NFL teams
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer 11y

Tony Romo back on field, feels good

NFL, Dallas Cowboys

OXNARD, Calif. -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was able to practice Sunday for the first time since undergoing a surgical procedure to remove a cyst in his back in April.

"I don't know that you can ever duplicate six months of working and getting ready in a month and a half," Romo said. "In saying that, I'm definitely as far along as I possibly could be at this point. I've done everything I could to get in this position."

Romo worked out in Southern California for about two weeks prior to training camp, running mountains and adjusting his diet in order to be more ready for Sunday's opening practice.

"It just got me where I needed to be and you just mentally get right into it focused and get after it," Romo said. "When we broke [minicamp in June], my objective was to have my offseason over this last month and a half. I worked as hard as I could and I took that approach every day I woke up that I just had to improve a lot each day, and I think that helped me get ready for today and hopefully for the beginning of the season."

Romo, who signed a six-year, $108 million extension in the offseason, said he expected some soreness in his back that will require monitoring but nothing out of the ordinary. The Cowboys will monitor his throwing to make sure he does not do too much too soon, but Romo said he "threw quite a bit" in the last six weeks on his own.

"I always felt like I used to throw through college up through the NFL for a long time. I used to throw between 300 and 345 days a year because I always felt like you couldn't duplicate those days you missed," Romo said. "Every day I missed I felt like I needed seven straight days to get that day back. I don't know that you can ever get that day back. [But] I did everything I could to get myself ready to go and to help this football team take the next step, and we're committed to doing that."

Coach Jason Garrett praised Romo, 33, for his conditioning. While he is listed at 236 pounds on the team's roster, Romo said he is at the same weight he has been the last few years, between 227-230 pounds.

"You're always looking to be in great shape," Romo said.

More than anything, he was just happy to be back on the field again.

"I feel good," Romo said. "I've been throwing. I've been running, doing all that stuff. I was excited about getting out here. Honestly just the smell of the grass, just being out on the football field is a great feeling. You never want to take that for granted. It can end at any moment. I'm just glad I was able to come back and get out here and get to play the game I love."

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