Romo Pleads No Contest to OWI, Admits Dependency

Romo tied the arrest to the end of his playing career. "Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain," he wrote. "That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol."

He did not offer it as a defense. "None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them," he wrote, adding that he had taught his three young sons that "when you fall short, you stand up and take full responsibility."

A representative for Romo had earlier told TMZ that he "accepts full responsibility for his actions" and had taken steps to resolve what the statement called an isolated civil matter.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was among the few to publicly back him after the arrest. "I've been talking to him ... I love him, I love what he's about, I love his character," Jones said. "He can handle adversity and this is something that he will work through."