Word of the Week is "Humble" (Post #16)

While the fans were joyous, a moment of empathy was in order.  Consider this.  A future Hall-of-Famer, poised with the best offensive line he’s ever stood behind, will now have to sit as a rookie would and watch the starter as a rookie should.

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So, the Wednesday Word for this Week is HUMBLE!

1 Peter 5:6, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”(NLT)

Let’s be clear, I am an absolute fan of THE Dallas Cowboys.  Now, I’m not sure who your team is; however, this year is one of our better years and I cannot lie, I am beyond happy about that.

Our current record is 8 – 1.  This is (as of this typing) the best record in all the NFL.  How do the Boys account for this success?  Ironically, it’s because of 2 rookies of all things.  Sure it takes a team; however, no one can deny the awesome contributions of our rookie running back, Ezekiel Elliot and our rookie quarterback, Dak Prescott. 

While the departure of the record breaking running back, DeMarcco Murray to the Eagles in 2015, left a wide open job for Elliot; the job opening for Prescott was a bit different. 

On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2015 our quarterback, Tony Romo sustained an injury to his collar bone while playing against the then undefeated Carolina Panthers.  This injury would plague him for the remainder of the season, and even into the next. 

However, on yet another tough Thursday, (August 25, 2016 to be exact) Romo sustained another injury.  This time to his back during a preseason game against the Seahawks.  This painfully occurred after he had already missed an unprecedented 12 games in 2015.  This injury was devastating considering the fact that he had already undergone multiple back surgeries during his 14-year career; however, it undeniably gave Prescott a rookie’s opportunity of a lifetime. 

From the moment he called his first snap, Prescott appeared to be all but a natural.  His chemistry with Cole Beasley, a healing Dez Bryant, Romo’s Jason Witten, and fellow rookie Elliot was superb.  This young man gave Cowboy fans dreams of playoff contention, and even Super Bowl hope. 

Instantly, the talk of the town, he was lauded with praise, while Romo continued his healing.  As he obtained victory after victory, fans considered the thought of the 36 year old QB coming back to his starting position, and immediately uproar ensued.  In fact, even I was a part of this dialogue. This continued all the way until Sunday, November 13, 2016 when Jerry Jones ended the suspense, and announced that Tony Romo would serve as backup QB to the rookie Dak Prescott.  

While the fans were joyous, a moment of empathy was in order.  Consider this.  A future Hall-of-Famer, poised with the best offensive line he’s ever stood behind, will now have to sit as a rookie would and watch the starter as a rookie should.

How would you feel?  How would this impact you personally?  Well, if you asked Tony Romo, he’d leave no room for imagination.  On Tuesday, November 15, 2016 he held a brief press conference, during which he offered some of the most sincere words I’ve ever heard.  Here are a few excerpts from his statement via ESPN: 

“To say the first half of the season has been emotional would be a huge understatement. Getting hurt when you feel like you have the best team you’ve ever had was a soul crushing moment for me…

But then here you are sidelined without any real ability to help your teammates win on the field. That’s when you’re forced to come face to face with what’s happened. Seasons are fleeting… Chances for success diminish. Your potential successor has arrived, injured two years in a row and now in the mid-30s, the press is whispering, everyone has doubts…

Coaches are sympathetic, but they still have to coach and you’re not there. It’s a dark place. Probably the darkest it’s ever been. You’re sad and down and out and you ask yourself why did this have to happen.

IT’S IN THIS MOMENT YOU FIND OUT WHO YOU REALLY ARE AND WHAT YOU’RE REALLY ABOUT… 

You see football is a meritocracy…  You earn everything every single day... That’s the way… that football works. [And] a great example of this is Dak Prescott…  He’s earned the right to be our quarterback. As hard as that is for me to say, he’s earned that right. He’s guided our team to an 8-1 record, and that’s hard to do. If you think for a second that I don’t want to be out there, then you’ve probably never felt the pure ecstasy of competing and winning. That hasn’t left me. In fact it may burn more now than ever. 

It’s not always easy to watch. I think anybody who’s been in this position understands that. But what is clear is that I was that kid once, stepping in, having to prove yourself… And if I remember one thing from back then, it’s the people that helped me along when I was young… I'm not going to allow this situation to negatively affect Dak or this football team… I think Dak knows that I have his back. And I think I know that he has mine. Ultimately, it's about the team. It's what we've preached our entire lives.”

As he stepped away from the podium, I could tell that he was deflated and defeated.  He was (in his own words) down and out.  However, to me, I’ve never seen anyone bigger than him at that moment in time.  I’ve seen people cry at the podium and curse at the podium.  I’ve seen them angry, resentful, arrogant, proud, mean, and condescending.  But as I watched Tony Romo, I saw a man who was massive.  He was an example. 

Fact:  life will happen to us all.  You win some and you lose some; however, the definition of a man isn’t how he reacts to victory; rather, it’s about how he responds to defeat. 

I love the talent of Dak Prescott; however, I am in awe of the humility of Tony Romo.  He may feel down and out; however, when if I were to see him, I’d say (in the words of KD), “Tony, you’re the real MVP.” 

Your thoughts?  Inspired?  Upset?  Agree?  Disagree?  Let me know below.  Peace and love family.

Imperfectly,

Kevin D. Jones, Sr.
@kevindjonessr

​The full Tony Romo statement can be found at http://proxy.espn.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post?id=4755730&full-transcript-of-tony-romos-statement