Sep
Dario down for the count in E town
Courtesy Edmonton Journal:
A towel hung over Dario Romero’s head, but it couldn’t hide the tears. Romero’s Edmonton Eskimos defensive linemate, Kai Ellis, came over and wrapped his arms around him. Romero’s massive chest only heaved more, fresh tears wetting an already soaked towel.
On the last play of Saturday’s 23-30 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, on what appeared to be an innocent play Romero tore his left bicep muscle–shearing it off the bone and feeling it roll up like a bamboo window shade until it curled into a tight little ball.
Even as wrenching and excruciating as the pain was, Romero’s sobs had nothing to do with physical discomfort. The pain and the emotion all came from within: the realization that his season was over.
“I love this game. I love what I do. I love the guys I play with,” said Romero, the Eskimos right defensive tackle, but more importantly the defensive leader, who will have surgery and be gone for the season.
“That’s what really hurt. I wasn’t being a baby,” said Romero, six-foot-three and 300 pounds.
“He was a tremendously disappointed man,” said Eskimo linebackers coach Dan Kepley.
“He saw what was happening on our defence–the progress we have made–and he doesn’t have that anymore.
“When he woke up Sunday morning, football was gone for him for the remainder of the year.”
At least physically. Romero will stay in Edmonton, not only to have surgery and begin his rehab, but to add another pair of eyes to the defence.
“It doesn’t end. I’ll do what I can around here to help. And I’m going to let them know you can’t take this game for granted.
“But I won’t have the same conversations. The players, they talk about the game.
“But now I’m going to be outside of those lines,” said Romero, 31.
And that’s not where Romero belongs. Throughout his nine professional football years, Romero has always been right in the middle. Fighting, scratching and clawing his way to the ball carriers, fending off blocks, plugging gaps, rushing the quarterback … Romero never stops. Until now, when an injury has forced the big man to the sideline.
“Every game I play like it’s my last,” Romero said a little ironically.
“I think everyone in the room knows how much I love playing,” Romero said.
Of that there is no doubt.
“He’s a man,” said Kepley, “an absolute true throwback man. He can play on any team, on any league, at any time on, in any decade. He’s a pack leader and he leads his pack in the right direction.”
Middle linebacker Maurice Lloyd said: “It’s going to be hard to replace a guy with that much heart and that much love for the game.
“He doesn’t care for the money; he doesn’t care for the light. He just wants to win and give it all he has got.”
Leaning against a fence at Clarke Park uncomfortably watching Monday’s practice, Romero said: “Because it came on the last play makes it even more frustrating.
“Saskatchewan was just out their killing the final seconds off the clock. And a fluke injury on something I do every game–an arm tackle. I watched it on film. I can’t believe it happened.”
At first Romero thought his arm had just been hit by a helmet. But he quickly realized it was a lot worse.
“I tried to lift my arm up and nothing happened. I knew.”
A two-time All-Big Sky player at Eastern Washington, Romero began his professional career with the Eskimos in 2001.
But he didn’t stick around long. He played the next four years with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins under head coach Dave Wannstedt.
Even as a backup, Romero had 21 tackles and four sacks in 2004 alone.
He played in Montreal in 2006 and 2007 but was gladly welcomed back to Edmonton last year.
Defensive end Kai Ellis said Romero was having an all-star season.
No one disagreed. Not even Romero.
“The defence was coming on. We were doing more things that have us excited and I feel like I’m having my best season ever.
“It really sucks.”
