Fox's Czar on Romo deal, Cowboys/Bills notes

[dbair1967]

With Tony Romo still waiting a contract decision from the Dallas Cowboys, there was an NFL.com report this week regarding the 2008 quarterback franchise tag number. It was accurately placed at $14.2 million based on the current average of what the top five NFL quarterbacks are expected to count next season. The important word here is "expected."

Believe it or not, this $14.2 million franchise tag is not etched in stone because none of us really knows what will happen next season. For example, Green Bay is on the books to Brett Favre for $12.8 million and he ranks fourth overall. We all know there is a slight chance that Favre could opt to retire depending how this season ends, and if that happens the next quarterback's salary to be averaged in would Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck at $9.9 million — almost a $3 million drop.
Right now, the top five quarterbacks for next season are: Peyton Manning at $18.7 million, Tom Brady at $14.6 million, Carson Palmer at $13.9 million, Favre and Eli Manning at $11.4 million. I wonder who picks up the tab when the Manning brothers go out for dinner?

The other huge unknown is what will Peyton Manning do?

In the past he has drastically reduced his salary and taken that money in the form of guaranteed bonus money in order to lessen the salary cap hit for the Colts. If he does that again in 2008, Manning could reduce his salary cap number by $8 million. In fact, Peyton's cap number is $8.2 million this year while his brother's cap number with the Giants is a less generous $10.6 million. Brady's cap number in New England is $7.3 million this year, which signifies that he may do the same thing.

And all of this information is very important to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and his son, Stephen, who crunches the salary numbers for his father. Right now, Romo is earning $2.5 million. Does he look better than Eli Manning or Marc Bulger, players who are earning more than he does? You bet he does.

But Dallas is in no hurry to overpay. Yes, they could do a deal by Nov. 4 and have it count towards this year's salary cap — the Cowboys have some room — but then they can also wait to see how Romo ends his season. The magic number seems to be $10 million. But based on whatever the franchise number is next season you can see by adding $2.5 million to either $12 million or $14.2 million, the split of that total does not equal $10 million. This explains why Jones can be waiting. If he waits to pay Romo the franchise number, especially the lower one, he could be ahead of the financial game.

Of course, all bets are off if Michael Vick is somehow playing next season and his $15.5 million cap number is part of the equation...

That was a joke, folks
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Dallas at Buffalo: This is Wade Phillips' homecoming game, where he had a 29-19 record before being fired by owner Ralph Wilson when he declined to fire special teams coach Ronnie Jones. Wilson wanted Jones fired after the season when the Bills finished last in every major special teams' category. There's some gray area on whether Phillips agreed or not to fire Jones and then Wade was fired. Wilson contends that Phillips refused to fire Jones, and that act of defiance essentially means he quit. Wilson refused to give in to Phillips and the NFL had to intervene. The Bills are missing four starters and nine of their best defensive players due to injury. They also may have a quarterback controversy after how well Stanford rookie Trent Edwards played last Sunday. J.P. Losman has a sprained knee and the Bills have a bye after facing Dallas and Losman hopes to be ready for the next game against Baltimore on Oct. 21

 

[sago1]

Frankly I just don't believe Jerry Jones will franchise Romo. The Cowboys did franchise Flozel Adams back in either 2002 or 2003 but that's because they not sure they wanted keep him due inconsistency, etc. It's far different to franchise your starting pro bowl superstar QB Tony Romo.

Also are they talking about the regular franchise label which allows other teams to talk to Romo and only have to give up 2 first rounders? Or the more expensive franchise which doesn't allow Romo to talk to any team. Just think a franchise label on Romo could cause repercussions detrimental to the Cowboys, i.e., Romo getting disgusted with Jones after being a Cowboy for 5 years.

 

[jterrell]

10 years 120 million. 30 mil guaranteed with 15 mil in signing bonus and 5 mil reporting bonuses in '08,'09,'10.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Eli Manning at $11.4 million

 

[Biggems]

If I were Romo, I wouldn't care if I were franchised. Over 14 mill, are you kidding me? That is a nice chunk of change for somebody who has less than 2 full years of starting experience.

 

[FLcowboy]

10 years 120 million. 30 mil guaranteed with 15 mil in signing bonus and 5 mil reporting bonuses in '08,'09,'10.

That's a pretty good deal. Except, Romo's cap hit would be 10.5 million this year, and 15.5 million each year through 2010, then a 10.5 million hit each year after that. Certainly money that's in the ball park for top tier quarterbacks. Actually, on a going forward basis, it may be a little low. Peyton Manning is at the peak of his career now, and will start to slow down in the near term. I don't think his contract is representative of a young quarterback.

 

[jterrell]

That's a pretty good deal. Except, Romo's cap hit would be 10.5 million this year, and 15.5 million each year through 2010, then a 10.5 million hit each year after that. Certainly money that's in the ball park for top tier quarterbacks. Actually, on a going forward basis, it may be a little low. Peyton Manning is at the peak of his career now, and will start to slow down in the near term. I don't think his contract is representative of a young quarterback.

Romo would have lower bases early on as he has the big bonus money.

His base salaries would escalate at the allowable rate; something like 10% per season. Factor in some incentives and he's looking at nothing more than 5 or 6 mil in base salary year 1. His season being so good tho will make the incentives hard to place in without being likely to be met types.

He'd cost us a chunk of change but thats the case no matter what. 10-12 mil yearly is expected. If we lower it then he'd be putting off the big hit like Manny where he is looking at 17 to 18 mil unless reworked continually as Manning has done.

10-12 yearly hit isn't bad as the cap will go up and so will salaries.

 

[peppersquad]

That was my reaction! Geez!