Tony Romo felt pressure to marry Jessica

After denying numerous breakup rumors and defending Jessica Simpson throughout their 20-month relationship, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo suddenly separated from the singer earlier this month. At least it seemed sudden to outsiders. According to a source close to the couple, the problems were months in the making.

“Tony pulled the plug because he couldn’t stand the constant heat Jessica was putting on him to get married,” an insider revealed to the National Enquirer.

The pressure to set a wedding date proved too much for Romo, who found an easy out the night before Simpson was set to celebrate her 29th birthday, the source explained.

“The final nail in the coffin was an argument they had over how to celebrate Jessica’s birthday,” the insider continued. “She wanted a splashy Ken & Barbie-themed bash with all of her celebrity friends, and Tony wanted a quiet, low-key dinner for just the two of them.”

For Romo, the party plans allegedly illustrated why he could never make it work with Simpson. She preferred the pop glitz lifestyle, and he just wanted a normal relationship that didn’t interfere with his career.

“Tony told Jessica that he wanted to take a break,” the insider said. “He’s worn out from bickering, and he wants to concentrate on training for the football season.”

Madonna ends romance with Jesus
There’s another celebrity couple on the outs, but this one hardly comes as a surprise. It seems Madonna’s downgraded her camera-friendly romance with Brazilian boy-toy Jesus Luz from “steamy May-December hook-up” to “just friends.”

“Jesus has been accompanying Madonna on tour but they have been staying in separate hotel rooms,” a friend of the former couple told the Daily Mail. “Jesus is doing everything he can to persuade Madonna they should stay together. He’s hanging in there like a lost puppy.”

All that effort appears to be a lost cause, as the pal insists the busy pop star “doesn’t have enough time for (Jesus).” Well, not enough time for a relationship, but Madonna may find a way to squeeze in a few more photo-ops with the 22-year-old.

“Chances are they will be seen out again together, as it’s good for both their images,” said the source, “but Madonna has made it clear it’s only a friendship.”

Dish on the fly
Thieves stole three boxes of designer duds from stylist-to-the-stars Jennifer Rade last week, but it’s actress Angelina Jolie who was left without a thing to wear. The clothes in question were meant to keep Jolie covered in style during an upcoming promotional tour. “Every designer who was sending pieces was trying to send their best stuff,” a source told the New York Post. “Angelina was just starting the fitting process for pieces to wear when she begins promoting ‘Salt.’” … Taking a break from her usual accessory-pet and look-at-me posts, Kim Kardashian spammed her own blog Monday. The reality TV star praised every pill and potion made by Quick Trim, her celebrity endorsement-du-jour, letting her readers know how they could become “more slender and rejuvenated in just 48 hours!” Kardashian even offered “proof” of her own QT transformation in a photo that appeared to illustrate what she looks like before and after a tan.

Tabloid Tidbits is compiled by Ree Hines.