The hopes and dreams of the Dallas Cowboys' 2014 season rest mainly on the recovering back of Tony Romo.
The quarterback underwent surgery on a herniated disc in December, missing the final game of the 2013 season. While Romo continues to ease into offseason workouts, he said if the season started today he could play.
"I feel good," Romo told NFL Media's Desmond Purnell on Tuesday. "I've been talking about it for a little while, it's just your back keeps getting better and better and then after the surgery you get to a point where you feel good. And I'm getting to a point right now where I could go out and play if I had to."
With Brandon Weeden as the primary backup at this point (given Kyle Orton's situation is still in limbo), a healthy Romo is the Cowboys' best hope for any success in 2014.
Romo told the team's official website his goal is to be "100 percent on Day 1 of training camp" in July.
The 34-year-old quarterback has taken most of the heat for the Cowboys' lack of playoff success under his watch. The back injury is just the latest in a career of obstacles Romo has had to overcome mentally and physically.
"You basically give up your body, in some ways, to play the game. It's a great joy to be able to play this game for a living," he said. "When you're done, and I'm done with the Cowboys, like I've said before, I'll have given my back and some ribs through that time. But it's been a great joy."
*The end to the latest Around The League Podcast is full of shock and awe. *
