IRVING, Texas -- Tony Romo continues to say that he'll play in the NFL for another five to six years.
The Dallas Cowboys franchise quarterback has started 108 games in his career. If he remained healthy enough to start for six more seasons, he'd add another 96 to that total.
"I think I'm going to play for a lot longer," Romo said Tuesday.
While he's been consistent over the last three seasons, averaging 30 touchdown passes to 13 interceptions, that's a very optimistic outlook considering he's had two back surgeries over the previous 13 months.
"I don't go out to do anything other than to get myself healthy and play the best football that I can, and leave everything I can on the field," Romo said. "When I'm done with the Dallas Cowboys, I promise I will have left my entire body with that team. That's the way you want it to be. That's why you chase after, you're so committed to what you're doing, it's important."
And that's good news for Jerry Jones, the Cowboys owner and general manager who gave the 34-year-old a six-year, $108 million contract extension 14 months ago.
Jones has not wavered in his support for Romo. He continually says the three-time Pro Bowler is the biggest reason why he's optimistic that the Cowboys can get back to the Super Bowl.
Romo explained Tuesday why he thinks Jones is so confident in him.
"I think part of that is based on your play," Romo said. "There is no whimsical attitude around this place. If a player performs at a level, the coaching staff is going to play him. If a kid is not playing as well, you're going to get less reps. You'll play less.
"Everyone on this football team knows jobs aren't handed out, they are given to the guys who are playing the best. I think more than anything, the organization sees the tape, they look at everything and they assess what they're going to do going forward. Every position has a battle.
"You go out there and compete your butt off. The guys who have been here the longest have been playing at the highest level the longest. That's part of why I think you see a guy like Jason Witten or myself who have been able to continue to play."
