Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo Trade, Jerry’s Plan All Along

As Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys conjure a trade market for Tony Romo, it’s become clear that this was the plan all along.

Just when we all thought Tony Romo was about to be released upon the free agent market, the Dallas Cowboys flip the script and start talking trade. Citing interest from competing teams, the Cowboys grabbed their leverage by the horns and started looking for compensation.

Whether the competing interest is legitimate or conjured is unknown at this time. Would-be suitors are understandably playing this close to the vest. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are talking frenzy-level demand and the potential suitors are frantically downplaying their all-so-obvious interest.

While this kind of waiting is killing fans of both sides, the stress levels are tenfold for the teams involved. That’s where having an owner like Jones becomes a decided advantage.

To think this is a spur of the moment development is not knowing Jerry Jones.

This trade talk may come as a surprise to many of us, it was likely the plan of Jerry Jones’ all along. From the start, Owner Jones has been determined to handle the PR side of the Tony Romo saga.

Coach Jason Garrett and executive vice president Stephen Jones have been uncharacteristically hesitant to even comment on the matter.

Since the conclusion of the season, Jerry has been busy talking up the value of his man Tony. He’s mentioned cutting, trading, and retaining as possibilities. He’s been vague in almost every way and has kept his front office, as well as Tony Romo, from saying the wrong thing.

As a sales technique it’s simple. If you want to sell something for a price no one wants to pay, you have to find a way for your buyer to fall in love BEFORE he finds out the price.

Jerry Jones made Tony Romo appear very attainable this offseason. This allowed teams to open themselves up to the idea of Romo. Then, once desire has set in, he  pulled it back and revealed the price.

To think this is a spur of the moment development is not knowing Jerry Jones. This is precisely what Jones loves to do and thrives in doing. Oilmen aren’t afraid of making big moves. Oilmen are afraid of NOT making big moves. And at the end of the day, that’s what Jerry is – an oilman.

While this is clearly speculation, I fully believe Tony Romo has been on board from the start. I suspect he has a short list of teams (probably two) that he’d like to play for and as long as the Cowboys can get him there, he’ll be happy to play along, keep quiet, and facilitate any contract restructuring to make it work.

Again – complete speculation here but I feel Romo would be acting much differently if there was a threat of being traded to the 49ers or Bears here. Nope, Tony Romo seems to be playing this cool. Say what you want about Jerry but he has a well-oiled machine here in Dallas and everyone seems to be on board.

The fact that he possibly created something out of nothing is even more impressive. That’s something that can only be trumped by actual trade compensation.

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No Risk

This is a no-risk/just-reward situation here. Besides our blood pressure, what can go wrong? If no one is willing to trade for Romo the Dallas Cowboys are no worse for the wear. They can release him one of two ways and eat the dead money accordingly.

With such talented rosters in Denver and Houston, Tony Romo would not only make them playoff teams but make them Super Bowl contenders. Missing out on him would likely mean missing out on the playoffs…again.

That’s a high cost.

And that’s a lot of pressure for those two franchises.

I suspect something like a 4^th round pick in 2017 and a conditional 2^nd round pick in 2018 would get the job done today. But with the bluffing game in full effect, all we know right now is what the concerned franchises (including the Cowboys) want us to know – a whole lotta BS.

The Good News

Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys seem to be parting on good terms and a trade to a team of Romo’s liking would make this a mutually beneficial split.

The waiting game may be killing Cowboys Nation right now, but it’s much worse on those other teams who want Romo. Patience is a virtue in games like this and Jerry Jones is exactly the guy you want running the show in situations like this.

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There’s much to gain and absolutely nothing to lose so let’s sit back and appreciate our oilman owner do his thing. Because I suspect, this has been his plan from the start.