The recent loss by the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs has once again ignited a controversy over the starting QB's relationship with his high-profile celebrity girlfriend, Jessica Simpson. Items to be discussed in the article:
1. The lightening rod Simpson became earlier this year when Romo performed poorly while Simpson was shown to be at the game, watching from the stands.
2. The vacation weekend in Mexico Romo took with Simpson and others on the team.
3. Did Simpson's agents/handlers tip off the papparazzi as to where the couple was going?
4. The anger of many Dallas fans over hearing of the weekend vacation
Should Dallas QB Tony Romo Ditch Jessica Simpson?
by Brian Cates
Well the Dallas Cowboy's 2007 NFL season came to an abrupt halt this past Sunday at Texas Statium in Arlington. In a close, bitterly fought loss to a team it had beaten twice earlier this year, the Cowboys were eliminated by the New York Giants by a final score of 21-17.
What hasn't ended is the furor among many Cowboy fans regarding their team's star quarterback's weekend getaway with celebrity girlfriend Jessica Simpson. Realistic or not, many Dallas fans seem to feel that if Romo was frolicking with blonde starlet on Mexican beaches the weekend before The Big Game, he must not have been doing all that he could to prepare for playing in that Big Game.
Earlier this season, with cameras repeatedly zeroing in on Ms. Simpson seated in the stands wearing a bright pink Romo jersey, the Cowboy's QB seemed to lose his magic, having one of his worst days as a pro in an ugly 10-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Feeling that somehow his celebrity girlfriend had jinxed the team, many Cowboy fans vented on message boards, on-line forums and radio talk shows that Romo needed to cease trying to be a celebrity off the field by dating high profile starlets and instead focus on football.
Having led the team to a 13-3 record, the NFC's #1 seed ranking and therefore home field advantage throughout the playoffs, Romo must have felt once the regular season ended fans would calm down about his relationship with the pop singer.
He quickly found out just how wrong he was.
After Cowboys' coach Wade Phillips gave the entire team the weekend off and told them to 'get off their feet' and 'get away from football', Romo and several teammates decided to do exactly that by flying down to Mexico for a weekend getaway at Cabo San Lucas.
All together it was quite a group. Romo brought Simpson, her parents, teammate Jason Witten and his wife, teammate Bobby Carpenter and his girlfriend, and several others with him to Mexico.
The only problem was that by the time the entourage arrived at the resort the papaprazzi were ready and waiting for them. Within hours the photos of Romo & Co. were winging their way across the world via the internet.
Fair or not, many Cowboy fans reacted negatively to the idea of their QB lounging at a vacation resort with Simpson. All week long in the buildup to the game against the Giants Romo and his teammates had to field questions about the 'Mexican Adventure'.
It became a huge distraction for the team, and once the game was lost, a focus of intense criticism by hugely disapointed and angry fans.
Suspicion as to who tipped off the paparazzi and led to the entire fiasco is pointing towards Simpson's own celebrity handlers. Romo and his teammates certainly didn't tip anyone off. The only people in the group who regularly have dealings with paparazzi is the Simpson family.
And it must be remembered that unlike previous years when celebrities really did want to be left alone, today we have celebrities like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Simpson herself, where a large part of their celebrity is based not on movies or films that they make but instead on being seen in public with other famous people.
Facing rabid criticism of his vacation in Mexico after that tough playoff loss, Romo looked like a deer caught in the headlights. If it does find out it was Jessica's own people that blew the whistle on their Mexican getaway, then it's Romo that needs to get away from Jessica...fast!
The last thing the star QB of "America's Team" needs next season is to be attached to a celebrity-starved girlfriend who will air his private life in public when she feels the need for some attention.
