Breakups are gifts that keep on giving, especially so in the Simpson/Romo saga. No, it was not enough for him to break up with her on the eve of her 29th birthday. No, it was not enough for him to hang a sign outside his gated community publicly announcing that any access was to be denied. Now we learn courtesy of Us Magazine that the NFL hottie had been having an emotional affair with a skinnier, younger version of the pop star. Her name? Natalie Smith, daughter of the associate athletic director at Romo's alma mater, Eastern Illinois University. Red Alert! Tony Romo Bans Jessica Simpson

Romo, 29, and Smith, 22, 'are are not officially dating, but they are having an intimate relationship,' a Smith source tells Us. Adds another pal of Smith, who typically dined with Romo when he'd visit his college town: 'They've always flirted and texted each other. They had phone conversations one to two months before the breakup.' [omg!]

That's got to sting, but it doesn't end there. You've heard of the saying "kicking a dog when it's down?" Well the media is having a field day, making a big whoopie about what was most likely an innocuous turn of phrase.

"I'm not an Indian giver," Simpson said in response to a question posed by TMZ.com as to whether she would be taking back the expensive boat she bought for ex Tony Romo.

Alright, alright, perhaps she is guilty of choosing a culturally-insensitive cliché. But it's Jessica Simpson, for Pete's sake! What would you expect her to say? "What is given in love should not be reneged when love abides?" Give the girl a break. 3 Breakup Lessons From Celebrities

Wondering about emotional affairs? Learn more:

• 4 Types Of Infidelity
• How To Recover From An Emotional Affair