We’re not so different, Tony Romo and I.

We share Wisconsin roots, attend(ed) a college with the word “Illinois” in its name, like football a whole lot and are unquestionably tough guys.

Romo, who delivered his second consecutive gutsy performance, topping the Redskins 18-16 on Monday Night Football, suffered from a couple broken ribs and a punctured lung, which healed prior to gametime. I, on “the other hand,” which is what I call my left hand, broke a finger.

Well, I jammed it, really. That’s what I thought — for a week. When it hadn’t healed, I figured something was extra wrong with it. My RA, a health major, said I probably broke it. Probably.

After a four-hour waitfest at McKinley, I was told that I “did it.” Classic. Two appointments and four days later, I was anointed with an annoying cast on my left hand.

Did they tell Tony Romo that he “did it?”

“Yeah, Tony, you did it. You let that guy hit a hole into your lung.”

Both of our injuries are football-related. Romo got drilled by 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks (on a pass he completed) and I miscaught a ball (which was being thrown back to me after a pass I failed to complete). Romo came back in the game and won it for the Cowboys, I stayed in the game and quarterbacked my team to victory, which was declared when the next guy got injured — needless to say this was a ferocious game of two-hand touch.

Romo’s protective wear was applied, and, as ESPN’s Ed Werder demonstrated, can stand up to a shovel (that is, the man hoping to not look wimpy on national television can make it look so). My protective gear — a black cast — has yet to meet a surface it can’t protect my hand from. I’ve whacked it against desks, metal apparatuses, walls, concrete and much more. A small part of me has always wanted a cast for this reason, but I digress.

You might think of me more like Michael Vick, who also injured his non-dominant hand. This would be true, but Tony Romo didn’t complain, and neither have I. Vick has been griping about numerous things in the few dozen hours since sustaining the injury. And he assumed it to be broken before finding out he just had a bruise. I, being tough, figured there’s no way I would break my first bone trying to catch a football. I also haven’t murdered dozens of dogs.

Vick’s injuries are allowing the Eagles to get away with being 1-2. That’s a very disappointing record for a self-proclaimed “dream team.” Okay, so maybe I’m Skip Baylessing a bit there, but they haven’t lived up to their expectations. Remember the Miami Heat? (Side note: Remember the NBA? You should. Gone but never forgotten.) They were 9-8 and burning under ESPN’s microscope. They then went on a tear that lasted, more or less, until the NBA Finals. The Eagles are still dangerous, and shouldn’t be laughed at. Yet.

As I tough it out like Romo, typing this article one-handed, here are a few interesting nuggets about life with a cast.

* My thumb, ring and pinky fingers are free. My index finger is broken and my middle finger got roped into being in this cast. My middle finger is very bitter.

* After eating a pulled pork sandwich and getting a dab of barbeque sauce on my cast, the tip of it smelled unmistakably like beef jerky. This was quite pleasant.

* Days later, this beef jerky scent has soured and become reminiscent of wet sock. This is not pleasant.

* I now know what action figures feel like.

* My gaming abilities have been reduced to Super Nintendo only.

* Showers are difficult.

* It’s hard to remember not to put my phone in my left pocket.

* I’ve learned a lot about connection. As in, connecting the cast

on my left hand to me not being able to complete assignments on time. Extensions, please!

Well, that’s all I can bear to write.

Hey, Tony Romo didn’t make any points this week either.

_Eliot is a sophomore in Media. He can be reached at [email protected]._