Typically, opposing teams allow their coach and one selected player to speak with beat writers of upcoming opponent on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the latest. But Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo spoke to reporters who cover the San Francisco 49ers on Monday afternoon around 3 p.m. CT.
Romo said he got home around 5:15 a.m. CT and was back at the facility around 10 a.m. trying to regroup from Sunday's night's 27-24 loss to the New York Jets.
The Cowboys blew a 14-point fourth quarter lead on Sunday night. The game was decided when Romo had a fourth quarter pass intercepted by Darrelle Revis with 49 seconds to play in the game. Earlier, Romo fumbled at the Jets 2 on a third down play. If Romo doesn't fumble, at worse the Cowboys get a field goal and can push their lead to 10.
But the fumble and interception happened and Romo's mental state has been questioned nationally.
"I mean, you gotta get ready and go," Romo said on the conference call with the San Francisco media. "The games come up fast, you have to be in a position to come back fast. You gotta be ready to go. For us, that's why we get in here and play this game. [Sunday] was disappointing and frustrating and you gotta make sure that doesn't happen again, and I'm going to make sure of that."
Romo took the blame for the loss and several of his teammates supported him to that end. Marcus Spears said it was another example of Romo being a leader.
Romo's fourth quarter performances have been an issue in the past.
Yet, Romo has nine fourth quarter comebacks and 10 game-winning drives since becoming the full-time starter in 2006. He also has thrown 34 fourth quarter touchdowns, tied for third among NFL quarterbacks since 2006. And his 49 completed passes of 25 or more yards is tops among NFL quarterbacks since 2006.
But Romo's late game issues started with that fumbled snap in the 2006 NFC wild card game vs. Seattle. There have been some critical interceptions in the past, he's got 18 in the fourth quarter, but his inability to take his team deep into the playoffs because of it will surround him until he does so.
One thing Romo does well is move past his mistakes quickly. That's why he loves the challenge of golf because after every shot, no matter how good it is, you need to make another one.
So that's why Romo was watching game tape of the 49ers-Seattle Seahawks game on Monday morning.
"Yeah, obviously like I said, it was disappointing and frustrating just to lose that football game," Romo said. "That's why we're up early to move onto the 49ers now. You have to get ready for the next one. We have to put that one behind us, and I have to come out and play my best game this week, and make sure that what happened last week doesn't happen again, and I'll do that."