Cowboys: Is Being Good to Tony Romo Being Bad to the Cowboys?

As the Cowboys prepare to move on from the Tony Romo era in Dallas many want nothing but the best for their former signal-caller. But is being good to Romo being bad to the Cowboys?

The Cowboys expected handling of Tony Romo has now hit critical mass on the interwebs. Cowboys fans are obviously glued to the news wire, but so are about a half dozen quarterback needy teams, as well as NFL inquiring minds.

What will the Cowboys do with Tony Romo?

Who will he play for?

Will he be cut or will he be traded?

Will he even make a difference?

Questions are abound regarding ‘Ol Number Nine these days and while some of it is out of the Cowboys direct control, much of it is in their complete control.

What if doing what’s best for Romo is not what’s best for the Dallas Cowboys?

Doing right by Romo is a topic being bounced around by Cowboys faithful a lot lately.

Whether its loyalty, gratitude, or good old fashioned karma driving them, many feel Tony Romo deserves to go to a team of his choosing.

Others, including myself, feel if the Cowboys can trade him, then they must trade him. Loyalty be damned. This business-like approach may sound cold-hearted to the man we all know and love, but it’s the nature of the business. After all, it’s not like the Cowboys are refusing Romo his money.

As I stated last month, besides $19 million, the Cowboys don’t owe Romo a thing. This callused sentiment received quite the negative feedback. “Doing the right thing” seemed to demand the Cowboys allow their former starting QB to play for a contender of his choosing. Not to be banished to a team like the New York Jets or San Francisco 49ers.

The Big Dilemma: Help Romo or Help the Cowboys?

What if doing what’s best for Romo is not what’s best for the Dallas Cowboys. What if they’re mutually exclusive and require one or the other? So if you had to pick between Romo or the team, wouldn’t “doing the right thing” be to act in the Cowboys’ favor?

If you can get something for a departing asset, you owe it to the team, players, coaches, and fans to go get that something.

If the Cowboys want to make Tony Romo a designated June 1^st cut then they likely have no choice – they’ll need to release him and this argument becomes moot.

But if they’re able to digest his $19M hit against the cap this season, things change.

For better or for worse, all indications are that Tony Romo will be released and that will happen sooner rather than later.

It may even include a gentlemen’s agreement NOT to join certain teams. But just releasing him now, and getting nothing in return, is doing a disservice to the team, coaches, and fans.

Setting Expectations

Obviously Tony Romo isn’t going to pull in a pair of first round picks but that doesn’t mean he’s worthless either. Sam Bradford pulled quite the hefty return (1^st round pick) when traded last season and while Romo is older and more prone to injury, he’s twice the player.

The shelves are bare for those looking for a franchise arm. If you’re a GM desperate for a QB and a winning season, your options are slim right now. They only got slimmer with Jimmy Garoppolo now off the trade market. Romo has value, it’s just tough to tell how much.

The value gets set on the open market, so any speculation is difficult right now. But it only takes two teams to start a bidding war and if one team (or both) feel they can’t get him on the open market as a free agent, they will be especially motivated to make a trade.

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Some people ask, “If Romo is only worth a 4^th round pick on the market, then we might as well just cut him.”

While I agree a fourth round pick would be disappointing, I would counter that Dak Prescott was a fourth round pick. Would you give up the chance to draft a player like Prescott simply to be “nice” to a departing veteran?

Of course not. Now, Prescott is clearly an outlying performer when compared to your average fourth round pick. But that doesn’t make the point any less valid. If you can get something for a departing asset, you owe it to the team, players, coaches, and fans to go get that something.

It is of my firm belief that if there is a viable trade market (competing teams interested in acquiring Romo) Jerry Jones should pursue it. Only if there is no acceptable value should Jones release Tony Romo for nothing.

After all, we all know Romo will be a starting quarterback somewhere next season. And since starting quarterbacks are the most valuable (and rarest) players in the NFL, he should garner something in return. Even with his age and sorted injury history.

Next: Why the Cowboys will be active in free agency

I wish nothing but the best for Tony Romo and hope he lands in a great situation. I just don’t think it should come at the cost of upgrading the Cowboys. What say you?

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