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Romo-Cowboys talks: Dallas owner Jerry Jones continues to talk about the potential for signing emerging star quarterback Tony Romo to a long-term contract extension. But talk is cheap. What isn't going to be cheap, though, is a new deal for the fifth-year veteran, who is in the final year of a contract that pays him a base salary of just $1.5 million for 2007. There have been discussions lately between Cowboys chief operating officer/executive vice president Stephen Jones and agent Ken Kremer, who is Romo's primary representative at Creative Artists Agency, but the two sides aren't close to a deal.
It's believed that Kremer is seeking a contract north of the extension that St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger signed this summer, a deal that pays the Rams' star an average of nearly $11 million per year. Even if a contract isn't consummated, Dallas isn't going to allow Romo onto the unrestricted free-agent market, and the Cowboys seem content for now to just designate him as a franchise player, if need be.
But that could be a relatively expensive venture, too. Although it is thought that the qualifying offer for a franchise quarterback actually will be reduced in the spring of 2008 -- perhaps from the $12.615 million it was this year to about $11 million, in part because Michael Vick's contract will be eliminated from the equation the Cowboys probably would have to use the exclusive franchise marker to keep any teams from trying to pry Romo away. And the exclusive qualifying offer could be in the $14 million range, with the possibility of it rising to about $17 million in 2009.
So the Cowboys could use the exclusive tender for two years, and pay Romo about $31 million, and then have to pay even more for a third franchised year. So while there is a possibility Dallas could retain Romo for three more years, just by applying the exclusive franchise designation, the price tag might exceed $50 million. It might just be easier, and more financially prudent, to sign him to a long-term contract.
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Tank Johnson's contract: The incentive package included in the two-year contract that defensive tackle Tank Johnson signed with Dallas two weeks ago can end up paying the former Chicago starter a lot of money. Even though Johnson got just minimum base salaries -- $510,000 for this year, prorated over the number of games in which he participates, and $605,000 for 2008 -- he could net more than $4 million if he plays exceedingly well once he joins the Cowboys for the second half of the season.
The club felt it was smart to sign Johnson this early, Jones reiterated to ESPN.com last Sunday night, because it feared some other teams might lose defensive tackles and get into the chase for the fourth-year veteran.
"He can be an outstanding player, and to get a guy in here who will be fresh for the second half (of the year) will be a boost," Jones said.
His suspension does not preclude Johnson from working out at the Cowboys' facility, as long as the sessions are individual, and he is expected to begin doing so this weekend or early next week.
LINK
It's believed that Kremer is seeking a contract north of the extension that St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger signed this summer, a deal that pays the Rams' star an average of nearly $11 million per year. Even if a contract isn't consummated, Dallas isn't going to allow Romo onto the unrestricted free-agent market, and the Cowboys seem content for now to just designate him as a franchise player, if need be.
But that could be a relatively expensive venture, too. Although it is thought that the qualifying offer for a franchise quarterback actually will be reduced in the spring of 2008 -- perhaps from the $12.615 million it was this year to about $11 million, in part because Michael Vick's contract will be eliminated from the equation the Cowboys probably would have to use the exclusive franchise marker to keep any teams from trying to pry Romo away. And the exclusive qualifying offer could be in the $14 million range, with the possibility of it rising to about $17 million in 2009.
So the Cowboys could use the exclusive tender for two years, and pay Romo about $31 million, and then have to pay even more for a third franchised year. So while there is a possibility Dallas could retain Romo for three more years, just by applying the exclusive franchise designation, the price tag might exceed $50 million. It might just be easier, and more financially prudent, to sign him to a long-term contract.
----
Tank Johnson's contract: The incentive package included in the two-year contract that defensive tackle Tank Johnson signed with Dallas two weeks ago can end up paying the former Chicago starter a lot of money. Even though Johnson got just minimum base salaries -- $510,000 for this year, prorated over the number of games in which he participates, and $605,000 for 2008 -- he could net more than $4 million if he plays exceedingly well once he joins the Cowboys for the second half of the season.
The club felt it was smart to sign Johnson this early, Jones reiterated to ESPN.com last Sunday night, because it feared some other teams might lose defensive tackles and get into the chase for the fourth-year veteran.
"He can be an outstanding player, and to get a guy in here who will be fresh for the second half (of the year) will be a boost," Jones said.
His suspension does not preclude Johnson from working out at the Cowboys' facility, as long as the sessions are individual, and he is expected to begin doing so this weekend or early next week.
LINK
the difference between Exclusive and non Exclusive franchise tags 
