Can a quarterback go from back-up to “Elway-esque” over the course of one season? Apparently Dallas Cowboys head coach (and former Denver/Elway coach) Wade Phillips thinks so, giving Tony Romo that exact compliment after the anointed one lead Dallas to a game winning touchdown yesterday in the final minutes against Detroit. Not that his teammates Jason Witten, Terrell Owens or Marion Barber had anything to do with it.

“That is where a quarterback shows up… in pressure situations,” Phillips said. “What he does in pressure situations defines him, not just passing yardage. I thought he was Elway-esque.”

Jeez, this time last year, Romo was starting his sixth game after coming in mid-season for Drew Bledsoe. Let’s calm down with the comparisons to John Elway until he’s done something like win a Super Bowl. Raiders quarterback Josh McCown’s once had a bright future and led some last minute drives in his career, but yesterday he looked closer to “out of the league” than Elway-esque.

‘Elway-esque’ rally adds to fame of the Romo empire [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]
Image [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]