Kristi Scales, the sideline reporter for the Dallas Cowboys radio network, answered questions about the team in a live chat recently. Here are some highlights:

Your favorite Tony Romo memory?

Scales: For a single play, it's the home game at Texas Stadium against the Rams in 2007 (his first full season as a starter) when the snap went way over his head. He ran back, retrieved the snap, then ran through Rams defenders for a big gain. It was typical Tony: he made something out of nothing. It was electric, and that's when Romo-mania was in full throttle mode.

As for a game, it's the San Francisco road game in 2011 when he returned to action after suffering a broken rib and punctured lung in the first quarter. Yes, he led the team from behind, rallying them to an overtime victory. That game showed the quality I most admire about Tony Romo: resilience.

Were you surprised at Tony Romo's decision?

Scales: Because of the timing (OTAs beginning in two weeks) and the surprisingly soft market for acquiring Romo, I'm not surprised by his decision to jump into the No. 1 analyst role at CBS. The opportunity is too good to pass up. These openings are so few-and-far-between. Personally, I was hoping he would play for the Broncos or Texans this year and have a chance to leave as a player on his own terms, hopefully with a long and successful run to the Super Bowl. I was also hoping he would play for the Broncos because they will host the Cowboys in the coming regular season. But taking the job at CBS is a great move for Romo and his family. I'm very happy for him because he can devote his energy and competitive spirit to becoming a terrific broadcaster.

Did Jerry Jones ruin Tony Romo's chances of catching on with another team by holding out for a draft choice in a trade? Seems like if he had just been released, Houston or Denver might have made a move.

Scales: Would Tony Romo be in Houston in two weeks for the start of Texans' OTAs if Jerry Jones had released Romo at the start of free agency? Certainly the Texans weren't willing to immediately part with a draft pick to trade for his rights (or his fat contract). But to say that Jones "ruined Romo's chances of catching on with another team" is not fair. Jones talked about the "do right rule" in regards to his personal affinity for Romo and wanting a good situation for the former face of his franchise. But first and foremost Jones has to "do right" by the team. Did Jones and Romo overestimate how much demand the QB would find on the open market. Yes, that's fair to say they thought he would have more eager suitors. It's hard to believe that there was more demand for Romo from broadcast networks than from NFL teams with big questions at the more important position on the football field.

I think the bigger question is down in Houston where fans should wonder why the Texans weren't more aggressive in courting Romo. If Tom Savage doesn't have a good year and/or the QB play again costs the Texans in 2017, it's a question that will be raised again.

You're up close with the punishment that NFL players take on Sundays. Are you surprised that Tony Romo played this long considering his injury history?

Scales: Only twice in 17 seasons as Cowboys Sideline Reporter have I been surprised by something that is injury-related. First was Romo's return to action in the 3rd quarter of the overtime win at San Francisco in September 2011. He took a hit from LB Navarro Bowman on the third play of the game. He finished the first half, but the offense was struggling and Romo was playing in pain. He had X-Rays and was evaluated. Jon Kitna started the second half. Late in the 3rd quarter Romo returns from the locker room, but not in street clothes. He was in full uniform/pads/helmet and went to the field. When coaches tried to get him to the sideline, he insisted on playing. At the time we didn't know he suffered a punctured lung. We thought it was a rib injury. I was genuinely shocked when he returned to the field; he was supposed to be done for the game. Of course, he rallied the team on the final drive of regulation for a Bailey chip shot to send the game to overtime, then hit the long pass to Jesse Holley to set up Bailey's game-winner in OT.

The other time I was surprised about a player returning to action quickly was Jason Witten playing the regular season opener at NY in 2013 after suffering a lacerated spleen 23 days earlier in a preseason game at Oakland. We reported it from the sideline a couple of hours before kickoff, and I remember being incredulous that he would actually play.

Like Witten, Romo is one of the toughest guys to ever wear the star. I'm not surprised he lasted 14 years in spite of back and collarbone injuries in the past few years. When he came back on the field at SF in 2011, I wasn't surprised by anything he did after that day.

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