EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? Tony Romo(notes) sat hunched on a locker room stool, staring down into his cell phone as he scrolled through his messages. He?d just played a starring role in a brutal collapse, a sure-bet Dallas Cowboys victory turning into a 27-24 crushing loss to the New York Jets.
The heat was coming, everyone knew.
?We know that Tony struggles with pressure,? said the Jets? Darrelle Revis(notes), just the kind of statement that will haunt Romo until he proves otherwise.
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Dallas was one yard and 8:59 from a statement, show-the-critics-they're-wrong victory over the Jets. ?A very big prize,? said owner Jerry Jones.
Then Romo fumbled on New York?s 1-yard line. Then the offense stalled, a punt got blocked, and the Jets went on to score. Then Romo threw an easy pick to Revis with 49 seconds left and the Jets went on to score again.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
Disaster. Disaster. Disaster.
And just like that Romo was sitting on that stool in disbelief, seemingly not in a hurry to go anywhere.
?I cost us the football game tonight,? he said