Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo joined the league in 2003. One reporter who has covered the player during his entire NFL career has been ESPN's senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. Romo, who had his 2015 season cut short by injury, recently offered up encouraging words for Mortensen, who is taking a leave of absence from his duties at the network to battle throat cancer.

"He's the best in the business," Tony Romo told Peter King of Sports Illustrated through text message. "He's reached out to me during the good times and bad."

WATCH: Larry Fitzgerald sends classy shoutout to cancer-stricken Chris Mortensen https://t.co/Dx72cScP13 https://t.co/UuT9pXvruK

— STN Sports (@STN_Sports) January 17, 2016

Arizona Cardinals player Larry Fitzgerald spoke his message of inspiration to Mortensen on-air. Romo's own tribute to Mortensen, who has been with ESPN since 1991, shows the respect NFL players in general, and Romo in particular, have for the veteran reporter.

"He's as genuine a person as I know in the business," Romo stated of Mortensen. "We are praying for him."

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