IRVING, Texas — Tony Romo really can count to four. At least the Cowboys say so.
A video shot Sunday by KDFW shows Romo holding up three fingers after a fourth- down incompletion that sealed Dallas’ loss to the Broncos. It is an indication he thought there was another down left.
The tape shows Romo appearing to tell his offensive linemen to get ready for another play, then signaling to refs that the last play was third down. He is told it was fourth down, and then he swears.
The Cowboys had burned their second down by spiking the ball to stop the clock. On third and fourth downs, Romo threw to Sam Hurd in the end zone, but Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey broke up both tries, denying the Cowboys of a potential tying touchdown.
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Monday he didn’t know of any confusion Romo might have had about the number of downs. But Tuesday, the team issued a statement to try to explain the quarterback’s confusion.
“As Tony was walking off the field after the fourth down play, he saw that the down marker on the Dallas sideline read ‘3.’ As it turned out, the marker was in the process of being changed, sequentially, from the number ‘4’ to the number ‘1’ for the Broncos ensuing possession,” according to the statement. “The marker on the Cowboys side read ‘3’ temporarily. When he saw the ‘3,’ he thought there might have been the possibility of an error on the down count.”
Rush for Rams?
ST. LOUIS — Conservative talk-radio host Rush Limbaugh said he is teaming with St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts in a bid to buy the Rams, owners of the NFL’s longest losing streak at 14.
In a statement, Limbaugh declined to discuss details, citing a confidentiality agreement with Goldman Sachs, the investment firm hired by the family of former Rams owner Georgia Frontiere to review assets of her estate.
“Dave Checketts and I have made a bid to buy the Rams and we are continuing the process,” Limbaugh said.
Forbes magazine has estimated the Rams franchise has a value of $929 million.
Frontiere’s children, Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez, inherited 60 percent of the Rams when their mother died in January 2008. Stan Kroenke, whose assets include the Nuggets and Avalanche, owns the remaining 40 percent. It wasn’t clear if the Limbaugh/Checketts bid was for 100 percent of the Rams or just the share owned by Rosenbloom and Rodriguez.
Footnotes.
Three top 49ers executives met in person with unsigned wide receiver and top draft pick Michael Crabtree and his agent, Eugene Parker, though no development appears imminent.
• Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is expected to practice on a limited basis today for the first time since tearing the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Sept. 10 against Tennessee — an injury that potentially could have sidelined him until midseason.
• The NFL is investigating whether Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards violated the league’s conduct policy following accusations he assaulted a man outside a nightclub.
• NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is watching as authorities investigate allegations that Raiders coach Tom Cable assaulted one of his assistants.
• The Ravens placed linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo (quadriceps) on the injured reserve list and signed linebacker Prescott Burgess.
• Giants linebackers Michael Boley (knee) and Bryan Kehl (index finger) underwent surgery and will sit out Sunday against the Raiders.
