IRVING, Texas - When Miss USA slipped and fell during the Miss Universe pageant, at least one of the judges was empathetic.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo could definitely relate, considering he had a well-publicized slip-up of his own when he couldn't handle the ball for a potentially game-winning field goal in January.

"I can definitely understand when someone on a national stage doesn't do exactly what they wanted," he said Friday. "She performed well, she got up and did a good job."

Miss USA Rachel Smith slipped during the evening competition and finished the fourth runner-up in the pageant Monday night in Mexico City. Romo, whose bobbled snap came with a minute left in Dallas' 21-20 playoff loss to Seattle, said he initially felt bad when she fell.

"But she composed herself really well," he said. "I gave her a little bit, probably, a better number just because of the way she composed herself when she got up."

Being a Miss Universe judge was just another high-profile appearance for Romo this offseason. He also escorted Carrie Underwood when she was named best female vocalist at the Country Music Awards last month.

But Romo hasn't missed any of the Cowboys' offseason workouts, including Tuesday morning's session only hours after he was at Miss Universe.

"Tony, he enjoys that stuff and he deserves to do that," tight end Jason Witten said. "The best thing that I can say is just an example. ... He caught a 4 o'clock flight to be here at 7. I think that says enough to what is important to him. He knows when to have a good time and when we come in here, it's business and we want to win."

Romo has become very visible since he took over as the starting quarterback midway through last season and made the Pro Bowl. He won five of his first six starts before losing four of the last five, including the playoff game against the Seahawks.

"You guys know what I do all the time now. I probably travel less than I did last year. I definitely play a lot less golf," Romo said. "I don't miss anything up here. Football is what I love to do. It's what I enjoy every day when I wake up."

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