Tony Romo has all the leverage: Part 732

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By Dan Graziano | ESPNDallas.com


People ask all the time about the status of the contract extension the Dallas Cowboys are going to end up giving quarterback Tony Romo. They ask sometimes as though there's still a question as to whether he'll get it. I consistently answer that he will, and that he should, and for a number of reasons (not the least of which would be the Cowboys' inability to upgrade if they let him leave at the end of the 2013 season), the team has no choice.

Perhaps this latest report, from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, will help convince those who still think it's possible they don't get this done. Ian's report says that the way Romo's contract is structured prohibits the Cowboys from designated him as their franchise player in 2014. The reason is that Romo's deal still has three more years on it, the final two of which will automatically void, but not until after the deadline for designating franchise players. So they can't tag him, and if the current league year ends without a new deal he'll be a free agent whose price will go through the roof.

Now, this seems like a ridiculous oversight by the Cowboys, but in truth they wouldn't reasonably have been able to franchise Romo next year anyway. The restructuring the team has done on Romo's contract over the years has pushed back a significant portion of his money into those voidable years, and his franchise number would be more than $25 million next year even if they could do it. So they realistically couldn't have done it even if the contract had been structured in such a way to allow for it.

The ultimate point here is a very simple one: Romo is going to get a very nice, long-term contract extension, likely this offseason. The team has been open about the fact that they are discussing this with Romo. They want him to be their quarterback for the rest of his career. They are confident they will get a deal done, and they don't share the fans' impatience because, a) they know huge deals like this take time and, b) they've been able to find ways to add a couple of key guys this week without reducing Romo's $16.8 million cap number for 2013. Once the new deal is done, that number will drop, and they can carry over unused savings into next year's cap if they like.

What Ian's report underlines is the extent to which Romo has the leverage in these talks. The Cowboys need to sign him long-term, for a number of reasons, and he knows it. So why not wait and see what the new deals look like for guys like Joe Flacco (who's already signed his), Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan? Romo's not going to make what those guys make, but they're going to set the top end of the quarterback market and give Romo and his agents useful numbers off of which to work. The only problem Romo has is if he gets into the 2013 season and gets hurt in his contract year and kills his chances of free agency. But that's a deadline that's still more than five months away. In the meantime, Romo is in no rush and doesn't need to be. He's the one holding the cards.

This is a deal that will get done. It's 100 percent certain. And when it does, it's going to be a very nice deal for Tony Romo.
 

cmd34(work)

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I don't blame Romo for waiting to get the best deal possible but while he waits, opportunities to improve his surrounding cast are being missed.
 
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I literally feel bad for Tony Romo.

He's going to go down in history as a laughing stock because of the playoff gaffs. Only way to prevent that is to win a Super Bowl. I don't think he can do that here.

If I were him, or if I were his advisor, I'd recommend he play out this deal and then see whats out there in 2014. Maybe a team with a strong defense, good running game, and an OL is out there.

Sure, it'd suck losing him as a fan of this team.... but maybe it'd force the team (read: Jerry) do try and do something drastic to fix things.
 

dbair1967

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I literally feel bad for Tony Romo.

Why? the guys been paid millions to play a game and has been one of the foremost celebrity players of his time.

He's going to go down in history as a laughing stock because of the playoff gaffs. Only way to prevent that is to win a Super Bowl. I don't think he can do that here.

He isn't a laughingstock. He's been a really good player but at the same time, he has flaws.

If I were him, or if I were his advisor, I'd recommend he play out this deal and then see whats out there in 2014. Maybe a team with a strong defense, good running game, and an OL is out there.

Yeah, maybe a team with 21 all pros at the other positions huh? Maybe then he can win a championship.

Sure, it'd suck losing him as a fan of this team.... but maybe it'd force the team (read: Jerry) do try and do something drastic to fix things.

Yep, devoid of talent here. the guys just had no chance at all.

I honestly wish they would trade him for a windfall of picks. He'll go elsewhere and do the same thing he's done here (or worse) and we'll move forward without his penchant for performing poorly in big games and the massive cap figures his new deal is likely to include.

And when he doesn't win a championship anywhere else, you guys can continue to pour on the excuses.
 

Slatemosphere

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Im not a romo hater at all but this is getting interesting. Sounds like Romo is not taking a discount and he shouldnt either. We think its a given he will sign back with us....why?

I dont doubt that he can get 90-100 mil on the market. I dont think this team wants to pay anything close to that. I think they need to have serious discussions about trading him now. People may say..why would a team trade for him if they could sign him next year? Well the answer is that team can lock him up before the suitors line up in free agency. I can guarentee you there is about 4 teams that would have bidding wars for romo.

Call the vikings for their 2 firsts this year. See what they say. Losing him for nothing next year will royally fuck us up for the next 3 or so years. Probably longer than that. They should at least be gauging the interest from other teams right now and have a backup plan
 
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He isn't a laughingstock. He's been a really good player but at the same time, he has flaws.

No, he's a laughing stock. Public perception is he's a choker. Who can't win the big one.

Are you going to act like you're oblivious to this?


Yeah, maybe a team with 21 all pros at the other positions huh? Maybe then he can win a championship.

Doesn't need 21 all pros.

But maybe he could go to a team that has a respectable offensive line and a running game thats worth a shit.




Yep, devoid of talent here. the guys just had no chance at all.

Devoid of talent along the offensive line.


I honestly wish they would trade him for a windfall of picks. He'll go elsewhere and do the same thing he's done here (or worse) and we'll move forward without his penchant for performing poorly in big games and the massive cap figures his new deal is likely to include.

And when he doesn't win a championship anywhere else, you guys can continue to pour on the excuses.

We're a 4 win team without Romo.

Because your Jason is a terrible head coach, your Jerry can't build a roster to save his life, and your Stephen manages the cap like a fuckin retard.

GO COWBOYS
 

Bob Sacamano

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Midswat said:
Doesn't need 21 all pros.

But maybe he could go to a team that has a respectable offensive line and a running game thats worth a shit.

That's not going to make a bit of difference if his playcaller refuses to say, "look, I'm going to take the ball out of your hands for a bit" when Romo is off or is on one of his wild streaks, and hand it off to the running game.
 
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That's not going to make a bit of difference if his playcaller refuses to say, "look, I'm going to take the ball out of your hands for a bit" when Romo is off or is on one of his wild streaks, and hand it off to the running game.

I don't think it's that simple.

I think the reason he goes into the wild streaks is because he has to do too much. Often late in games, because for too much of the early parts of the game, the offense is stiffled because the Oline can't run block or adequately pass block.

There are examples of us being up big and Garrett still chucking it around (Detroit, '11 for example) though.
 

Bob Sacamano

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I don't think it's that simple.

I think the reason he goes into the wild streaks is because he has to do too much. Often late in games, because for too much of the early parts of the game, the offense is stiffled because the Oline can't run block or adequately pass block.

There are examples of us being up big and Garrett still chucking it around (Detroit, '11 for example) though.

True, but sometimes QBs can't get into a rythm for whatever reason, and they're in a game-long funk.

That's the other part of the problem, Romo doesn't get a rest. He has to be on-point every snap because he has to carry a whole, shitty team on his shoulders.
 
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True, but sometimes QBs can't get into a rythm for whatever reason, and they're in a game-long funk.

That's the other part of the problem, Romo doesn't get a rest. He has to be on-point every snap because he has to carry a whole, shitty team on his shoulders.

Agree. We rely on him to cover our shortcomings too much. No QB can do that and shine, consistantly.

When did John Elway finally come through? When he had a run game.

When did Peyton Manning finally come through? When his defense finally stepped up.

Romo has played with shit offensive lines. Shit running games. Terrible defenses (secondaries, especially). He can't carry this team alone.

Give this man a fucking offensive line.
 

Bob Sacamano

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Romo throws a significant interception late in a game and 9 times out of 10 the defense won't make a stop.
 
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