SportsSpeak

This week on ESPN, former quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski has been rating the current NFL quarterbacks.  Earlier in the week, he was discussing Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo.  Jaworksi's biggest complaint about Romo was that he seemingly makes too many mistakes in important situations.

When discussing this and showing replays to explain what he means, Jaworski noted that in several of the instances it was the fault of other plays, but added about Romo, "You just can't make mistakes. No matter who's fault it is."

Well...y'know...if it's not your fault -- you DIDN'T make a freaking mistake!!! 

If you do everything right.  If you call the right play.  If you get the pass off in time.  If you throw the ball exactly where you're supposed to, and it's right on the money -- and at the last second the receiver turns the wrong way, so he's not there to catch the ball, and it falls into the hands of a surprised defender...you didn't make a mistake, and you can't be faulted for it.  And for Jaworski to criticize Romo -- anyone -- for what he acknowledges are other people's mistakes is just wrongheaded.  Saying, "You just can't make mistakes.  No matter who's fault it is," might sound wise and all-knowing.  But when you step back and look at it, it's idiotic.

As a team -- yes -- you can fault "the team."  It doesn't matter who's fault it is, the team needs to be better focused, so pointing individual fingers is meaningless.  Every part of the team has to work together.  But this wasn't about "the team."  It was about one guy.

Sometimes, sports macho talk is nothing more than swaggering.  No matter who's fault it is...