Jerome Bettis says while the Tony Romo era in Dallas is probably over, Romo will still do everything in his power to earn a starting job with another team next season. (2:11)

Romo not willing to be backup beyond this year (2:11)

FRISCO, Texas -- Tony Romo, wearing a navy blue Dallas Cowboys sweatshirt with a matching baseball cap, somberly eulogized his career with the Cowboys on Tuesday afternoon.

Romo, standing at a lectern, kept the bill of the cap pulled low, so we never really saw the hurt in his eyes. But you could hear the disappointment, maybe frustration, in his voice as he read from a prepared statement.

Romo's career with the Cowboys hasn't seemingly ended because he can't play anymore. That would be sad, but understandable. Every 36-year-old athlete goes through that.

If Romo no longer possessed the arm strength or skill set to play at the level that has allowed him to pass for more than 34,000 yards with 247 touchdowns and 117 interceptions, then he could accept that Father Time had kicked his behind.

But that's not what happened.

Tony Romo showed his leadership chops by handing over the torch to Dak Prescott in Tuesday's press conference. Roger Steinman/AP, File

Romo's body betrayed him in August -- again.

He suffered a compression fracture in his back that has essentially kept him out for 10 weeks -- not the month or so he initially anticipated.

This time, Romo is not returning to save the Cowboys' season. This time, the team has moved on without him.

The Cowboys are 8-1 and lead the NFC East by two games over the New York Giants. They lead the Seattle Seahawks by 1.5 games for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Fans have a new hero. The players have a new leader. His name: Dak Prescott.

"Seasons are fleeting. Games become more precious. Chances for success diminish," Romo said. "Your potential successor has arrived. Injured two years in a row now in your mid-30s. The press is whispering. Everyone has doubts. You spent your career working to get here. Now, we have to start all over.

"You almost feel like an outsider. Coaches are sympathetic but they still have to coach and you're not there.

"It's a dark place, probably the darkest it's ever been."

Romo spoke nearly five minutes and did not take questions. He never said the word "backup" but made it clear he has a new role -- and it's one he's willing to accept.

In the offseason, he'll be released or traded and allowed to resurrect his career as a starter.

Coach Jason Garrett, Romo's BFF, had no choice but to bench Romo. He preaches the importance of a football team being a meritocracy.

He talks about the importance of players earning their role on the team every day with their preparation, practice and performance. There's no way he could bench Prescott.

A decade ago, Romo was the young guy who dazzled a city with his superior play and infectious personality. Now, it's Prescott.

He has done it with superb play and a humble attitude. He has been deferential to Romo while earning a leadership position with his performance.

The latest example occurred Sunday, when Prescott twice led the Cowboys from behind in the final two minutes.

"He has earned the right to be our quarterback," Romo said in his statement. "As hard as that is for me to say, he's guided our team to an 8-1 record, and that's hard to do.

"I think we all know something magical is happening with our team. I'm not going to allow this situation to negatively affect Dak or this football team by becoming a constant distraction. I think Dak knows I have his back and I think that I know he has mine."

Some will criticize Romo for reading a statement; others will criticize him for not taking questions. The reality is he was going to be criticized no matter what he did or said.

The television cameras at Sunday’s game against Baltimore will be trained on him the moment he takes the field. Every time, Prescott makes a play -- good or bad -- the cameras will focus on his reactions.

Body language experts and lip readers will reap the benefits just in time for Black Friday.

"I feel like we have two battles going on -- one is with the man across from you and the second is with the man inside of you," Romo said. "Once you control the one inside of you, the one across from you doesn't matter. I think that's what we’re all trying to do."

This is obviously the most difficult time of Romo's career. The better Prescott played each week, the more Romo has waged a battle with his own ego.

He's also fought envy, jealousy, and maybe even doubt. Thus far, he has won every battle.

Doing so will make the Cowboys a better team. And it'll make Romo a better man when he starts one day for some other team.