February 20, 2003. That's the day I remember interviewing Tony Romo. I'd like to say that it's so memorable because I knew that Romo was going to turn out to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. Not just for any team, but for the glamorous Dallas Cowboys. But that would not be true.
The reason it's so memorable for me is because the interview took place on the day that Ray Allen was traded by the Bucks. Here's the background: I was working at WTMJ-TV at the time and I had convinced management that it was worth driving down to Indianapolis with a photojournalist for the NFL Scouting Combine. So we drove the five hours looking to interview Packers personnel and possible draft prospects. But shortly after we got to the Indianapolis hotel to camp out for interviews, we got word that the Bucks were on the brink of trading Ray Allen. That story was obviously going to dwarf anything we were doing at the combine. We knew we were going to have to turn around and drive back to Milwaukee. We decided to get at least a couple of interviews just to not leave empty-handed. Tony Romo was one of those interviews. He was on my list of possible interviews -- but not very high. Even in Wisconsin, very few people outside of Burlington knew about him.
It wasn't considered much a coup to get a Tony Romo interview. He was sitting alone, largely ignored by the football media in attendance. Why would they be expected to care much about a guy from Eastern Illinois who would be a late-round pick if he got selected at all? I remember only a little about this unremarkable interview. I remember that Romo was confident in his abilities and I remember that he expressed excitement about the possibility of being drafted by the Packers.
Two months later, the Packers selected nine players in the 2003 draft. They had four picks in the seventh and final round--the place where teams often can take a low-risk flyer on a quarterback.The Packers picked cornerback Chris Johnson, wide receivers DeAndrew Rubin and Carl Ford and linebacker Steve Josue. None is with the Packers anymore. Then again, neither is third rounder Kenny Peterson, fifth rounders James Lee and Hunter Hillenmeyer (now with the Bears) or sixth round pick Brennan Curtin. Only first round selection Nick Barnett is still in Green Bay. The Packers could have had Brett Favre's successor back then and he was right under their noses.
In fairness to then-GM Mike Sherman and the Packers, nobody selected Tony Romo in 2003. That's seven rounds of 32 teams. More than 220 players. Romo was deemed not good enough to be selected. He signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent and learned his craft for more than three years as a backup. When his opportunity came this season, Romo was ready. He's almost single-handedly turned Dallas' season around. There have been rumors of a date with Jessica Simpson. Now everybody wants to interview Tony Romo. Not like that day in Indianapolis.
Dennis Krause joined OnMilwaukee.com as a contributor on June 16, 2006. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year and a regional Emmy-award winner. Dennis has been the color analyst on home games for the Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network for the last 10 years. He has also been involved with the Green Bay Packers Radio Network for 16 years and is currently the host of the "Packers Game Day" pre-game show.
Dennis started his broadcasting career as a radio air personality in the Fox Valley and Milwaukee.
He spent three years as a sportscaster at WMBD radio and television in Peoria, Illinois before joining WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee in 1987 as a weekend sports anchor. Dennis spent 16 years at Channel 4, serving as its Sports Director and 5 and 6 pm sports anchor from 1994-2003.
Dennis grew up in Hartford, Wisconsin and attended UW-Oshkosh. He lives in Thiensville with his wife and two children. He serves as the Community Resource Director for the Mequon-Thiensville School District.
