Romo's father diagnosed with prostate cancer

Published: Oct 13, 2007 at 09:37 AM

IRVING, Texas -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's father has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"You just love your dad, you want him to be all right," Romo said Friday. "It's just part of getting older, and it happens to a lot of people. So, it's just another step in the path of life."

Ramiro Romo, 50, found out he had cancer just days after he and his wife were at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 23 watching their son throw for 329 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-10 victory over the Bears. They will be at Texas Stadium on Sunday when the Cowboys play the New England Patriots in a much-hyped matchup of 5-0 teams.

Tony Romo, who has thrown an NFC-high 13 touchdown passes but is coming off a six-turnover game the Cowboys won at Buffalo, said his father's cancer hasn't affected him on the field.

"When you get out on the field, everything else just kind of goes away. You just go out there and try to do your best," Romo said, tearing up a bit as he walked away. "Obviously, you keep people in your prayers, and that's part of it. Hopefully, people will keep my pops in their prayers."

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Romo has been handling the situation fine.

"It wouldn't surprise me at all if his dad at different points of the day isn't on his mind," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "Hopefully, he can, with that in perspective, go on to play like he wants to play and his dad wants him to play."

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