Alternative Romo Theory

[Vinnie2u]

Romo is Done. It'll be 3 years since he's played next year... like the song says Let it Go!

 

[Nightman]

Romo is Done. It'll be 3 years since he's played next year... like the song says Let it Go!

Except for last year and the preseason this year when he was in great shape....but 3 years sounds better

 

[Super_Kazuya]

Threads like these are always funny to revisit, especially when the usual suspects have their crystal balls out. No one knows what's going to happen at this point... what happens the rest of the way will still play a big part.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Except for last year and the preseason this year when he was in great shape....but 3 years sounds better

He is ready now if need be.

 

[sean10mm]

And what exactly can Romo do to make that happen? Seems like the team controls this and not him. Regardless of how "willing" he is.

What's he gonna do? Whine? Demand to be traded?

The Cowboys "control" in this scenario is largely an illusion.

1) If they keep Romo and he doesn't retire, they will take a $24.7 million cap hit in 2017. No team in the NFL can sink that much money into a backup, and they have ZERO leverage to try to get him to re-negotiate that number. They can't threaten to cut him when his GOAL is to get off the team and sign where he wants, after all.

So a reality check: The Cowboys are NOT paying Romo over $10 million more than Tom Brady is making in 2017 to keep the bench warm for Dak.

2) If they trade Romo somewhere he doesn't want to go, Romo can just retire and they get nothing.

The only way Dallas gets anything is if they trade Romo to where he wants to go anyway - that gets them the cap relief of releasing him AND whatever the other team is willing to give them. If they just release him he goes to whatever team he wants so he still "wins" and they get the cap relief.

 

[xwalker]

The Cowboys "control" in this scenario is largely an illusion.

1) If they keep Romo and he doesn't retire, they will take a $24.7 million cap hit in 2017. No team in the NFL can sink that much money into a backup, and they have ZERO leverage to try to get him to re-negotiate that number. They can't threaten to cut him when his GOAL is to get off the team and sign where he wants, after all.

So a reality check: The Cowboys are NOT paying Romo over $10 million more than Tom Brady is making in 2017 to keep the bench warm for Dak.

2) If they trade Romo somewhere he doesn't want to go, Romo can just retire and they get nothing.

The only way Dallas gets anything is if they trade Romo to where he wants to go anyway - that gets them the cap relief of releasing him AND whatever the other team is willing to give them. If they just release him he goes to whatever team he wants so he still "wins" and they get the cap relief.

I agree with your basic points, but the 24M number is irrelevant. His 2017 salary is 14M. That is still too much for a backup QB.

One issue is that if he retires, then technically he owes the Cowboys money. He is half way through a 6 year contract; therefore, he would own them half of his signing bonus if he retires against the wishes of the team.

I'm sure that Jerry will want to part on good terms with Romo so I doubt any of it becomes an issue, but the Cowboys do have some leverage.

 

[Virginia-Dave]

Having Romo for a backup next season would be great, but like everyone else has said, I just don't see it. It doesn't make sense to have that much money tied up in a backup QB, but I don't think that's the reason Romo will be gone. The Cowboys will save a few million next season if they get him off the roster, but with the small amount of money they're paying Dak, I don't think those savings will be enough for the Cowboys to feel like they HAVE to move him. Plus they'll have to bring in a veteran QB as a back up anyway, so the savings will be relatively minimal.

I do think Romo will be gone, but it will be because he wants to go. Like others have said, he wants play. He believes he can play, he believes he can start, he believes he can win games, and he wants off this team. All you have to do is look at Tony's demeanor on the sideline during the games since he gave his statement. Before he gave that statement, and believed he would get his job back, he was all smiles on the sideline. He was coaching up Dak, and high fiving guys after big plays. Since he gave that statement, it's been all frowny faces for Tony. He looks miserable, and I'm sure he is. He is as good as gone, which I have to say, is a little sad. I wish him lots of luck, as long as he leaves our division.

 

[Nightman]

The Cowboys "control" in this scenario is largely an illusion.

1) If they keep Romo and he doesn't retire, they will take a $24.7 million cap hit in 2017. No team in the NFL can sink that much money into a backup, and they have ZERO leverage to try to get him to re-negotiate that number. They can't threaten to cut him when his GOAL is to get off the team and sign where he wants, after all.

So a reality check: The Cowboys are NOT paying Romo over $10 million more than Tom Brady is making in 2017 to keep the bench warm for Dak.

2) If they trade Romo somewhere he doesn't want to go, Romo can just retire and they get nothing.

The only way Dallas gets anything is if they trade Romo to where he wants to go anyway - that gets them the cap relief of releasing him AND whatever the other team is willing to give them. If they just release him he goes to whatever team he wants so he still "wins" and they get the cap relief.

When your starting QB is making 500k you can afford a 14m backup QB

Romo doesn't have any leverage besides retiring and that means he doesn't play for anyone

DAL has no incentive to just release Romo......they don't get any cap relief until June 1st under any scenario so it is better to have patience and wait for a big QB injury in TC

If he stays they can restructure his 14m and still lower his cap hit by 9m

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

Except for last year and the preseason this year when he was in great shape....but 3 years sounds better

Great shape? That must be why he was unable to stay healthy. He's played in 4 regular season games in 2 years and got hurt in 2 of them. If that's great shape I'd hate to think what bad shape would be.

 

[sean10mm]

When your starting QB is making 500k you can afford a 14m backup QB Not when you're projected to be $10 million over the cap in 2017.
If he stays they can restructure his 14m and still lower his cap hit by 9m Only if he agrees to, which I haven't heard a single reason why he would.

 

[sean10mm]

In all seriousness, paying someone a big share of your salary cap to be a backup is a terrible idea. No NFL team has ever set out to spend $24 million in cap space on someone they hope to NOT play that season.

 

[Nightman]

In all seriousness, paying someone a big share of your salary cap to be a backup is a terrible idea. No NFL team has ever set out to spend $24 million in cap space on someone they hope to NOT play that season.

the 24m was never going to be the cap number.....it was always going to be reduced and they don't need his consent to restructure his 14m base salary into a signing bonus to save 9m on the cap

they would still have one of the lowest cap totals for QBs in the league......ours would just be reversed

 

[Nightman]

Great shape? That must be why he was unable to stay healthy. He's played in 4 regular season games in 2 years and got hurt in 2 of them. If that's great shape I'd hate to think what bad shape would be.

I guess Gronk wasn't in shape either.........he just ruptured a disk on a non-contact play........one game after puncturing a lung......what a softee

 

[haleyrules]

Great shape? That must be why he was unable to stay healthy. He's played in 4 regular season games in 2 years and got hurt in 2 of them. If that's great shape I'd hate to think what bad shape would be.

Amen. You ain't kiddin.

 

[haleyrules]

Tony Romo will never be the back up in Dallas after this season. It simply doesn't work that way. The old Warriors that lose their jobs to young studs always leave the team. Prescott won't have him around and the club doesn't need or want the distraction. Tony is done in Big D.

 

[DallasEast]

Tony Romo will never be the back up in Dallas after this season. It simply doesn't work that way. The old Warriors that lose their jobs to young studs always leave the team. Prescott won't have him around and the club doesn't need or want the distraction. Tony is done in Big D.

The "doesn't need or want the distraction" was a bit much in my opinion but I agree with every other word completely. There are always possibilities but my guess is the odds of Romo being in Dallas for 2017 are slim to none zero.

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

I guess Gronk wasn't in shape either.........he just ruptured a disk on a non-contact play........one game after puncturing a lung......what a softee

Never said Tony was a softee. The guy's been a warrior but after awhile age and health takes a toll.

 

[fairviewfarmer]

If Troy Aikman can be released, there is no doubt that Tony Romo can be released too. That said, I think Jerry trades him to the team of Tony's choice.

 

[big dog cowboy]

If Troy Aikman can be released, there is no doubt that Tony Romo can be released too.

Different sceneros completely.

 

[fairviewfarmer]

Different sceneros completely.

My second sentence( that you omitted) in the post you are replying to, alludes to the difference in scenarios.......