On the same day it was reported that Tony Romo will miss the Dallas Cowboys' organized team activities because of a minor procedure to remove a cyst from his back, Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning gave his thoughts on Jerry Jones saying Romo will be putting in "Peyton Manning-type time on the job."
"I guess I would take that as a flattering comment. It's not really for me to weigh in on what's going on there [in Dallas]," Manning told USA Today on Tuesday. "But I have always thought a quarterback has to put in time on the cerebral side of the game because there's much more to it [than] just the physical side of it."
The Cowboys owner and general manager made that comment following this year's NFL Draft. Jones was explaining to reporters at the team's Valley Ranch practice facility that Romo's six-year, $108 million contract extension included Romo spending an increased amount of time assisting on the offensive game-planning during the season.
Manning didn't say if he is required to spend a certain number of hours around the Broncos' practice facility, something that seems unlikely.
"I don't think that I do any more than any quarterback should," Manning said. "I get asked, ‘How much film do you watch?' I've never logged hours. I've always watched enough to get myself ready to play.
"The cerebral part of the game has always been something where I had to get my edge. I really study the opponent, study myself, study my own players, my own routes."
Jones has said on several occasions that Romo's increased involvement doesn't mean that Romo wasn't around enough in the past. Jones envisions Romo's current and future involvement as a bonus.
"Anybody will tell you that Peyton Manning's involvement in what they do is a bonus as opposed to what the general commitment is of top quarterbacks in the NFL," Jones said. "That's a bonus. Again, because I haven't been in meetings with Peyton for a long time, but we're committed and [Romo's] committed to that type of in-season and offseason approach for these years under his contract."
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