Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo went to a Division I-AA school, was undrafted and had to fight early in his career to stay in the league.

He has paid his dues and is determined to not let one botched snap be his legacy.

Romo, a fourth-year pro out of Eastern Illinois, replaced Drew Bledsoe in the second half of a Monday night game Oct. 23 against the New York Giants and never relinquished the position.

Romo started the final 10 games of the season and completed 220 of 337 passes for 2,903 yards and 19 touchdowns. His quarterback rating of 95.1 was fifth-best in the league.

Romo was, however, also part of Cowboys infamy Jan. 6 when he fumbled the snap on a 19-yard field-goal attempt by Martin Gramatica with Dallas trailing the Seattle Seahawks, 21-20, with about a minute remaining in a first-round playoff game.

He picked up the loose ball and attempted to head upfield, but was tackled just short of the first-down marker.

"You've got to move on," Romo said of the play. "Eventually you have to get out and get ready for the next season and that's what I'm doing."

Cowboys punter Mat McBriar, a former Hawai'i player in his first Pro Bowl, said: "I think he's doing fine. At the time it was a little tough on him and some of the other guys. But he seems to have moved on. It's not exactly his forte — holding. It was one of those things that happens."

Romo is one of 28 players named to his first Pro Bowl, which will be played Saturday at Aloha Stadium. He's looking forward to it.

"This week will be good just to get out here and I'm going to hold this week, too," he said. "So we'll have some fun."

Romo didn't attempt a pass in his first three seasons, and finally got his chance Oct. 15 in mop-up duty against the Houston Texans. He was 2 of 2 for 35 yards in the 34-6 victory. His first start was Oct. 29 against the Carolina Panthers, and he finished 6-4 as the starter.

"Eventually you get better each year and you get to a point where you can compete at a good level," he said. "I'm starting to get there."

In his senior season at Eastern Illinois, Romo won the Walter Payton Award for the top player in Division I-AA.

But he wasn't drafted.

"You don't have as many opportunities along the way. But if you're good enough they'll find you," Romo said.

For now, he's enjoying himself here.

"It's fun; it's good to be able to meet the guys and kind of hang out and have your peers tell you you're a decent player," Romo said.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.