-plus passes in each year. While those numbers certainly point to Romo's maturation as a game manager for the Cowboys, he still baffles evaluators with some perplexing decisions in critical moments. From his three-interception performance against the Detroit Lions to his errant toss into the awaiting hands of Darrelle Revis in a gut-wrenching loss to the New York Jets, Romo's biggest mistakes have cost the Cowboys dearly in close games and led some to speculate about his ability to seal the deal with the game on the line.

Manning has been lauded for his game-management skills, but perennially ranks among the NFL's leaders in interceptions. He led the NFL with 25 interceptions in 2010, and finished seventh in the league with 16 picks last season. Manning's propensity for turning the ball over certainly ranks as a concern, but he is a high-risk/high-reward playmaker with a penchant for getting it done with the game on the line. Consequently, you are able to live with his mistakes because he has a long track record of playing at his best when games matter most. Just look at his efficient play throughout the 2011 postseason as an example. Manning compiled a passer rating over 100 in three of the Giants' four playoff games, including his 103.8 mark against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. With Manning able to manage the game superbly throughout the pressure-packed postseason, it is hard to take issue with his game management or decision making at this point of his career.

Advantage: Manning



Leadership

Romo's leadership skills have been in question since his memorable run-ins with Terrell Owens, but he has made strides in that area in recent years. It is not uncommon to see him whisper corrections to his young receivers and he has been more demonstrative with his displeasure of teammates' performances on the field. While those actions are a step in the right direction, Romo's leadership is truly measured by his ability to raise his teammates' level of play in critical situations. Thus, in looking back at the Cowboys' disappointing finish in 2011, I would have to downgrade Romo's leadership, despite his solid individual performance. The offense failed to score more than 14 points in three of their final five games. That's just unacceptable for a unit that features a trio of playmakers in Jason Witten, Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. With the quarterback asked to distribute the ball to the team's best weapons, Romo has to find a way to keep the Cowboys' top players involved and put them in a position to make plays consistently. With the season hanging in the balance in December, the Cowboys lost four of their final five games. The quarterback has to take the brunt of the criticism for this collapse.

Manning, on the hand, has developed into one of the NFL's best leaders, despite his quiet demeanor. Rather than inspire his teammates with fire-and-brimstone speeches, Manning raises his level of play in crucial moments and puts the Giants' offense on his back. For instance, the G-Men struggled mightily on the ground last season, finishing dead last in rushing offense, so Tom Coughlin and Kevin Gilbride increasingly relied on Manning to act as the driving force of the offense. They deviated away from their balanced run/pass ratio, and put the game solely in the hands of No. 10. As a result, Manning nearly eclipsed 5,000 yards passing. While his production certainly stood out in 2011, it was his ability to consistently take over games in pivotal stages that demonstrated his leadership to me. Manning led eight game-winning drives last season and repeatedly dug his team out of adverse situations. That's the kind of leadership that teams expect from a franchise quarterback.

Advantage: Manning



Clutch factor

Many NFL games are decided within the game's final two minutes, so the franchise quarterback must thrive in those moments. Romo has taken his share of criticism for coming up short with the game on the line, but he took steps forward in his development a season ago. He guided the Cowboys to four fourth-quarter comebacks in 2011, and finally displayed some of the poise required to thrive in the game's definitive moments. What was most impressive about Romo's heroics was his ability to bounce back from a poor late-game performance against the New York Jets in Week 1 to lead back-to-back fourth-quarter rallies the following two weeks. With most NFL fans clinging to the vivid memories of his spectacular failures (including a botched field-goal hold against Seattle in the 2006 wild-card round), Romo must continue to deliver in the game's final stages to reverse the notion that he's a late-game goat.

Manning is about as clutch as it gets in the NFL. He has made pivotal plays on the biggest stages (the miraculous escape/completion to David Tyree in Super Bowl XLII, the aforementioned throw to Manningham in February's Super Bowl) and repeatedly shown his clutch demeanor with an 8-3 record in the postseason. With five of those wins on the road, Manning certainly has the "It" factor coaches and scouts covet in a franchise signal caller.

Advantage: Manning

CONCLUSION

The debate between Romo and Manning puts evaluators in a quandary when deciding whether to value raw talent and production over intangibles and postseason success. While Romo certainly possesses the skill set to guide a team to a championship, the fact that he hasn't been able to get the Cowboys over the hump prevents me from placing him above Manning. The reigning Super Bowl MVP has emerged as one of the league's best quarterbacks in the clutch, and his ability to win big games earns him the nod, despite the disparity in talent.

 

[nickdib]

As of now Its manning and I wouldn't say its very close

 

[TheJewru]

If Romo had a track record of being able to stay healthy I wouldn't argue against him in the redraft poll and if guaranteed 16 games I would choose Romo. But since this is unlikely give me Eli any day. I would also argue that if Eli played his home games in Dallas and Romo played in Jersey. Eli would be more dominant.

 

[Treesarepeopletoo]

Two points. Firstly, Tony Romo does not have a stronger arm than Eli Manning. Second, Tony Romo is not a "premiere athlete at the QB position," he moves around decently in the pocket but that's about it. I can name plenty of superior athletes off the top of my head with ease... Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Freeman, and Tavaris Jackson. Then there are some young and rookie QBs such as Jake Locker, RG3, and Luck.

 

[Donsmith753]

Goober manning

 

[sspunisher]

First off, no one should take offense to the way I word this post. Not attacking anyone personally, this is just aimed at the anti-Romo sentiment in general.

Now apparently I'm the only person who voted for Romo and I still can't get over how much influence the media has over most football fans' perception of him. It's sickening, really.

I'm sticking to my guns that Romo's the most unjustly criticized QB in all of football. He's a young 32 and the way he continues to bounce back from adversity year after year is really setting the stage for something special down the stretch. I will ride this train up until I actually see Romo's play decline on the football field and as of RIGHT NOW, the guy is a Top 5 QB in the NFL. The stats back it up, the game tape backs it up and no one who references stats and game tape can argue otherwise. I know fans are influenced heavily by wins and championships, but there are simply way too many variables in 60 minute games/16 game schedules to logically attribute wins and championships to a single player on a 53 man roster. Even though most of the football world will continue to assign credit and blame to QBs, I won't be doing that unless their play on the field justifies it.

Some of you guys are like wild stock market traders overreacting to news that's been blown out of proportion. Yes Eli just won a championship and had an absolutely amazing 2011, but let's refocus the lens a bit on how people perceive Romo's career as of right now.

Manning has started 7 full NFL seasons and personally, he's only impressed me in one of those seasons, 2011. Romo's game experience is nearly 2-3 full SEASONS less than some of the QB's he's keeping up with or blowing away statistically. He's impressed every single year since he took over and wake up people, 32 or not, he's getting better. Some of you treat him like he's a 10 year choke-artist on the last legs of his career. Relax with that already, he's only played 4 full seasons in the NFL, 5 if you count his two partial seasons in 2006/2010. The guy is growing before your very eyes and most of you can't even see it because you are so blinded by your bias towards him (or let's be real, your opinion is 99% based off what you see on Sportscenter). I'd say watch the actual tape but that Romo/Flacco thread proved some people can't even properly analyze the evidence they see on the field. So let's forget the game tape for now and just look at these very simple numbers to give us all an idea of how little football Romo has played in comparison with some of his peers.

Career Games Started:

Peyton Manning: 208

Brady: 159

Brees: 153

Eli Manning: 119

Roethlisberger: 113

Palmer: 97

Rivers 96

Vick: 92

Cutler: 78

Romo: 77

Flacco: 64

Rodgers: 62

Ryan 62

 

[Faust]

KC Joyner Says Tony Romo Is a Top 5 Quarterback

Jason Lisk

KC Joyner, writing for ESPN Insider, says that Tony Romo is a Top 5 Quarterback. That term, “Top 5″ automatically gets people riled up. We’ll go through it in a second. First, Joyner’s rationale is based on several factors. One is what he calls “superior route depth metrics” which basically means that Romo did well on throws once we account for the types of throws. He is particularly good at deep throws and those that stretch the field.

In addition, Joyner points to Romo having what he calls a low bad decision rate (BDR), at only 1.8%. Last year, Romo did finish tied for 4th in interception rate, behind only Alex Smith, Aaron Rodgers, and Sam Bradford (and even with Brady). Romo’s bad decisions were very noticeable and high profile, including an interception at the end of the Jets game in a tie contest, and two interceptions that were returned for touchdown against Detroit that fueled a large comeback.

Joyner also cites Romo’s 4th place rank in ESPN’s QBR. By almost any measure, Romo was near the top five, for last season. He was 4th in passer rating (so that QBR rating isn’t vastly different), he was 5th in yards per attempt, he was 5th in touchdown rate, he was tied for 4th with Eli in adjusted net yards per attempt.

There were a clear big three last year–Rodgers, Brady and Brees. The debate starts after that, and critics will always point to Romo’s record (the Cowboys were 8-8 last year) and lack of playoff wins. He impressed me last year with his toughness, as the line struggled at times in 2011. It’s also true that relative to other quarterbacks, he’s got it pretty good: Witten is a top tight end, the combination of Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, when healthy, is an above average combo (they weren’t always healthy last year and Romo still played well).

So, if we mean Top 5, as somewhere within the Top 5, then maybe. Most people would put Eli Manning right now ahead of him. Manning came on with his best season last year and continued to elevate his play, and is a year younger. Their regular seasons were pretty similar until the end, and then Manning took a team to a title. I think we have to put him ahead on the list.

His brother, Peyton is the X-factor. Is he healthy? If Manning plays like himself from 2009 and 2010, he is top 5, and there are no more spots. Will Big Ben be healthy? Roethlisberger played dinged up last year, and it affected his numbers. He can be considered right at the cusp of the top 5 as well. Then you have others like Rivers and Schaub and Vick.

Romo is right around the Top 8. I think he gets too much blame. The problem is, at age 32, he really needs to have one of those seasons that change minds now. I ran the most similar seasons at age 30-32 to what Romo did last year, after league adjustments. (and this is something I’m planning on doing for all QB’s throughout the offseason as I set my projections). #1 was Matt Hasselbeck in 2005, followed by Theisman in 1979. Romo just turned 32, and a fair amount of his comps did miss games or slide down a bit the next year. Those bad decision rates tend to regress, and the interception rates for his comps were league average a year later.

It’s very possible that Romo was much better than people think last year, but key plays swung his season. Going forward, though, with young players like Cam Newton and Matt Stafford looking to build off great seasons at age 23 or less, Rodgers, Brees and Brady still dealing, Eli appearing to be at his peak, Rivers looking to rebound (and a year younger), Peyton returning, etc., that Romo projects at more the 7 to 10 range in 2012. However, if the defense plays better and the offensive line play rebounds, the perception of Romo may be the thing that improves.

 

[Faust]

Tony Romo unfairly blamed for Dallas Cowboys' woes

By Marc Sessler

Writer

It almost doesn't matter what Tony Romo does on the field. He's among football's better quarterbacks statistically, but his critics are never far behind.

You hear it all the time: The Dallas Cowboys' starting quarterback is a bumbler down the stretch.

The anti-Romo movement was launched in earnest with a mind-bending playoff gaffe against the Seattle Seahawks in January 2007. Romo's not perfect, but the numbers suggest he has been unfairly pegged for the franchise's troubles. Let's take a look:

• Romo's career passer rating of 96.9 is the second-highest in NFL history behind Aaron Rodgers (104.1). The rest of the top five includes Steve Young, Tom Brady and Philip Rivers. Solid company.

• Romo's a bust in the clutch, right? Wrong. His passer rating of 97.1 shoots up to 102.9 in the fourth quarter since 2008, according to the Cowboys' official website. Romo actually has thrown 30 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions in the fourth quarter over the past four seasons.

• In the game's final minutes, Romo only improves. With less than two minutes to go in the half since 2008, Romo's 91.7 passer rating places him among the game's best:

Aaron Rodgers: 94.5

Drew Brees: 93.6

Tom Brady: 92.7

Romo: 91.7

Eli Manning: 91.5

It's time to think twice before leaning on the lazy assumption that Romo has somehow failed as an NFL quarterback. One lingering problem for Romo is that he remains the only figure on the list above without a Super Bowl title. Like a handful of statistically strong, Lombardi-less quarterbacks before him, there's only one way for Romo to correct the perception that he's somehow a failure when it matters most.

The way we see it, this is as much a Cowboys problem as it is a Romo problem.

 

[jurb26]

Two points. Firstly, Tony Romo does not have a stronger arm than Eli Manning. Second, Tony Romo is not a "premiere athlete at the QB position," he moves around decently in the pocket but that's about it. I can name plenty of superior athletes off the top of my head with ease... Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Freeman, and Tavaris Jackson. Then there are some young and rookie QBs such as Jake Locker, RG3, and Luck.

Yeah, I thought that part was pretty laughable. Romo does not have an elite arm. Neither does Eli for that matter, but Eli's is certainly better Romo's. Elite arms; Stafford, Rogers, Cutler and Vick. That's probably about it IMO. Odd that 3 are in the same division. Must suck to be a DB in the NFC North. No, Brady, Brees and Peyton do not qualify either. They may be elite QBs, but they don't have the elite arms. Peyton did at one point, we'll see if he still does I guess but I doubt it.

 

[Carter_Can_Fly]

Both are very good QB's and you can argue top 5 for either guy really.

I think as of right now Eli definitely gets the edge for proving to be one of the most clutch QB's in the game today. As of right now, there is probably not a QB that you would rather have for the 4th quarter of any game than Eli. That is how clutch he has proven to be.

 

[sspunisher]

I won't lie, a couple years ago I saw Eli Manning the same way I see Mark Sanchez today. I have no shame in admitting when I'm wrong... I was absolutely caught off guard at how much improvement Eli showed last year. I personally view 2012 as a career defining year for Eli. I need to see him build on last year's success, and I don't mean playoff wins and another Super Bowl, those are team accomplishments. But I do need to see that same confidence and big time throwing ability that he never flashed consistently up until 2011.

With that said, Romo still outplayed Eli last year as well as every single year they've been in the league together. Not only do I expect Romo to outplay Eli again, but I believe he will continue to improve to the point where even his biggest critics will take notice.

 

[houndirish]

I think the results of this poll are pretty accurate. I also think the original writeup is spot on. Romo is statistically speaking the better QB, but Eli seems to have a stranglehold on all the intangibles. When I started writing my response I was going to add that Romo's biggest downfall versus Eli is that he makes poor decisions with the football, however if this thread were posted same time in 2011, I'd get laughed at for saying that. Even with one Super Bowl title on his resume Eli hadn't shown the ability to consistently protect the football until last year when he cut down on the turnovers while posting career yardage numbers.

I voted Eli as the better NFL QB, Romo the better redraft fantasy option and Eli the better dynasty option. My justification for the NFL ranking is that Eli showed last season that he can elevate his game to the level of elite QB's. He also has that "x" factor where he's able to lead his team to wins in very clutch situations. Romo while historically being the better statistical performer, hasn't shown the same ability to win the big game or come up big consistently in the clutch. I know Punisher will say there's more to win's than a QB performance and I don't argue that logic, however too many times I've seen Eli come up big in a lot of big situations and conversely I've seen Romo come up small in similar scenarios. I don't think I'm being harsh on Romo as despite being a Cowboys hater, I've always agreed Romo has been consistently treated harshly by the media and fans. Eli's ability to remain healthy is also a factor for me in my voting.

I think the toughest call in this poll is the last question regarding dynasty potential. I think both options can be well defended. I voted Eli simply becuase I feel his 2012 campaign was the transformation year and the one that people will eventually look back on and identify as the time he not only fulfilled his potential but also secured his place among the elite QB's in the game today. To me, Eli is still elevating his game and truly entering his prime. While I don't foresee a huge dropoff in Romo's production, I don't think it's unrealistic to think he's already produced his best statistical season.

 

[Faust]

Cosell Talks: Is the Window Really Closing on the Cowboys, Romo?

by Greg Cosell

There has been much talk recently about the Dallas Cowboys. The discussion has focused primarily on the notion of whether “the window is closing” for this Cowboys team to compete for (and win) a Super Bowl as presently constructed. (Owner Jerry Jones seems to think it is.) This issue becomes more pressing when you remember that Dallas went 8-8 last season in an NFC East division that produced the Super Bowl champion, and maybe more importantly, lost twice to the New York Giants in the final month of the season with the playoffs on the line.

The question “Is the window closing?” is really code for two more basic inquiries:

1. Is the quarterback good enough to win decisive late-season and playoff games?

2. If the answer to the first question is yes, then how many good years does that quarterback have left?

If the quarterback has already won his share of playoff games, even if he has not taken his team to the Super Bowl, then the concept becomes less pronounced because there is a history of postseason success.

This brings us to Tony Romo.

Romo is now 32 years old. The 2012 campaign will be his sixth season as the Cowboys’ starter. (Remember, in 2006 he replaced Drew Bledsoe in an October Monday night game.) For many, it seems as if Romo has been the Dallas quarterback for a decade, but he’s really only played four full seasons. Romo has always generated a lot of debate as to his relative merits as an NFL starter. There are those who like Romo and see him as a determined playmaker with attitude and grit. Others view him as an undisciplined player in the critical moments of important games, prone to mistakes that lead to bad losses. There may have been no better example for the anti-Romo group than the Lions game last season, when Romo threw three second-half interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, as the Cowboys gave away a 27-3 third-quarter lead and lost.

I have watched almost every game Romo has played in the NFL, and there’s a certain profile to his play that has been established over time. There have been instances when Romo has been aggressive and decisive, attacking down the field with confidence and conviction. He’s made plays outside the pocket, showing the ability to avoid pressure, find an open area, re-set and deliver at the intermediate and deeper levels with accuracy. The 27-24 win at Washington in 2011 was a clear snapshot, highlighted by the 59-yard touchdown to Jason Witten in the fourth quarter and the 26-yard completion to Dez Bryant on third-and-15 in overtime.

There have been other times Romo has overreacted to pressure, perceiving/anticipating it when it was not really there. The result is that he moves when he doesn’t need to, abandoning the pocket without allowing the route combination to fully develop. The phrase I often use to describe that is “playing fast,” and when that occurs, you have a tendency to leave plays on the field because you don’t throw the ball to receivers that break open. That speaks to a pattern I have observed studying quarterbacks over the last 20-plus years. Those, like Romo, who can make improvisational plays with their legs, walk a fine line between random playmaker and precise pocket passer. Playing outside of structure is a positive when it’s the only option; doing so before it’s the only option is a negative. Too many plays are missed, and the offense loses sustainability and consistency.

A four-game stretch early in the 2011 season provides a distinct template when evaluating Romo. Against the 49ers on the season’s second Sunday, Romo broke a rib and punctured a lung in the first half. He returned in the second half to lead the Cowboys to an overtime victory. Most impressive was Romo’s toughness in the pocket. He made a number of accurate, tight-window throws under extreme duress, most notably a fourth-and-5 completion to Witten for nine yards in the fourth quarter. The next week, on a Monday night against the Redskins’ blitz-happy defense, Romo was masterful controlling the game at the line of scrimmage. He recognized the pressure schemes before the snap, set the pass protections and used his cadence expertly to minimize the Washington’s aggressiveness. It was a brilliant performance mentally, made more impressive by the fact that a Jim Haslett-coached defense is very difficult to prepare for, and defeat.

The next two games were against the Lions and Patriots. I already mentioned the Detroit loss. It is easy to be critical of Jason Garrett’s second-half play calling with a big lead, but that sidesteps the issue. The first interception returned for a touchdown, by Bobby Carpenter, was most troublesome. It was first-and-10, the first play after a Lions punt. It was 27-3 in the third quarter. There was no reason to be aggressive at that point. If you don’t get a clear picture, check it down, or leave the pocket and throw it away. It was a case of poor game management. Quarterbacks must always understand the situation, and play accordingly.

New England came next, after a bye week. Romo did not play with a lot of pocket precision. He looked tentative and uncertain, not pulling the trigger on some downfield throws that were there. It was a very uneven effort. Again, it is easy to place the blame for the Cowboys’ loss elsewhere. If the defense holds late in the fourth quarter, Dallas leaves Foxborough with a hard-fought road win. The perception of Romo might then be very different, but that misses the point. His play was the same, regardless of the inadequacies of the defense. Romo must be evaluated based on his individual performance, not other factors in a given game.

There’s an inconsistency to Romo’s play that still needs to be cleaned up as he begins his ninth year in the league. An overthrow to Miles Austin late in the fourth quarter against the Giants in Dallas that would have won the game sticks in my mind. (Of course, the defense again failed to hold the lead.) Despite that, Romo is a top-10 NFL quarterback with his overall combination of attributes, both in the pocket and on the move. More often than not, he’s an efficient passer, decisive in his reads and throws with anticipation and excellent ball location. One area in which he truly excels is eye discipline and safety manipulation; he has a great feel for moving safeties with his head. (That shows up every week I watch him on film.)

The question then, for those who want to discuss the Cowboys’ “window,” centers on Romo, and how long he can be a quality NFL starter. There is nothing that suggests he is on the decline, and I would not be surprised if he played at a top-10 level for at least another three years.

 

[ookook]

I see both as fighting for the 5th thru 8th ranking at the position in terms of NFL talent right now. It *is* close.

Going forward is very hard to say but for dynasty I give nod to Ely because his job is more secure.

For fantasy I think Dallas will throw more and has more to throw to for the time being.

But it is really a crap shoot to me for NFL talent. I gave Eli the nod as I think he would have done better in Dallas with the same weaponsand schedule.

 

[Faust]

Jason Witten sounds 'elite' siren on Tony Romo

By Marc Sessler

Writer

When New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning labeled himself an "elite" quarterback last summer, few took him seriously. In the end, however, Eli was right.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is hoping this device will work in Big D.

"(Tony Romo is) a phenomenal, cool quarterback," Witten told the Abilene Reporter-News. "He's an elite quarterback. But until we win the big game, the criticism is going to come. … He was up there among the top five in quarterbacks this year. That's just the way it goes. You can't cry about it. I just hope the fans know what a good player he is."

The vast majority do not.

We've analyzed Romo to death on this site. His role as fan-base whipping boy is a tired act. When the quarterback throws 31 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, but the team stumbles to an 8-8 finish, the entire roster is asking for deeper inspection.

Manning's situation is unique. He's played his career under the steady regime of Tom Coughlin and benefits from a defense that's been known to shift into superhuman-mode late in the season. None of this takes away from what Manning has done, but the Dallas Cowboys haven't found a way to become the New York Giants. Blaming Romo for this is a farce.

 

[mphtrilogy]

Eli, Eli, Eli

Why is this even close?

Iron Man, Gutty, Good Young Receivers...., pass friendly offense... and clutch...

 

[Sweet Love]

Jason Witten sounds 'elite' siren on Tony Romo

By Marc Sessler

Writer

When New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning labeled himself an "elite" quarterback last summer, few took him seriously. In the end, however, Eli was right.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten is hoping this device will work in Big D.

"(Tony Romo is) a phenomenal, cool quarterback," Witten told the Abilene Reporter-News. "He's an elite quarterback. But until we win the big game, the criticism is going to come. … He was up there among the top five in quarterbacks this year. That's just the way it goes. You can't cry about it. I just hope the fans know what a good player he is."

The vast majority do not.

We've analyzed Romo to death on this site. His role as fan-base whipping boy is a tired act. When the quarterback throws 31 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, but the team stumbles to an 8-8 finish, the entire roster is asking for deeper inspection.

Manning's situation is unique. He's played his career under the steady regime of Tom Coughlin and benefits from a defense that's been known to shift into superhuman-mode late in the season. None of this takes away from what Manning has done, but the Dallas Cowboys haven't found a way to become the New York Giants. Blaming Romo for this is a farce.

You mean the guy who almost lost his job...on two different occasions? That Coughlin?

 

[sspunisher]

You mean the guy who almost lost his job...on two different occasions? That Coughlin?

I'm not sure what you mean by that so I won't speculate, but just to be clear...I don't think almost losing his job was indicative of Tom Coughlin being a bad coach. Him almost losing his job is indicative of how bad a lot of people are at understanding football. It's a blame game. When your 1st Round Draft Pick QB is failing, the masses won't rest easy until they find someone to shoulder the blame. The fact that those people don't understand football and NEED to place blame somewhere is a recipe for disaster that we've seen over and over again.

 

[Sweet Love]

You mean the guy who almost lost his job...on two different occasions? That Coughlin?

I'm not sure what you mean by that so I won't speculate, but just to be clear...I don't think almost losing his job was indicative of Tom Coughlin being a bad coach. Him almost losing his job is indicative of how bad a lot of people are at understanding football. It's a blame game. When your 1st Round Draft Pick QB is failing, the masses won't rest easy until they find someone to shoulder the blame. The fact that those people don't understand football and NEED to place blame somewhere is a recipe for disaster that we've seen over and over again.

All I was trying to say is that maybe people look at Eli and say "he has had the same head coach", so therefore he has had a level of consistency that Romo never had. All I am trying to say is that it wasn't always rosy in NYC, and he found a way to get through that...Not like he was Brady with Belicheck or McNair with Fisher where there was never a question who would be there in the coming year.

 

[Tanner9919]

Romo is a prolific stat compiler...he has a high TD:int ratio, he's a very good QB.

Manning ,until last season,was somewhat of an INT machine..he produces stats but not on the level that Romo does.Romo is clearly the better athlete than Manning.

thats why I think Romo is a better fantasy QB,while Eli is clearly the better real-world QB.Romo can't ( or at least up to this point in his career , hasn't been able to ) win the big one..

 

[Faust]

Romo might be Witten's quarterback, but he's not an elite one

By Clark Judge | Senior NFL Columnist

Hearing Dallas tight end Jason Witten rave about Tony Romo reminds me that it's time for a refresher course on elite quarterbacks, who they are and what constitutes them ... because Witten, apparently, has no idea.

That's not a knock on the guy. Terrific player. Stand-up person. Solid teammate. But no clue when it comes to elite quarterbacks.

He thinks Romo is one, but he's wrong. Tony Romo is a good quarterback. Tony Romo is a tough quarterback. Tony Romo is a winning quarterback. But Tony Romo is not an elite quarterback.

To qualify, you must win big games and win them consistently. You must do more than win an occasional division title, too. Getting to a Super Bowl would be nice. Winning one would be even better.

Last time I checked, Romo was oh-for-two there.

Nope, elite quarterbacks are the best of the best of the best, and when I think of an elite quarterback, I think of someone like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. Brady has been to five Super Bowls, winning three of them, and was the league's first unanimous MVP. Manning is a four-time MVP and has been to two Super Bowls.

I think of Ben Roethlisberger, too. And Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Aaron Rodgers. But Tony Romo? Sorry, but you must win more than one playoff game to make the list. Romo has been the Cowboys' starting quarterback for the past six years, and he has won a lot more games than he has lost, which is great. But then what? Well, then you look at his playoff record, and it's not so great.

In fact, he has one victory there. Period. And that was in the wild-card round. The guy has been to the playoffs three times and is 1-3 -- including a home loss to the Giants when Dallas had the NFC's best regular-season record.

Yeah, I know, he has thrown for five touchdowns in a game and produced numerous 300-yard efforts. He also ranks second among the game's leaders in career passer ratings. But I don't care about those numbers. I want someone who can win in the clutch, and when I think of clutch performers, I don't think of Tony Romo.

I mean, all he had to do last season was beat the Giants once down the stretch, and Dallas makes the playoffs. But he didn't. Instead, he looks terrific in Game One, throwing for four touchdowns and 321 yards in a 37-34 loss, but when he could've closed out his opponents in the fourth quarter, he didn't -- missing a wide-open Miles Austin with a third-down pass that would've clinched the victory.

He wasn't all that bad in the return match, but neither he nor his teammates could make the critical plays that might've launched Dallas, not New York, to the playoffs.

My point is: Elite quarterbacks excel in big games, and that's where Romo comes up short. In fact, when you look at his record from December on, it's not so good. OK, it stinks. He's 12-18. Now look at his playoff record. In four starts, he has four touchdown passes and two interceptions and averages 208 yards per game, never throwing for more than 244.

More important, he lost three of four.

Eli Manning took a lot of flak last year when he called himself an elite quarterback ... but then he went out and proved it. Manning doesn't have the career passer rating that Romo does, but he does have two Lombardi Trophies, two Super Bowl MVP awards and an 8-3 playoff record. Tell me which quarterback you would rather have.

Me? I want someone I can count on in big moments, and that someone is not Tony Romo. Not yet, it's not. So don't tell me he's an elite quarterback. That term is as overused as it is misused, and there's no better example than here.

 

[sspunisher]

The Romo criticism has grown tiresome. He's only played 6 seasons in the league. If you're actually counting games, he's played an equivalent of 5 seasons.

A majority of elite athletes make their mark on their particular sport during the 2nd half of their career. How would some athletes that we consider sports legends today be judged if we threw away the second half of their career? I'm not going to pound out a long list, but Michael Jordan, John Elway, even Eli Manning defined their careers after the halfway point.

Works the other way around too. Tom Brady was absolutely legendary in the first half of his career. If he hung up the cleats after his 3rd Super Bowl, we'd probably have insane expectations of where his career would have gone. Two Super Bowl losses in the second half of Brady's career isn't going to derail an already impressive resume, but he's more human than we thought he was a few years ago.

Bottom line, we've seen nothing to indicate that Romo's window is closing. Until I see his play decline on the field, I'll keep reminding everyone that his arrow is still pointing up.

 

[jurb26]

Bottom line, we've seen nothing to indicate that Romo's window is closing. Until I see his play decline on the field, I'll keep reminding everyone that his arrow is still pointing up.

Here's the thing. You seem to be waiting for his play to decline to say he isn't elite anymore and his window is closing. Many others are waiting for it to improve before saying he is elite and the window is even open.

 

[sspunisher]

Bottom line, we've seen nothing to indicate that Romo's window is closing. Until I see his play decline on the field, I'll keep reminding everyone that his arrow is still pointing up.

Here's the thing. You seem to be waiting for his play to decline to say he isn't elite anymore and his window is closing. Many others are waiting for it to improve before saying he is elite and the window is even open.

That's a fair thought process. But the scrutiny he gets is unlike any other and it drives me crazy. For every "choke" he's had, there's been countless underlying plays that people completely ignore, because giving Romo 100% of the blame is more appealing for the audience. The Terry Glenn fumble in the Seahawks game. The Crayton wide open crossing route drop in the Giants playoff game. The Jets punt block returned for a TD on 9-11. Megatron out-jumping 3 Cowboys defenders in the endzone. The Miles Austin "lost the ball in the lights" drop vs the Giants etc etc etc. I'm not saying Romo is blame-free. The guy has made his fair share of big mistakes and hasn't shown that ability to completely take over a game like a Peyton Manning or Brady. But he deserves much more credit than he does blame.

 

[Manster]

Its Manning as of now. But this is more about the Giants being better than the 'Boys in recent history. As sspunisher pointed out there have been many letdowns from many Cowboys. Not only that, but the meltdowns seems to happen around playoff time.

As a sidenote, take a look at what the Cowboys are doing on defense.............I am cautiously optimistic.

 

[Topes]

Cowboys fan here.

It's Manning.

 

[VA703]

As of now Its manning and I wouldn't say its very close

/end thread

 

[Bigboy10182000]

I probably think Manning is better then Romo because I've seen them both play...

Put a Jaguar on Romo's helmet and this topic is a laugher...well, even more then it is now...

 

[Manster]

okay, if we're doing hypotheticals, Romo and Eli trade helmets...........does Eli win two with da 'Boys? Or, are the chinks in his armor more exposed as with Tony? Does Tony win two with the G-men? Obviously means nothing, but kinda interesting to think about, eh?

IMO, they are both pretty good QB's who make some bad plays from time to time. The difference is the rest of the team around them. The Cowboys cant seem to get it together and fade every year lately. While the G-men have proven to be able to gain momentum into the playoffs and raise their level of play. A lot of this is coaching. A killer pass rush doesnt hurt either. Eli gets some credit as well. He's battled it out and made some great plays. Is he elite? meh.

You can say what you want about the QB being the GUY. But its a team sport, and a few weaknesses at key positions or bad morale in the lockerroom overrides talent and good QB play.

I'll take Romo over most QB's in the league cept for a few. Over Manning? I dunno, cuz I'm not sure Manning does as well as Romo has if he were wearing Romos' helmet. I know, I know, hypothetical, blah, blah, blah.......

 

[Bigboy10182000]

okay, if we're doing hypotheticals, Romo and Eli trade helmets...........does Eli win two with da 'Boys? Or, are the chinks in his armor more exposed as with Tony? Does Tony win two with the G-men? Obviously means nothing, but kinda interesting to think about, eh?

IMO, they are both pretty good QB's who make some bad plays from time to time. The difference is the rest of the team around them. The Cowboys cant seem to get it together and fade every year lately. While the G-men have proven to be able to gain momentum into the playoffs and raise their level of play. A lot of this is coaching. A killer pass rush doesnt hurt either. Eli gets some credit as well. He's battled it out and made some great plays. Is he elite? meh.

You can say what you want about the QB being the GUY. But its a team sport, and a few weaknesses at key positions or bad morale in the lockerroom overrides talent and good QB play.

I'll take Romo over most QB's in the league cept for a few. Over Manning? I dunno, cuz I'm not sure Manning does as well as Romo has if he were wearing Romos' helmet. I know, I know, hypothetical, blah, blah, blah.......

FWIW, I meant from a popularity perspective. Tony (IMO) gets a little extra love because of his team. He is not on Eli's level IMO, and like others say it's not even close.

 

[KellysHeroes]

Eli has taken huge steps in improvement, Romo is going backwards

 

[Faust]

Roger Staubach: Tony Romo deserves more respect

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

Tony Romo's popularity in Dallas seems to be waning after a pair of disappointing Cowboys season. After suffering through guys like Chad Hutchinson and Quincy Carter, it seems Cowboys fans forget how good they have it.

Cowboys legend Roger Staubach can't understand why.

"It’s really a mystery to me why people don’t understand how really good (Romo) is," Staubach said on KTCK-AM via the Dallas Morning News. "The things he can do and the plays he can make, I’m sure Troy (Aikman) would say the same. I think this team is building to support a great quarterback like Romo. If your defense is doing a great job, you can do a lot of things on offense."

Aikman agrees. Romo's biggest supporters may be former Cowboys quarterbacks legends, who know how unforgiving the glare can be in Dallas. We don't think they are being biased, though.

Romo, who may be entering a make-or-break year, is good enough to win a title. Maybe he can't raise the level of an organization like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, but he certainly could have won with teams like the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers or the '07 New York Giants. (Or the Aikman-era Cowboys for that matter.)

Quarterbacks still get too much credit when teams win and blame when teams lose. Aikman and Staubach know that well.

 

[Alkahsu]

I didn't have to read anything in the first post to know the answer is Eli.

 

[Noah Davis]

Two points. Firstly, Tony Romo does not have a stronger arm than Eli Manning. Second, Tony Romo is not a "premiere athlete at the QB position," he moves around decently in the pocket but that's about it. I can name plenty of superior athletes off the top of my head with ease... Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, Alex Smith, Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Freeman, and Tavaris Jackson. Then there are some young and rookie QBs such as Jake Locker, RG3, and Luck.

Yeah, I thought that part was pretty laughable. Romo does not have an elite arm. Neither does Eli for that matter, but Eli's is certainly better Romo's. Elite arms; Stafford, Rogers, Cutler and Vick. That's probably about it IMO. Odd that 3 are in the same division. Must suck to be a DB in the NFC North. No, Brady, Brees and Peyton do not qualify either. They may be elite QBs, but they don't have the elite arms. Peyton did at one point, we'll see if he still does I guess but I doubt it.

I'd argue Cam Newton to be included in that.....

 

[Faust]

Brett Favre: Tony Romo 'more like me' than other QBs

By Dan Hanzus

Writer

NFL Network aired the latest segment of Deion Sanders' conversation with Brett Favre on Tuesday, the chat turning to the quarterbacks Favre enjoys watching today.

He praised the usual suspects, calling Peyton Manning a "GM on the field," proclaiming Drew Brees to be "in a league by himself," and (perhaps begrudgingly) saying Aaron Rodgers "handles the cast around him perfectly."

But Favre saved his most interesting comments for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, the player he says he can most relate to.

"Romo is probably more like me than any of those guys," he said. "I don't know if that's good, because I think way too much is cast upon him. Good or bad.

"It's Dallas. And much is expected. But he's carried those guys, man. I mean, I'm watching last year, and I like Tony. And I like the way he plays. I think at times he's underrated."

Favre apparently believes Romo has to deal with teammates who aren't fully plugged into the Dallas gameplan.

"But I'm watching, and right before the snap, he's telling guys -- and you've probably seen it, too -- he's like ... "

"They don't know what they're doing!" Sanders jumped in.

"How in the world are you gonna have a positive play when the ball's coming and you're telling guys (where to line up)?" Favre went on. "But he'll make something out of nothing."

Favre faced plenty of pressure in his career, but Romo might actually have him beat. Favre was always loved when he was with the Green Bay Packers, win or lose. Romo is in an unending audition for respect. Fair or not, he will always be held responsible for the Cowboys' shortcomings.

 

[Faust]

Eli Manning more clutch than Tony Romo, says Canty

By Marc Sessler

Writer

Keep in mind that we're hearing this from a member of the New York Giants, but Chris Canty believes his quarterback, Eli Manning, has left Tony Romo in the dust.

Canty told ESPN Radio this week that Manning "absolutely" was the guy you want in the huddle when the bullets fly. It's worth mentioning because Canty spent the early part of his career in Dallas as Romo's teammate.

"Tony Romo is a terrific quarterback, can't take that away from him. Statistically he's a top five quarterback," Canty said, via SBNation.com. "Eli's ability to elevate his game and elevate the play of all the guys around him in the most crucial situations in the football game I believe is the difference. That's what makes him a championship quarterback."

Canty also took issue with NFL Network's "The Top 100: Players of 2012," which ranked Manning at No. 31: "I just don't understand that," Canty said. "For goodness sake, just look at the resume, look at what he's been able to do. He's an elite football player, and I think it's time people recognized that."

Canty doesn't need to sell people on the "elite" argument, not for Manning. Quarterbacks with two Super Bowl titles enter that conversation without much trouble.

Romo -- despite Brett Favre's backing -- faces a different challenge. As Canty points out, Romo's numbers aren't the issue. With just one playoff win, he remains a polarizing figure.

 

[kinglochness]

I probably think Manning is better then Romo because I've seen them both play...Put a Jaguar on Romo's helmet and this topic is a laugher...well, even more then it is now...

Put a Jaquar helmet on Eli and what happens? It's a laugher too. Or at least you lose the biggest argument for Eli (2 rings).

 

[kinglochness]

Eli Manning more clutch than Tony Romo, says Canty

By Marc Sessler

Writer

What else is a guy supposed to say when comparing current QB and former QB? And Canty has never been inthe huddle with either of these guys. How would he know? I put absolutely no merit in these comments.

Keep in mind that we're hearing this from a member of the New York Giants, but Chris Canty believes his quarterback, Eli Manning, has left Tony Romo in the dust.

Canty told ESPN Radio this week that Manning "absolutely" was the guy you want in the huddle when the bullets fly. It's worth mentioning because Canty spent the early part of his career in Dallas as Romo's teammate.

"Tony Romo is a terrific quarterback, can't take that away from him. Statistically he's a top five quarterback," Canty said, via SBNation.com. "Eli's ability to elevate his game and elevate the play of all the guys around him in the most crucial situations in the football game I believe is the difference. That's what makes him a championship quarterback."

Canty also took issue with NFL Network's "The Top 100: Players of 2012," which ranked Manning at No. 31: "I just don't understand that," Canty said. "For goodness sake, just look at the resume, look at what he's been able to do. He's an elite football player, and I think it's time people recognized that."

Canty doesn't need to sell people on the "elite" argument, not for Manning. Quarterbacks with two Super Bowl titles enter that conversation without much trouble.

Romo -- despite Brett Favre's backing -- faces a different challenge. As Canty points out, Romo's numbers aren't the issue. With just one playoff win, he remains a polarizing figure.

 

[Bigboy10182000]

I probably think Manning is better then Romo because I've seen them both play...Put a Jaguar on Romo's helmet and this topic is a laugher...well, even more then it is now...

Put a Jaquar helmet on Eli and what happens? It's a laugher too. Or at least you lose the biggest argument for Eli (2 rings).

Read my next comment..below the one you quoted...

FWIW, I meant from a popularity perspective. Tony (IMO) gets a little extra love because of his team. He is not on Eli's level IMO, and like others say it's not even close.

 

[Yenrub]

okay, if we're doing hypotheticals, Romo and Eli trade helmets...........does Eli win two with da 'Boys? Or, are the chinks in his armor more exposed as with Tony? Does Tony win two with the G-men? Obviously means nothing, but kinda interesting to think about, eh?

IMO, they are both pretty good QB's who make some bad plays from time to time. The difference is the rest of the team around them. The Cowboys cant seem to get it together and fade every year lately. While the G-men have proven to be able to gain momentum into the playoffs and raise their level of play. A lot of this is coaching. A killer pass rush doesnt hurt either. Eli gets some credit as well. He's battled it out and made some great plays. Is he elite? meh.

You can say what you want about the QB being the GUY. But its a team sport, and a few weaknesses at key positions or bad morale in the lockerroom overrides talent and good QB play.

I'll take Romo over most QB's in the league cept for a few. Over Manning? I dunno, cuz I'm not sure Manning does as well as Romo has if he were wearing Romos' helmet. I know, I know, hypothetical, blah, blah, blah.......

It seems like just about every year we are told that Dallas is one of the most talented teams in the league

 

[kinglochness]

FWIW, I meant from a popularity perspective. Tony (IMO) gets a little extra love because of his team. He is not on Eli's level IMO, and like others say it's not even close.

I apologize. I thought we were discussing "who is the better quarterback" seeing as that is the topic title. Not who is more popular. Put either of these guys on the Jags and they are mediocre NFL QB's that don't sell jerseys though. So I guess I'm still not seeing your point.

 

[Faust]

Amani Toomer: Tony Romo is better than Eli Manning

By Dan Hanzus

Writer

Is it that time again? Like getting an oil change or visiting the dentist, we were about due for a story in which New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was underappreciated.

On Thursday, it came courtesy of former Manning teammate Amani Toomer, who told SiriusXM NFL Radio that Dallas Cowboys star Tony Romo is the best quarterback in his division. (Never mind that Manning delivered Toomer his only Super Bowl ring, in the 2007 season.)

"Tony Romo is probably -- if you look at him statistically -- he's probably the best quarterback in the NFC East," Toomer said. "I mean, you look at Eli Manning and what he does in the fourth quarter. But you talk about consistency -- talk about 31 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions. That guy can play.

"For me, if I wanted a guy that is going to throw less interceptions, (be) more productive, higher completion percentage, I'm going to go with Tony Romo. At crunch time, he's not as good as Eli, but every other time, he's pretty darn good."

It's fairly evident that Toomer was attempting to compliment Romo rather than insult Manning, but his logic is way off. Manning -- beyond his Super Bowl heroics and late-game prowess -- was a fine statistical player last season, putting up 29 touchdown passes, just 16 interceptions, nearly 5,000 passing yards and a passer rating of 92.9.

For Romo, this is the exact type of story that makes his life difficult. It leaves him wide open for easy criticism and creates storylines that shouldn't even exist. A tweet from Giants PR man Pat Hanlon is our case in point.

pat hanlon

@giantspathanlon

QB or golfer? RT @Itsme_DRB: Former Giants WR Amani Toomer is on Sirius, saying Tony Romo is a better quarterback than Eli Manning. Agree?

Toomer's goal was to lift up Romo. Trying to do it at Manning's expense does him no favors.

 

[johnadams]

okay, if we're doing hypotheticals, Romo and Eli trade helmets...........does Eli win two with da 'Boys? Or, are the chinks in his armor more exposed as with Tony? Does Tony win two with the G-men? Obviously means nothing, but kinda interesting to think about, eh?

That's a pretty interesting question. Ultimately, I think the answer is that there's no SB wins from either team. Every year, Dallas is one of the more over-hyped team by virtue of simply being the Cowboys. I think their recent failures expose the myth that they have had superior talent and I don't think Eli is quite good enough to overcome that. However, the things that Eli does well, namely good to great performances when it's needed most (apologies for the cliche) are what has helped them win, which is in contrast to what Romo has shown. Of course, a big part of this is coaching and Romo may have benefitted from a bit more conservative coaching style which would have let him develop differently. Eli may have been destroyed earlier in his career if he had to do the things Romo was asked. But, if all things are equal to today, I think a swap of QBs would lead to no SB victories for either team.

 

[FavreCo]

If both were available to an NFL team needing a franchise QB, every GM would take Manning.

 

[Manster]

Something to consider is the inconsistent O-line play for da 'Boys. It's been patchwork at best, the last few years.

Also the defense has been sub-par.

The D looks to be improving. The O-line as a unit, I'm not so sure about that.......

Not making excuses for Romo. Simply pointing out that he's far from the problem in Dallas

 

[Fensalk]

Romo wins a ring and the overwhelming consensus will be Romo. It doesn't matter if its just one. I'd take Romo because you have to factor out the rings.

 

[netnalp]

Something to consider is the inconsistent O-line play for da 'Boys. It's been patchwork at best, the last few years. Also the defense has been sub-par.The D looks to be improving. The O-line as a unit, I'm not so sure about that.......Not making excuses for Romo. Simply pointing out that he's far from the problem in Dallas

Giants line hasn't been very good since 2008.Eli wins on better decision making, command of the offense and leadership.

 

[mbuehner]

I'll be the one to say it- this poll is silly. One qb has marched his offense down the field to win two superbowls on late drives. The other is a brittle choker. When Romo wins A playoff game maybe he can get remotely back in the discussion.

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

I wonder if toomer wants to change his vote

 

[JShare87]

Yea when he said Tony Romo is more consistent than Eli that's the point of the article I stopped at. How can anyone call Romo consistent? He is the best Qb in the league one week and the worst the next week. That's not consistency to me.