Romo and Aikman talk about being the Dallas QB

The two most talked about Dallas Cowboys QBs in the past several seasons talked separately about being the Cowboys QB.

Aikman appeared on Michael Irvin's radio show Aikman said Romo has to worry more about perception. "I think maybe things happened so quickly for Tony in terms of obscurity to all of a sudden national spotlight that he hasn't fully grasped what being the Cowboys quarterback is all about," Aikman said. "And you don't go to Cabo the week before a playoff game. You just don't do it.
"To say, 'I don't worry about perception,' you better worry about perception because it is a big part of making it through some very difficult times."

Aikman had his share of difficult times; like a 1-15 season, like Barry Switzer being your coach, about how many more concussions can you suffer.

Romo on the other hand still talks like a guy who is trying to figure out what it means to be the QB of the Cowboys but who also wants to succeed.

"I think leadership sometimes comes with your ability to perform and your personality," Romo said in a telephone interview Wednesday night. "And some of it comes with experience. In a lot of ways, I think I've gotten to the point where I've gained experience."

"I'm definitely going to take a more active approach with that as we move forward from last year to this season. I'll be very excited to get back out there and be with the guys and figure out a way to improve and get better and do the things we need to do to win. Period."

That sounds alot better than what he had to say after the loss to the Eagles. At the time he talked like a guy who wasn't too concerned that the season was over and that the Cowboys had once again underachieved. "If this is the worst thing that ever happens to me," Romo said after the game, "then I'll have lived a pretty good life." Not what fans want to hear from their QB, and something that he never would have said if Phillips wasn't the coach.

Simple suggestion for Romo, review and learn Bill Parcells' commandments for QBs, especially #11:

1. Press or t.v., agents or advisors, family or wives, friends or relatives, fans or hangers on, ignore them on matters of football, they don’t know what’s happening here.

2. Don’t forget to have fun, but don’t be the class clown. Clowns and leaders don’t mix. Clowns can’t run a huddle.

3. A quarterback throws with his legs more than his arms. Squat and run. Fat quarterbacks can’t avoid the rush.

4. Know your job cold. This is not a game without errors. Keep yours to a minimum. Study.

5. Know your own players. Who’s fast? Who can catch? Who needs encouragement? Be precise. Know your opponent.

6. Be the same guy everyday. In condition, preparing to lead, studying your plan. A coach can’t prepare you for every eventuality. Prepare yourself and remember, impulse decisions usually equal mistakes.

7. Throwing the ball away is a good play. Sacks, interceptions, and fumbles are bad plays..Protect against those.

8. You must learn to manage the game. Personnel, play call, motions, ball handling, proper reads, accurate throws, play fakes. Clock, clock, clock, don’t you ever lose track of the clock.

9. Passing stats and td passes are not how you’re gonna be judged. Your job is to get your team in the endzone and that’s how you’re gonna be judged.

10. When all around you is in chaos, you must be the hand that steers the ship. If you have a panic button, so will everyone else. Our ship can’t have panic buttons.

11. Don’t be a celebrity quarterback. We don’t need any of those. We need battlefield commanders that are willing to fight it out everyday, every week, and every season, and lead their team to win after win after win