Padawan Romo leads Cowboys to 20-8 win over Giants

I get a kick out of Bob and Dan -noonday hosts on Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket- referring to Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo as a “Jedi.” They’re obviously comparing Romo to characters in Star Wars mythology with extraordinary powers, super abilities, and keen senses. There’s no doubt that Romo has shown those traits dropping back in the Cowboys’ pocket a alluding rushers -not so much against the Giants.

But as Bob and Dan have further built on their Jedi analogy, it has never really set well with me. I mean before Sunday night’s 20-8 victory over the Giants, Romo was 4-6 in December (granted he only played like a quarter last December against Washington) and 0-2 in the playoffs.

He also had more interceptions than touchdowns, the only month where his touchdown/interception ratio is out of whack. Jedi sounded like pretty high praise for a guy with those stats.

Bob is a Star Wars geek like myself, and he must be relying on Old Trilogy/Luke Skywalker jedi definitions rather than the new prequel version of the fabled order. Many of us remember when Luke Skywalker went to Dagobah (serious jedi nerd cred if you know what Dagobah is) to visit Master Yoda to be trained as a jedi.

Luke came out balancing on one hand, lifting R2-D2 off the ground, and doing all sorts of aerial acrobatics. He became a jedi of sorts, but still got his butt kicked and hand chopped off by his old man.

In the new movies we found out that there are different levels of jedi. There are younglings, padawans, jedi nights, jedi masters and jedi council members. Padawan learners had to hang with their teacher -a jedi knight or master- until they completed the trials and were ready to go out on their own. Padawan Romo has done a lot of great things, but he’s not a jedi master, or even a knight, yet.

So in the spirit of fellowship with Bob and Dan, I’ll share with them why their homie Romo is a jedi, but far from completing his training.

Youngling

These are young, green quarterback who have shown some promise on the football field. The force is strong with them but they haven’t done much outside of win a few games and throw a few touchdowns. They have to lead their team to the playoffs to become a padawan.

Example: Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan

Padawan

Padawans have mastered the skill of winning, especially against lesser teams. They have learned to come from behind in the fourth quarter and aspire to win a playoff game. They cannot become a Jedi Night unless they “go through the trials” which only occur in December and January.

Example: Tony Romo

Jedi Knight

Jedi Knights have mastered the regular season, and only their playoff performance really counts. They are able to win a playoff game, at home or on the road, and may even get their team to the Super Bowl. But what separates a Jedi Knight from a Jedi Master is the ability to carry his team to a Super Bowl victory.

Example: Donovan McNabb, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Garcia

Jedi Master

A Jedi Master has…well…mastered the regular season and the playoffs and has been able to attain that most illusive of prizes: The Lombardi Trophy. You no longer ask whether or not a Jedi Master can “win the big one” because he has a Super Bowl ring to prove that he can.

Example: Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Doug Williams

Jedi Council Member

The Jedi Council is reserved for only the most accomplished of quarterback, those who have won multiple Super Bowls. Their ticket to Canton and the NFL Hall of Fame is punched. Their greatness is not debatable.

Example: Troy Aikman, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, John Elway

So after this exercise, I no longer have to bristle when Bob and Dan refer to Tony Romo as a jedi. He is. He just hasn’t completed his training. So great win on Sunday night Padawan Romo. As December and January roll along, may the force be with you.