Tony Gutierrez / AP

Cowboys running back Marion Barber, left, and quarterback Tony Romo talk after running a play during a practice session Wednesday.

Romo grew up in Wisconsin watching Brett Favre pull out game after game with high-risk plays, and it became part of his on-field persona, too. It was evident last season, when he had 21 turnovers in 13 games, a rate of 1.6 per game. He’s at 1.4 per game for his career; by comparison, Favre was 1.7 and Troy Aikman finished his career at 1.2.

“If you’re down 28-7 in the fourth quarter with four minutes to go, is it really important to protect the ball or move the ball and try and score fast in the first possession?” Romo said. “So I think that stats can lie like that sometimes. But I do think I did turn the ball over in some cases that I do need to look at from last season.”

The changes fall in various categories, from cutting down on risky throws to being quicker to give up on a play and realize it’s time to throw the ball away or take a sack. He also needs to get a better grip on the ball while scrambling.

“I’m going to take it very serious next season,” Romo pledged. “I think this team understands the ball is important. We do some things pretty good and we need to go out and do it right all the time, not just some of the time. I think the approach is right, though.”

Talking about it in June is easy. He’ll have to prove it this fall.

So far, at least, Jones likes the way Romo is coming along, and that goes for all areas — ball-protection, conditioning, leadership and everything else.

“His arrow’s going up,” Jones said. “Anybody that is underestimating his mind on his responsibility as a quarterback is underestimating him.”

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