Romo on HOF play time: 'We'll do whatever coach wants'

Published Jul. 30, 2013 10:11 a.m. ET

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OXNARD, Calif. – Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's status for Sunday's Hall of Fame Game against the Miami Dolphins has become "the controversy that isn't,'' a simple and standard preseason play-time decision being portrayed as something vastly different.

On Friday, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett told FOXSportsSouthwest.com, "It's one of those deals where I suppose he could play five plays or whatever, but we might lean to no plays. But the clock starts on our '1's' (first-teamers) in Week 2 of the preseason. So that's not going to be Tony's game.''

On Saturday, deluged with questions about the "decision,'' Garrett truthfully said no "official decision'' had been made.

On Monday, Romo himself addressed the issue, saying, "I want to play every time I suit up. Every time I step out there … your juices are flowing and you want to compete. But, we'll do whatever Coach wants. That's part of being a team.''

Romo underwent offseason cyst surgery on his back but the Cowboys say that's not a factor in this decision.

Romo also mirrored his coach's view of the possibility of making a token appearance, something that is standard for starting QBs in this "extra'' (fifth) preseason game. In the last four Hall of Fame Games, all eight starters have made appearances.

"If I did play, it would (just) be a series, (so) whether you went eight plays or three plays, I'm not sure how much that is going to affect that," Romo said.

And that's why it's "the controversy that isn't.''