'Times' Double Standard on Romo Romance?

The New York Times is more of a national newspaper than a local one these days, but maybe not so much in the sports pages.

How else to explain this unintentionally hilarious bit of bias? Sportswriter William C. Rhoden chides Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo for flying to Mexico with his girlfriend, Jessica Simpson, during his week off, ensuring a lot of column inches about what a distraction his relationship has become.

Writes Rhoden:

When Romo was hatching his plans, I wonder if he stopped and asked himself: I wonder how Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are spending their bye weeks? Brady, of the Patriots, spent most of his time in New York with his girlfriend, and the Packers' Brett Favre spent time in Mississippi.

Two of the great quarterbacks in N.F.L. history kept low profiles. I don't know where Manning was -- which is instructive in itself -- but I'd be willing to wager that he wasn't hanging out on a beach in Mexico.

Hey, who's Tom Brady's girlfriend again? Oh well, I'm sure Rhoden would've mentioned it if she were anyone famous. And, of course, we all know there are no paparazzi in New York, and that Brady would never allow his personal life to become tabloid fodder.