THE “OTHER” EIU IDEA
Free agency is almost never a fertile ground for finding franchise quarterbacks. Instances like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are exceedingly rare. The best teams can hope for on most occasions is a young quarterback who might have overlooked traits or an older veteran who might have some gas left in the tank. One name could be set to become available who fits that latter category.
ESPN did a segment recently that offered the latest indication that the Dallas Cowboys might be leaning towards the release of longtime quarterback Tony Romo. Due to the rise of young star Dak Prescott and the teams’ pressing need for salary cap relief, it’s not a move that should be considered the biggest surprise.
Romo is such a polarizing quarterback. On the one hand he’s a four-time Pro Bowler who was outstanding for a lot of years in Dallas. When he’s healthy he has that capability to win games himself. At the same time he has a reputation for both being a heart breaker and is now becoming an injury risk thanks to a back ailment he’s dealt with the past few years.
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LOGIC BEHIND THE MOVE
Given he’s about to turn 37-years old, no team is going to make him their long-term option under center. What he’ll be looking for is a chance to finish up his career as a starter for one or two more years. Some have tried to steer the idea away from the Bears considering him, but there is plenty reason to think it’s possible.
“The Bears are likely to move on from quarterback Jay Cutler, which would open up $13 million worth of salary-cap space. They could replace Cutler by committing a second-round pick to acquiring a younger quarterback, perhaps in a trade with the Patriots for Jimmy Garoppolo … or they could sign Romo and spend that second-round pick on a rookie to groom behind him. John Fox’s job security as head coach looks good, which is an important note for a team with other positions in flux.”
That last part isn’t necessarily true. Fox will survive for another year but he’s won just nine games in his first two seasons as head coach. He has to win in 2017 or the risk is real that he could be fired. There is no way to guarantee that, but putting somebody proven at quarterback would be a wise proposition. Romo would have Jordan Howard at running back, a Pro Bowler-laden interior offensive line and maybe Alshon Jeffery too. He’s done more with less.
