Rumor weighs on QB Romo

Reports that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has been accused of being overweight and out of shape are total fabrications, according to Romo.

There always seems to be a hot story circulating around the Cowboys, who are generally more dramatic than a group of teenage girls. The twist in the NFL's steamiest soap opera this week had offensive coordinator Jason Garrett meeting to discuss Romo's poor conditioning.

"There was no such meeting," Romo told The Dallas Morning News. "We live in a world where it's sensationalized. When you see something or hear something, you write it. That's completely false."

Dallas has shown a tendency to run out of gas late in recent seasons. Romo usually gets out of the gate fast and fades in December. So the theory goes that Romo needs to be in better condition for the long haul.

Romo said he has a "phenomenal" relationship with Garrett.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was not quoted on the issue, probably because he was getting another face-lift.

Meanwhile, rumors continue to swirl about the Cowboys' "Romeo" and his girlfriend, singer-actress Jessica Simpson, possibly getting married.

Stay tuned for the next dramatic episode.

• SHAQ ATTACK -- Shaquille O'Neal, while awaiting a potential trade from Phoenix to Cleveland, is training for MMA. He seems to believe he can succeed in mixed martial arts after he retires from the NBA.

O'Neal has issued a challenge to 7-foot-2-inch Hong Man Choi, the Korean giant who knocked out Jose Canseco in 77 seconds.

"The big boy who knocked out Canseco ... I'm coming for you," said the 7-1, 330-pound O'Neal.

Hopefully for Shaq, he's a better fighter than he is an actor and a rapper.

• HARPING ON HARPER -- First there was the Sports Illustrated cover story, and now there is an ESPN feature in the works. The media is fascinated with Las Vegas High School baseball phenom Bryce Harper, a 16-year-old who is enrolling at the College of Southern Nevada.

Harper, who just finished his sophomore year, could be the No. 1 pick in next year's major league draft.

Gordon Edes of Yahoo! Sports surveyed several major league scouts on the Harper issue. Some say he should stay in high school; others say he's making the right move.

A National League scouting director, who asked not to be identified, said: "I scouted (Alex Rodriguez), Chipper Jones, Manny (Ramirez), all those guys in high school. God was very, very good to this kid. He's stronger than they all were in high school. Never mind next year. If (Harper) had been in the draft this year, he would have gone very, very high. You just don't see a kid that age that advanced physically, with that strength."

• QUICK TAKES -- From Drew Curtis of Fark.com, speculating on the title of the new children's book authored by swim star Michael Phelps: "Puff the Magic Dolphin."

And from NBC's Conan O'Brien, on ESPN The Magazine's plans to publish an issue devoted to nude pictures of sports figures: "John Madden retired just in time."

COMPILED BY MATT YOUMANS LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL