ARLINGTON, Texas — Giants linebacker Michael Boley didn’t know right away that the crushing blow he delivered very likely was the final blow for the Cowboys.
With 12:07 remaining in the second quarter of what became a wild 41-35 Giants victory over the Cowboys, quarterback Tony Romo completed a 4-yard pass to Miles Austin but paid a heavy price. Boley stormed in unimpeded on a blitz and leveled Romo with a body-blow that left him down on the turf. Down and out.
“When he hit the ground I heard he let out a little scream so I kind of knew something was up,” Boley said. “I didn’t think he was laid out, I thought it was just a normal hit. After I got out and started running I looked back and after the play was over he was still down.”
Romo stayed down a while and left the game for X-rays, which revealed a fractured left clavicle that will keep him out quite a while.
“I tried lifting my shoulder, it hurt like heck,” Romo said. “I thought it was going to be a good sprain. I was upset, disappointed, I was frustrated. I was having a hard time breathing. You work very hard to play in these games.”
The Cowboys were leading 13-7 at the time and eventually extended their lead to 20-7, but Romo’s replacement, veteran Jon Kitna, was dismal early and got hot too late.
“We knew he was a different style quarterback,” Boley said. “We knew he wasn’t the guy that Romo was, but we knew he can still throw the ball down the field.”
Boley didn’t know after the game the extent of Romo’s injury, and he didn’t revel in the news.
“It was just a play we had drawn up,” Boley said. “The guard didn’t see me, he blocked down on the tackle and both backs went to the other side so I came scot-free. Any time somebody gets hurt, we’re all a fraternity. You hate to see people get hurt. It’s something you hate to see. I wish him the best.”