It took just three plays but Tony Romo was in midseason form Thursday night, as a seemingly clean hit caused Romo to writhe on the field in agony.
Tony Romo walks off the field with an apparent injury after being tackled. #DALvsSEA https://t.co/IILl1huJth
— NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2016
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Romo played in just four games in 2015, sidelined by two collarbone injuries. Having Romo avoid injuries is the top priority for the Cowboys but giving him preseason reps is just as important. Cowboys fans felt Cliff Avril's hit on Romo was uncalled for and "dirty" because of the nature of a preseason game.
That's a crap move @cliffavril its preseason u know he's going down don't dive on him. @tonyromo
— Jackson Wagoner (@jackson_wagoner) August 26, 2016
@cliffavril you're a dirty player and that was a dirty hit. Hitting a sliding QB from behind in PRESEASON. Hope you tear your knee apart.
— Ryan Borger (@rjb8586) August 26, 2016
Could Avril have pulled up a little, seeing as how Romo was going into a sliding position? Sure. But was his hit dirty? That's a bit of a stretch considering he tried to strip the ball and made contact prior to Romo actually sliding.
@JonRecchia8 @GrimBrotherOne @NFL looked like he was wrapped up before sliding pic.twitter.com/cr5eZ5GqeM
— John Reagan (@jr_jr__) August 26, 2016
Avril didn't seem to think the hit was dirty and even seemed concerned about Romo's health.
Look I'm not in the business of hurting anybody... Definitely didn't know @TonyRomo was hurt... So all u guys on my timeline can fall back!!
— Cliff Avril (@cliffavril) August 26, 2016
Cliff Avril on Tony Romo: "Teammates said he was all right, so that's good. I'm never in the business of trying to hurt anybody."
— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) August 26, 2016
Even Romo isn't one to point the finger at Avril being a "dirty" player.
"You can't put people in bubble wrap," Romo said, according to CBS Sports. "You've got to play. It's football. You're going to get hit and things happen."
[h/t CBS Sports]
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