Phil Sheridan, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Tony Romo's Super Bowl talk good for Eagles

PHILADELPHIA -- Philadelphia Eagles fans should be grateful to Tony Romo, even if it doesn't come naturally to them.

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback did the Eagles a favor this week by declaring that, "We're going to win a Super Bowl next year." Romo was accepting an award -- the Nancy Lieberman Lifetime Achievement Award, to be exact -- at a banquet and closed his 10-minute speech with that promise.

Those things don't tend to end well for the speaker. I can still remember Buddy Ryan taking the microphone after a training camp practice at West Chester University and telling the assembled fans that the Eagles would sweep their division games that year. They went on to go 1-6-1 against NFC East opponents and 5-10-1 overall.

More recently, Vince Young made the 2011 preseason observation that the Eagles had assembled a "dream team" with big free-agency moves. The dream team woke up and went 8-8.

Of course, Romo said the Cowboys would win "a Super Bowl." He didn't necessarily say they would win the Super Bowl that will be played in Santa Clara, Calif.

It is understandable that Romo would be feeling optimistic. After finishing with an 8-8 record in what felt like 20 consecutive seasons (but was really four), Dallas broke out with a 12-4 record and the NFC East title in 2014. Romo got to play behind a young, dominating offensive line that figures to be together for a while. He almost brought his team back for a playoff victory at Green Bay.

There was plenty to feel good about. But so far this offseason, the Cowboys have lost leading rusher DeMarco Murray (to the Eagles, no less) and they have signed free-agent defensive end Greg Hardy. Just days after the NFL ruled that Hardy will be suspended for the first 10 games of the season, he was reportedly involved in an altercation with new teammate Davon Coleman.

That doesn't exactly bode well for championship team building.

Hey, it's understandable. Romo turned 35 this week and has a history of back trouble. He is clearly in the twilight of his career. He might as well shoot for the Super Bowl now. Who knows how many chances he'll have after this?

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