Quarterback Tony Romo and everybody in apountry are being held hostage in a staredown between Denver general manager and owner Jerry Jones.
Free Romo!
Free-agent frenzy, when NFL teams overpay for their shortcomings and compound mistakes by hoping money turns a B+ player into a er, is about to commence. But the madness can’t really start in Denver until Jones releases Romo from the $44 million in base compensation remaining on his contract, taking a severe salary cap hit in the process.
Romo wants out of Dallas. The Broncos would like to talk to the 36-year-old quarterback about riding off into the sunset as a champion, the way did.
But why would Jones want to make the process quick and easy for anybody?
Jones ain’t Mother Teresa. He’s a businessman with an ego the size of Texas. Forget whatap best for Romo. And forget whatap best for the Broncos, who aren’t ever going to win a championship with as their starting quarterback. The first person Jones wants to do right by is Jones.
Unless Jones is a sentimental fool, it makes sense for him to continue the search for a greater fool who is willing to offer Dallas some trade compensation for Romo, or at least wait to release his veteran quarterback after June 1, in order to take advantage of cap rules to lessen the pain of a $20 million hit in dead money.
Elway won’t blink. It behooves the Broncos to stay calm and wait patiently for Romo’s release, then see how cheaply they might obtain a veteran with a sterling quarterback rating and an ugly medical history. Yes, we all want our answers piping hot and fast from the microwave. Landing Romo, however, is a slow play, requiring the patience of a fly-fisherman.
While I shamelessly pine for Romo, Elway can’t sit around fantasizing about how Romo could help him beat and the . Elway has roster holes to fill and money to spend in free agency. If the Broncos can sign Arizona defensive lineman Calais Campbell to plug a gaping hole in their run defense or lure free agent T.J. Lang from Green Bay to play right guard, does Elway really want to sit and save his nickels to sign Romo?
There’s one aspect of romancing the Romo that hasn’t been addressed in polite company: Although considered blasphemy in these parts, could it be Jones knows more about quarterbacks than Elway does?
Elway thought he beat Jones to the punch a year ago, when Denver traded up to draft Memphis quarterback , who was also coveted by the Cowboys. Jones had to settle for selecting Dak Prescott in the fourth round. All Prescott did as a rookie was throw 23 touchdown passes, earn a Pro Bowl invitation and lead Dallas to the playoffs.
Advantage, Jones.
And now the Broncos are chasing Romo, made superfluous in Dallas by a young quarterback whom Elway undervalued in the draft?
Elway hates to lose.
The Broncos need Romo. If everybody’s patient, and he’s willing to play in Denver for a salary of $10 million plus incentives, then signing him is a no-brainer.
But here’s betting Elway would rather let Romo rot on the Cowboys’ bench (or even worse, go to work in Houston) than let Jones get the best of him again.
