Romo coaching 12 year olds... Already facing an "incident"

[Taco John]

Whether linebacker or youth coach, he's in people's faces
Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Bad-boy linebacker Bill Romanowski made his return to Bay Area football this fall as coach of his 12-year-old son's flag football team -- but only two games into the season, an on-field confrontation with a youngster on an opposing team has put the former 49er and Raider's job at risk.

The question is -- is he getting a bum rap because of his rep?

Romanowski, 40, who retired from the NFL in 2004, got into it last week with a seventh-grader from Lafayette who he felt was playing dirty against his Piedmont Highlanders, according to several people who were watching the game at a Lafayette middle school.

Romanowski's verbal outburst has prompted the Piedmont Recreation Department to reconsider whether it wants him to continue at the helm of its top-flight entry in a seventh-grade recreation league that plays mostly in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

"I'm very concerned, and we are dealing with it,'' said Mark Delventhal, director of the rec department.

Piedmont officials knew what they were getting when Romanowski volunteered to coach the Highlanders. On the one hand, they were getting a 16-year pro football veteran who, during his time with the Raiders, 49ers, Denver Broncos and Philadelphia Eagles, earned four Super Bowl rings, made two Pro Bowls and appeared in 243 consecutive NFL games.

On the other hand, they were getting a longtime advocate of nutritional supplements who once tested positive for "the clear," an anabolic steroid allegedly provided to elite athletes by Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or BALCO, of Burlingame. Company founder Victor Conte once allegedly told authorities that Romanowski was the first person to whom he distributed performance-enhancing drugs.

In 2003, as his playing days were winding down, Romanowski slugged Raiders teammate Marcus Williams during a practice, leaving the reserve tight end with a broken eye socket and blurry vision. Romanowski wound up paying $415,000 to settle Williams' lawsuit over the injury.

It was the last in a long line of inflammatory episodes, the most notorious of which may have been the time Romanowski spit in the face of 49ers wide receiver J.J. Stokes during a 1997 game.

But the seventh-graders on the Piedmont team were excited about having a real NFL pro coach them, and the Recreation Department bosses got calls from half a dozen parents in support of Romanowski. That was enough to persuade them to assign him to his son's team.

Which brings us to Thursday, when the Highlanders traveled through the Caldecott Tunnel to face a team at Lafayette's Stanley Middle School.

Witnesses say both sides were playing rough, and that Romanowski complained at halftime to the Lafayette team's coach.

Late in the game, one of the Lafayette kids tripped a Piedmont player -- or so it apparently seemed to Romanowski. People who were there say Coach Romo got in the face of the Lafayette seventh-grader, accusing him of playing dirty.

"That's cheating, and you can't win by cheating,'' Romanowski told the boy, according to the mom of one of the Piedmont players.

"It felt inappropriate -- but not scarily inappropriate,'' said the mom, who didn't want to be quoted by named. Another parent called it "bad coach behavior" but nothing way over the line.

Romanowski defended his conduct, saying he first became alarmed when his kids came off the field at halftime "with scratches on their necks, some bleeding, some bruised, and with cuts and scrapes -- every one of them.''

He said they had complained that a Lafayette player was responsible "and nothing is being done.''

So Romanowski said he had marched over to the Lafayette coach, who was huddled with his team, and let him know that "I would appreciate it if you would do something with your guy. ... Let's keep the game clean and within the rules.''

Then, late in the game, the same Lafayette player "leg whipped'' one of his players, who went down, Romanowski said. He went onto the field to check on his crying player, he said, then "walked over to the (Lafayette) boy and said, 'Buddy, I warned your coach at halftime this kind of stuff doesn't belong out here. You hurt my kid.' ''

Piedmont assistant coach Jason Curliano backed up Romanowski's version of events, saying Romanowski had even warned his own players earlier that if they retaliated, "you are not playing for the team.''

Curliano said Romanowski even hung around after the game, signing autographs for the Lafayette players.

But Adam Perry, the athletic director at Stanley Middle School, says his coach complained that Romanowski had charged onto the field against league rules. Perry fired off an e-mail to Piedmont officials letting them know that Romanowski would be barred from the field when the two teams meet again in Lafayette on Oct. 19.

"He should have known better -- he's played all his life,'' Perry said. "Coaches should be under control and shouldn't be coming on the field."

The matter is now in the hands of Piedmont rec boss Delventhal, who said he planned to have a sit-down with Romanowski this morning to talk about the Lafayette episode and his future.

Delventhal declined to get into specifics, calling it a personnel matter.

Incidentally, there were no video cameras filming Thursday's action -- no doubt if there had been, the footage would have shown up on the Internet by now.

"But you can be sure next time there will be 30 parents with video cameras,'' Perry said.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/27/BAGT3LDI2D1.DTL&hw=romanowski&sn=001&sc=1000

[-Slap-]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9503/picture218nt8.jpg

Romo and Kerry Collins in an exhibition game.

[Atlas]

Romo can coach my kid any day of the week!!!

[Atlas]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9503/picture218nt8.jpg

Romo and Kerry Collins in an exhibition game.


That was a great hit. Even Collins said it was legal

[Clockwork Orange]

Then, late in the game, the same Lafayette player "leg whipped'' one of his players, who went down, Romanowski said. He went onto the field to check on his crying player, he said, then "walked over to the (Lafayette) boy and said, 'Buddy, I warned your coach at halftime this kind of stuff doesn't belong out here. You hurt my kid.'

Yeah, that leg whipping crap has no place on the field. Now if you want to break his jaw with a helmet to helmet hit, spit in his face or rip off his helmet and crush his orbital bone, that's all just part of the game.

You tell 'em, Romo.

[Taco John]

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9503/picture218nt8.jpg

Romo and Kerry Collins in an exhibition game.



I never thought of that as a cheap shot...

[-Slap-]

Romonowski viciously assaulted a teammate in an incident that would have landed just about anyone except a pro athlete in prison for a couple years. He was deeply involved in the BALCO steroid mess. Two reasons he has no business coaching youngsters.

This is an accident waiting to happen. How soon before some knucklehead opposing coach or parent goes out of their way to deliberately antagonize this big galoot?

[2KBack]

Yeah, that leg whipping crap has no place on the field. Now if you want to break his jaw with a helmet to helmet hit, spit in his face or rip off his helmet and crush his orbital bone, that's all just part of the game.

You tell 'em, Romo.

I don't care what he did as a player, he is still right. If a kid wants to play dirty, he needs to be playing tackle.

[Clockwork Orange]

I don't care what he did as a player, he is still right. If a kid wants to play dirty, he needs to be playing tackle.

And if he wants to learn how to really play dirty, he should be playing for Romo. He can show him the proper technique for snapping a guy's arm like he did to Shannon Sharpe.

[-Slap-]

Reminds me of a game I went to with a friend of mine who's no longer with us. He started the "Give Bill One More Pill" chant in our section. Didn't really catch on, but we laughed about it for years.

[-Slap-]

Okay, I'll pose the obvious question: what the hell is any son of Bill Romanowski doing playing f(l)ag football anyway?

[Taco John]

Okay, I'll pose the obvious question: what the hell is any son of Bill Romanowski doing playing f(l)ag football anyway?



I've never heard of tackle leagues any younger than 8th grade.

[2KBack]

And if he wants to learn how to really play dirty, he should be playing for Romo. He can show him the proper technique for snapping a guy's arm like he did to Shannon Sharpe.

I'm not defending any of his questionable tactics as a player. Are you saying that since he may have been a dirty player as a professional it's okay for seventh grade kids to use dirty and dangerous tactics against his kids? From the sound of the article Romo was in the right, his past has no bearing on that what so ever. If it was any other person, it wouldn't even be a story, just a coach defending his players.

[2KBack]

I've never heard of tackle leagues any younger than 8th grade.

I played tackle football in seventh grade, Good old Gunther airforce base in Alabama.

[Clockwork Orange]

I'm not defending any of his questionable tactics as a player. Are you saying that since he may have been a dirty player as a professional it's okay for seventh grade kids to use dirty and dangerous tactics against his kids? From the sound of the article Romo was in the right, his past has no bearing on that what so ever. If it was any other person, it wouldn't even be a story, just a coach defending his players.

If it were any other person, they might have the credibility to be preaching the merits of clean and fair play.

What's next? Is he gonna bring in Conrad Dobler to preach the merits of good sportsmanship?

[broncocalijohn]

That other team should see Romo's team on the 19th. THey will all be 10 pounds heavier in muscle. He wont play "dirty" just bigger.

[2KBack]

If it were any other person, they might have the credibility to be preaching the merits of clean and fair play.

What's next? Is he gonna bring in Conrad Dobler to preach the merits of good sportsmanship?

Those that can't do...teach.

I guess I just give him the benifit of the doubt as being a human being. I mean these are kids, I certainly doubt he is teaching foam at the mouth win at all costs intensity. Romo was definitly borderline with his intensity, but he isn't evil. Hell, if butkus was coaching a youth league I doubt anyone would blink twice, but he did just as many crazy things on the field (stomping on guys, biting, hitting to cause injury).

Now the steriods thing I can't defend, that one would be hard to explain in any positive light.

[-Slap-]

I've never heard of tackle leagues any younger than 8th grade.

Pop Warner Football leagues throughout the country have Mighty Mite divisions that start at seven years old.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9125/dsc07538oh4.jpg

[-Slap-]

If it were any other person, they might have the credibility to be preaching the merits of clean and fair play.

What's next? Is he gonna bring in Conrad Dobler to preach the merits of good sportsmanship?

Connie would definitely send those kids home with expanded vocabularies.

[Taco John]

Pop Warner Football leagues throughout the country have Mighty Mite divisions that start at seven years old.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9125/dsc07538oh4.jpg




Shows what I know... I'm new at this Dad thing.

[ClevelandBronco]

I've never heard of tackle leagues any younger than 8th grade.

My son was in a full pad tackle league at 7 and 8 years old. I was an assistant coach for the team for those years. Several incidents involving a misplaced "will to win" convinced me that I needed to get myself and my kid out.

1. The head coach regularly brought these children to tears by questioning their hearts and minds at a very loud volume.

2. I saw my kid's knee bend backwards about 10 degrees in a hitting drill. Every adult present was in awe that he got up. We all looked at each other in horror when it happened. Every one of us was sure that we would have to get him to a doctor immediately.

3. There were incidents of having to separate angry parents from the coach who was berating their kids on the field. He wasn't teaching them football. That happens during practice. He was just abusing them for not caring as much as he did.

4. Another assistant coach on our team was from West Texas. You'd have to know West Texas football to understand, but I swear that his 8-year-old kid knew more about football than I ever will. Before our first playoff game that season, he gathered these kids around him in one of those jumping and chanting full-team huddle arrangements, and as he slapped each kid on the head and grabbed their face masks to lift their gaze to him, he screamed, "Today is all about inflicting pain!" (I was naive enough to think that it was all about remembering how to play a game as a team.) True story: That coach's kid broke his leg and didn't take himself out of the game. He got up and hopped on one leg over to the line of scrimmage while his father shouted, "Get Up! Suck it up!" to the kid. Fortunately, the ref stopped the game so the kid could be checked and carried off the field. He showed up at the end-of-season party that night in a cast.

I'm not saying that there weren't great moments that my son and I got to share. There were. In another hitting drill, he was paired against the biggest kid on the team. My son, who was the shortest kid on the team (though he's built like a fireplug), laid the big kid out, just by getting low and running through the big guy. As coaches, we all raved about it as the ideal example of how technique could beat size and strength. My son still recalls that hit and its aftermath fondly. I think it might just stick with him for the rest of his life.

These days my son runs middle distance and plays rec-league inline hockey.

PeeWee football? It's insane out there. Too many guys trying to relive (or worse yet, redefine) their own youths through their sons. I'll pass.

[Northman]

"That's cheating, and you can't win by cheating,'' Romanowski told the boy, according to the mom of one of the Piedmont players.


BEST QUOTE EVER! lol!

[-Slap-]

Nice post, Cleveland. Parents are the worst thing about youth sports. A couple adults who just don't get it can ruin things for everybody else.

[Arkansas Bronco]

I've never heard of tackle leagues any younger than 8th grade.

I started in 4rth grade.

[Mediator12]

Alright, finally an attempt to defend my adopt a bronco!

Romo was one of the Only guys I know who could actually "flip the Switch" on the playing field. He was as close to dirty as he could be. He crossed the line Several times and at least he admitted it instead of being a hypocrite. There are several ex-broncos you should not approach in public because they will ream your ass for trying to talk to them, and Romo is not one of them.

The reason I defend him is I have broken bread with the man several times and he was one of the most courteous and generous Pro Athlete's I have ever met. He has given me a lot of Idea's on how to improve peak performance in athletes WITHOUT using steroids and other illegal substances. He tried everything to see how much it would help him and in the end he realized how several horrible choices ruined his public perception and even risked his families welfare.

Romo was not perfect, but he aspired to be the best no matter what. I can respect that, and not admire his methods at the same time. He knows better than anyone here how he screwed up. He is now using his persona to admonish High school athletes to stay away from Performance enhancing drugs and just take better care of their bodies in healthy non-illegal ways. I have just about convinced him to come to Indiana and do a few FREE public service announcements to the IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) and NCAA. I believe he will do the right thing when his schedule clears.

[bendog]

He was a dirty player who disgraced the bronco uniform. He should have been let go the year he spit on Stokes. Once that happened, fans around the country saw Den as just another a-hole team that had success, like Dullass. He just got lucky Elway was there to keep the black guys on the team from turning on him, and tearing the team apart. A lot of guys have used drugs, a lot of guys played dirty. Personally, I didn't see Robo's antics as over the line until the spitting. I think he tried to take out sharpe. He got into Gonzo's head, and cheap shotted him, but from what I saw none of it was just to take the guy out.

Still, I don't really see what he did wrong in the article. The opposing player's coach seems to be the a-hole who should be banned.

[B-Love]

After reading the link info, Romanowski did NOTHING wrong here.

And for the coach of the other team to complain that coaches aren't allowed on the field, that is total crap.

In youth football, coaches are on the field with players regularly. Romanowski did nothing wrong here.

[freak6]

Good for Romo, I coach, and it's a blast. I am walk on the field when I want. I don't see what's wrong with that.

[scorpio]

Good for Romo, I coach, and it's a blast. I am walk on the field when I want. I don't see what's wrong with that.

Does your partner approve?

[bendog]

Does your partner approve?

WTF cares?

[heydensmom]

Great post Cleveland. I've seen the same thing over and over. We recently moved to a new town....from a high performance football town. Last year age 8 he was playing in helmets, pads and flags, this year he would have played in full tackle gear. Even in just helmet and pads, coaches were intense, they lost focus of what it was about. Teaching these young boys how to play and most importantly having FUN! This year Hayden is back into flag, and thus far (we've only had 3 or 4 pratices, the coach is teaching the boys what they should be doing at each position. And yet we still have the very intese parent who from the sideline is yelling at his kid. I think today I may tell him to STFU and let his kid have fun. That his kid doesn't have to be the fastest, the most talented, the kid always getting the ball....his son needs to enjoy the game and have fun.

[GonzoLays]

I started in 4rth grade.

We can tell.

[Rascal]

Coaches shouldn't go onto the field? Since when?

Sounds like Romo was trying to protect his kids and a Lafayette was a dirty player.

Good for Romo.

[Rascal]

Okay, I'll pose the obvious question: what the hell is any son of Bill Romanowski doing playing f(l)ag football anyway?

I think it's a good idea. I started playing way to young and suffered a lot of injuries that frankly were unneccessary. Having that much physical contact at a young age is not a good idea IMO. I'd rather have my kid play basketball, baseball, or even soccer then having them tackle football at a young age.

[bronco militia]

I've never heard of tackle leagues any younger than 8th grade.

maybe you're confused with 8th grade vs. 8 years old?

tackle football in colorado springs starts at 8 years and up

[PLOWHORSE]

The pot is calling the kettle as we speak!:spit:

[-Slap-]

I think it's a good idea. I started playing way to young and suffered a lot of injuries that frankly were unneccessary. Having that much physical contact at a young age is not a good idea IMO. I'd rather have my kid play basketball, baseball, or even soccer then having them tackle football at a young age.

At that age, with all that padding, they're really not able to do any harm to each other.

When you see them running downfield with these giant helmets bobbling up and down on their heads it reminds me of Marky Mark in Invincable.

[B-Love]

These are my ESM Broncos that I helped coach for 3 years. 1/3rd of the kids in this photo are 6 years old. There are even some parents that asked if their kids could start playing at the age of 5.

They start alot younger than most think.

[Traveler]

This just gives me another chance to say what I've said numerous times...Fcuk Romo!

[Taco John]

maybe you're confused with 8th grade vs. 8 years old?

tackle football in colorado springs starts at 8 years and up


I was just speaking from what I personally knew from Idaho... We didn't start tackle football until 8th grade. I guess I just ASSumed that it was like that everywhere.

[Mile High Shack]

I was just speaking from what I personally knew from Idaho... We didn't start tackle football until 8th grade. I guess I just ASSumed that it was like that everywhere.

IMO
8 years old is too early for tackle

kids can learn the basics with flag football until junior high 7th grade

[Rascal]

At that age, with all that padding, they're really not able to do any harm to each other.

When you see them running downfield with these giant helmets bobbling up and down on their heads it reminds me of Marky Mark in Invincable.

Not from my experience. Our QB was put in the hospital with a severe concussion in 8th grade. And I broke an opposing QB's collar bone in the 7th grade.

Of course I make Hulk Hogan look like the pansy ass he is. :strong:

Everytime I saw him running with that helmet I couldn't prevent myself from not laughin.

[alkemical]

I started in 4rth grade.

that might be too young ;)

[Rock Chalk]

I was 7 when I started my first little league football with tackling.

Never got hurt and as far as I can remember, no one in our league got hurt.

[B-Love]

IMO
8 years old is too early for tackle

kids can learn the basics with flag football until junior high 7th grade

http://www.liffl.com/youth.cfm

The NFL agrees. The NFL has formally issued reports stating they no longer support youth football with padding for kids below the age of 10.

Naysayers would tell you it is because the NFL wants to promote and profit off of their NFL flag leagues popping up everyone.

The Long Island Flag Football League is the largest organized flag league in the US and they were solicited by the NFL to join together to get Long Island's youth away from tackle and into flag ball.

[bendog]

So, maybe that was child abuse when my showed proper tackling, forearm and straight arm techinques by demonstrating them on me when I was like 4 or 5?

[PLOWHORSE]

I was 7 when I started my first little league football with tackling.

Never got hurt and as far as I can remember, no one in our league got hurt.

Ditto Alec..I did hurt my thumb recovering a fumble though!! Jammed it into the ground. Ouchy.ROFL!

[Orange_Beard]

Damm, Romo shoudda lit that kid up.
I would not let my kid go awaywhere around Romo.
I wounder if the parents of Romo's players let there kids "Sleep" over at Michael Jackson's house.

[loborugger]

My son was in a full pad tackle league at 7 and 8 years old. I was an assistant coach for the team for those years. Several incidents involving a misplaced "will to win" convinced me that I needed to get myself and my kid out.

1. The head coach regularly brought these children to tears by questioning their hearts and minds at a very loud volume.

2. I saw my kid's knee bend backwards about 10 degrees in a hitting drill. Every adult present was in awe that he got up. We all looked at each other in horror when it happened. Every one of us was sure that we would have to get him to a doctor immediately.

3. There were incidents of having to separate angry parents from the coach who was berating their kids on the field. He wasn't teaching them football. That happens during practice. He was just abusing them for not caring as much as he did.

4. Another assistant coach on our team was from West Texas. You'd have to know West Texas football to understand, but I swear that his 8-year-old kid knew more about football than I ever will. Before our first playoff game that season, he gathered these kids around him in one of those jumping and chanting full-team huddle arrangements, and as he slapped each kid on the head and grabbed their face masks to lift their gaze to him, he screamed, "Today is all about inflicting pain!" (I was naive enough to think that it was all about remembering how to play a game as a team.) True story: That coach's kid broke his leg and didn't take himself out of the game. He got up and hopped on one leg over to the line of scrimmage while his father shouted, "Get Up! Suck it up!" to the kid. Fortunately, the ref stopped the game so the kid could be checked and carried off the field. He showed up at the end-of-season party that night in a cast.

I'm not saying that there weren't great moments that my son and I got to share. There were. In another hitting drill, he was paired against the biggest kid on the team. My son, who was the shortest kid on the team (though he's built like a fireplug), laid the big kid out, just by getting low and running through the big guy. As coaches, we all raved about it as the ideal example of how technique could beat size and strength. My son still recalls that hit and its aftermath fondly. I think it might just stick with him for the rest of his life.

These days my son runs middle distance and plays rec-league inline hockey.

PeeWee football? It's insane out there. Too many guys trying to relive (or worse yet, redefine) their own youths through their sons. I'll pass.

Good stuff, Cleveland.

My son started playing a couple years back. He is in his 3rd year now - 11 years old. We started a new league this year, to get away from a bad situation. My son and his teammates were screamed at on a regular basis, one time being called "Pu$$ies" at vocal level only Marine DIs get to. He was 9 at the time.

Between my three children, they have played football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and swimming. And with a few rare and isolated cases, in every other sport its about teamwork, learning the game, having fun, and physical fitness.

In football, even at the age of 10, its all about winning. Its about families setting aside their falls to spend all their time watching their kid practice so after practice they can iron out wrinkles, its about having secret practices that violate the leagues rules on the # of practices you can have in a week. Its about parents and coaches taunting and humiliating the other kids in an attempt to "get in their head."

I have threatened to pull my son from football just to get him away from these headcases, but my son loves the game so much. So, I do my best to be the exact opposite. I dont yell, except occasional encouragement. I sit in a camping chair, instead of pacing the sideline, and I have absolutely no extra practice with him - I figure the 4 two hour practices he gets a week are enough.

After one game where the parents & coaches were exceptionally ill behaved, I looked at my wife and said, "If guys like TO and Romo were exposed to this kinda crap from the age of 10, its no wonder their values are so damn skewed." I have found my love of the game of football has taken a real hit after watching this crap for 3 years now.

[watermock]

And if he wants to learn how to really play dirty, he should be playing for Romo. He can show him the proper technique for snapping a guy's arm like he did to Shannon Sharpe.

I was so pissed after that play a few inanimate objects had to die. Anyone who didn't see that he broke his arm after the tackle was totally blind. Romo has no reason to be teaching 12 year old kids. None.

Maybe the opposing kid was playing bully. That's up to the refs to control, not the opposing coach.

What you do is at the half, ask your kids who was injured by a dirty player...then you just go to the ref with the kids at your side at the half.

You don't march into the other team's huddle on the other side of the field.

You handle it with the refs or just pull your kids off the field. You don't charge the opposite sideline. What a complete tool.

[freak6]

Does your partner approve?

Yes SHE does. See my profile.

Tick tock tick tock.

I am so hyped up for this weeks game. The blitz was hurting us last week on our tosses, but the playaction bootlegs killed the blitz. This week I am going with a dual shotgun. 2 QBs split behind the center in the "double barrell shotgun", the D has no idea which side we are running to, or passing to. The 2 QBs are like 4 yards apart, it looks like the center is hiking to no body.

[watermock]

I figure the 4 two hour practices he gets a week are enough.


You have to be kidding me. You can't possibly tell me they are working adolecent children 16 hours plus their game.

They should be having one hour practice 4 times a week. MAYBE one two hour practice after a poor performance. For Christ Sake, they are CHILDREN.

You get to 16 and above, when they at least have some body hair, you can push them a bit more, but still, they are growing. That is complete BS and I would like to take Romo and beat his head in with Barry Bonds bat.

[fido]

Romonowski viciously assaulted a teammate in an incident that would have landed just about anyone except a pro athlete in prison for a couple years. He was deeply involved in the BALCO steroid mess. Two reasons he has no business coaching youngsters.

This is an accident waiting to happen. How soon before some knucklehead opposing coach or parent goes out of their way to deliberately antagonize this big galoot?

absolutely correct, he has no business 'coaching' youngsters at all. remember that report and video of that parent that raced onto the field and nocked over the player on the other team.....i shudder to think what romo could do to a child learning to play football

[Jagrego]

Yeah, this is just a case were it would be easy to make trouble if the wrong busy-body is present. Romo is a good guy.

[Tredici]

I don't care who you are. If you think the correct way to handle any situation on the playing field is by an adult getting in the face of a 7th grader? No thanks.

If you want to get in the face of another adult, like the referee, and tell him he's not doing his job? Have at it.

Adults screaming at kids (especially those on a different team) isn't going to accomplish anything but escalating the situation. As the case in point.

[Los Broncos]

Why is Romo yelling at kids to not play dirty? Hilarious!

[watermock]

If Romo wants to yell at the refs that's fine.

He's an idiot. You don't rush the other team's huddle. You talk to the ref. Romo is a moron.

[bendog]

(in that quiet Clint Eastwood / psychopath voice he has)

Listen, kid, go tell your coach that if you leg whip another of my kids, I'm gonna come over there and kick your pinky so far up his arsehole that he chokes to death on it. (Sound of Romo ripping pinky off kid)

Seriously, I wanted Robo gone from the Broncs long before Shanny did it, but has this guy done ANYTHING as a non-player wrong? And, I don't mean ephidera prescripts in the wife's name, or even allegations that he was selling speed to other players. I mean hitting someone or something like that. Unrelated to stuff on the field.

[Tredici]

(in that quiet Clint Eastwood / psychopath voice he has)

Listen, kid, go tell your coach that if you leg whip another of my kids, I'm gonna come over there and kick your pinky so far up his arsehole that he chokes to death on it. (Sound of Romo ripping pinky off kid)

Seriously, I wanted Robo gone from the Broncs long before Shanny did it, but has this guy done ANYTHING as a non-player wrong? And, I don't mean ephidera prescripts in the wife's name, or even allegations that he was selling speed to other players. I mean hitting someone or something like that. Unrelated to stuff on the field.

Well, he cries on 60 Minutes. So wrong.

[Atlas]

I wonder if his wife is making "Super Soup" for the kids before the games???

[cutthemdown]

I love Romo no matter what. He was a big reason we won 2 superbowls and played as hard as any player I have ever watched don the Orange and Blue. I go back to "77". I remember when Broncos were soft. I watched Mecklenburgh get leg whipped by niners in Superbowl because we were soft back then and didn't have a nasty attitude. By the way I didn't see niners have that superbowl taken away for lack of class. To win you have to have some mean and nasty players on defense and offense. Romo gave us that and played hard every game. As a fan that's all i ask for.

[Atlas]

I love Romo no matter what. He was a big reason we won 2 superbowls and played as hard as any player I have ever watched don the Orange and Blue. I go back to "77". I remember when Broncos were soft. I watched Mecklenburgh get leg whipped by niners in Superbowl because we were soft back then and didn't have a nasty attitude. By the way I didn't see niners have that superbowl taken away for lack of class. To win you have to have some mean and nasty players on defense and offense. Romo gave us that and played hard every game. As a fan that's all i ask for.

I'm right there with ya. Romo was all about football. He lived, breathed it. He was a modern day Dick Butkus.

[loborugger]

I dont have a problem with being all about football... What I have a problem with (and I think most people do, too) is crap like breaking Megget's finger and breaking a teammates face (literally). Thats just a dude that is outta control and let the game take control of him.

[Atlas]

I dont have a problem with being all about football... What I have a problem with (and I think most people do, too) is crap like breaking Megget's finger and breaking a teammates face (literally). Thats just a dude that is outta control and let the game take control of him.

Butkus did worse but people idolize him.

[loborugger]

Well, I cant comment on Butkus's play... but you are correct that people do idolize him. We create heroes outta some screwed up people.

[cutthemdown]

better yet how about when he went upside Kerry Collins jaw. To this day that is one of the more Brutal hits I have seen a Broncos player give a player. Another Brutal one was Dennis Smith on Nate Lewis of the Chargers. I can't remember the exact yr but I know it was at Mile High. Anyone else remember that hit Smith put on Lewis?

[BABronco]

I've never heard of tackle leagues any younger than 8th grade.

Ymca football (tackle) starts at 3rd grade

[-Slap-]

Not from my experience. Our QB was put in the hospital with a severe concussion in 8th grade. And I broke an opposing QB's collar bone in the 7th grade.

Of course I make Hulk Hogan look like the pansy ass he is. :strong:

Everytime I saw him running with that helmet I couldn't prevent myself from not laughin.

I said seven and eight year olds can't do each other much harm and that's true. Now, seventh and eighth graders are a whole different story. The Puberty Fairy has already paid a visit by then and the differences in skill levels become much more pronounced.

[-Slap-]

Butkus did worse but people idolize him.

Butkus shattered a teammate's face with a cheap shot in the film room?

[cutthemdown]

Butkus shattered a teammate's face with a cheap shot in the film room?

No but didn't Steve Smith do that also to Micheal Westbrook?

[freak6]

Westbrook beat up Stephen Davis I think.

[Clockwork Orange]

Westbrook beat up Stephen Davis I think.

Correct.

I'll bet that was the last time that Davis ever questioned a teammate's sexuality.

[Atlas]

better yet how about when he went upside Kerry Collins jaw. To this day that is one of the more Brutal hits I have seen a Broncos player give a player. Another Brutal one was Dennis Smith on Nate Lewis of the Chargers. I can't remember the exact yr but I know it was at Mile High. Anyone else remember that hit Smith put on Lewis?

Dennis Smith laid out one of the most vicious hits I have ever seen. In 1993 He laid out Roosevelt Potts right in the old dirt part of the baseball infield of Mile High. It was brutal. Makes the Okoya hit look like a flag football game.

[cutthemdown]

Dennis Smith laid out one of the most vicious hits I have ever seen. In 1993 He laid out Roosevelt Potts right in the old dirt part of the baseball infield of Mile High. It was brutal. Makes the Okoya hit look like a flag football game.

NOW I MAY BE WRONG. But right before that play didn't Smith crush Potts and he fumbles but for some reason play didn't stand. They run next play and wham he crushes Potts agian. That second hit is the one you are talking about i think.

[cutthemdown]

Westbrook beat up Stephen Davis I think.

ok I couldn't remember for sure

[Circle Orange]

Come on, everyone. ROmo's just...depressed. He doesn't get any love since he did the 60 minutes interview. He's even swallowed pills, more than 35 I hear. But he didn't attempt suicide...:clown:

[Florida_Bronco]

Not from my experience. Our QB was put in the hospital with a severe concussion in 8th grade. And I broke an opposing QB's collar bone in the 7th grade.

Of course I make Hulk Hogan look like the pansy ass he is. :strong:

Everytime I saw him running with that helmet I couldn't prevent myself from not laughin.

I started playing at 8 years old. Through the 2 leagues I was in we had 1 broken arm and a dislocated hip on a freak accident. No other injuries other than that.

[Atlas]

NOW I MAY BE WRONG. But right before that play didn't Smith crush Potts and he fumbles but for some reason play didn't stand. They run next play and wham he crushes Potts agian. That second hit is the one you are talking about i think.

I don't remember that. I have the game on DVD I'll have to watch it and see.

[-Slap-]

No but didn't Steve Smith do that also to Micheal Westbrook?

Steve Smith was notorious for harrassing and even physically assaulting fellow wide receivers who were trying to make the Panthers roster.

Details Surrounding Smith's Suspension Not Pretty...

Written By Bob Harris | TFL Report | Posted 21-Nov-02 @ 5:55 PT

According to Charlotte Observer staffers Pat Yasinskas and Charles Chandler, the Panthers suspended wide receiver Steve Smith for Sunday's game against Atlanta for a violent altercation Monday with practice-squad player Anthony Bright. The fight left Bright hospitalized, in need of plastic surgery and talking to police Wednesday night.
Bright spent Monday and Tuesday nights at Carolinas Medical Center and was released Wednesday morning. He had plastic surgery to repair a broken nose, said his agent, Malachi Henry. He also suffered damage to an eye socket that did not require surgery.

The altercation took place at the wide receivers' normal film review of Sunday's game with Tampa Bay. Smith and Bright argued briefly over a play that had been reviewed several times, and the incident escalated into a fight that lasted less than a minute before being broken up by other players.

"The lights were off. Then all hell broke loose," fellow wideout Isaac Byrd said.

Henry said the injuries will prevent Bright from returning to practice this season.

"He pretty much got Pearl Harbored -- attacked by Steve," Henry said. "It kind of caught me by surprise that a teammate would even go to the level of attacking another teammate like that. It's kind of shocking to me."

Bright was not available for comment. He filed an incident report with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Wednesday night. As of Wednesday night, no charges had been filed, and the report listed the case status as "further investigation."

Head coach John Fox said Bright will not be disciplined for his role in the incident.

Smith was not at practice Wednesday and he issued a statement through the team's public relations department.

"First and foremost, I would like to apologize to Anthony Bright," Smith said. "I regret the actions that led to my suspension and want to apologize to my teammates, coaches, the organization and fans of the Carolina Panthers. Being away and watching this week will be difficult, but I take full responsibility for my absence and actions."

Smith's agent, Derrick Fox, declined to comment beyond the statement.

Byrd said he went to the hospital to visit Bright on Tuesday.

"Looking at him is worse than what you think it would be," he said. "Just walking in, I wanted to walk right back out when I saw him. I feel sorry for the kid. He comes in here. He does everything right.

"He doesn't pick with anybody. He's never beefed with anybody. He goes out to practice and works extremely hard on trying to make his talent into skill. Something like this happens to him and I feel sorry for him.

"When I saw him, his face was covered [with] like a sheet below the eyes. The nose was covered. Half the face was swollen and one eye was closed. Very disturbing."

Bright was transported to the hospital by team personnel. There could be legal implications.

"I'm not in a position to elaborate other than Steve Smith is being disciplined by being suspended," Fox said.

The suspension will cost Smith a week's salary, $10,764, and he has been ordered to undergo anger-management counseling, sources close to the situation said. Bright makes the standard practice-squad salary, $68,000 a season.

This is not the first altercation involving Smith and a teammate. Several players confirmed he fought rookie wide receiver Guilian Gary in a Wofford dormitory during training camp, although that fight wasn't nearly as violent as Monday's.

Gary was released Aug. 2. At the time, team officials said he was waived after he voluntarily decided to leave camp.

Steve Smith has always been a little piece of ****.

[Atlas]

Steve Smith was notorious for harrassing and even physically assaulting fellow wide receivers who were trying to make the Panthers roster.



Steve Smith has always been a little piece of ****.

That's pretty cool. He seems like a little prick in interviews but he seems funny also.

I guess he is a funny little prick.

[-Slap-]

Does Romo offer the white kids steroids so they can "keep up" with the black kids?