Dallas Cowboys, Tony Romo Remain in a Peculiar Holding Pattern

Will he be released? Will he be traded? Strange things are afoot at The Star as the saga between the Cowboys and Tony Romo continues.

I suppose we should not be surprised. This is the team run by one Jerral Wayne Jones. “According to Hoyle” isn’t typically a phrase used in conjunction with the day-to-day operations of the Dallas Cowboys. The ongoing mystery in regard to the Tony Romo situation is no exception.

When reports surfaced on Thursday that Dallas would not be releasing Romo, speculation pointed toward a possible trade. But that day came and went. Friday slid by, as did Saturday and Sunday. Still, no movement. So the longer this draws out, the more we’re drawn to the conclusion that the Cowboys are vainly trying to manufacture a trade market.

Consequently, what seemed to be a positive in the early going ultimately smells of the organization reneging on their apparent promise to let Tony go. This is problematic in more ways than one.

First, if there were no callers for possible trades, then why delay an outright release? I understand the desire to get at least something in return for Romo, but that’s probably some wishful thinking on the part of the front office. I’m Team Tony all the way, but the recent and extensive injury history isn’t doing anyone any favors. In other words, there’s no need for any potential suitor to part with any assets if they don’t absolutely have to.

More from Dallas Cowboys

Secondly, much has been made of the relationship between the Jones family and Romo, and rightfully so. Jerry Jones paid his star-crossed signal caller a princely sum. Romo returned the favor by elevating some bad teams to mediocre, and some above average squads to really good. The relationship between the two camps was symbiotic. Ultimately, however, the physical toll on Romo’s body is pretty much why they’re all in this pickle currently. Why try to initiate a game of chicken when the return would be a conditional sixth-rounder at best? The longer this goes, the more it has to strain the relationship.

The other oddity is the national perception surrounding Romo. Anecdotally speaking, it seems the immediate reactions of Texans and Broncos fans regarding Romo’s potential arrival ranged from disdain to fear. At least that’s the way it appeared to me on social media. While I could halfway understand why the Denver contingent would react that way, the Houston hate was the real head scratcher to me. I think the consensus is that the Texan defense is a world-class unit. If they acquired Romo, and if he could stay healthy, then they just might be ready to challenge the New England Patriots for AFC supremacy. It just seems like Romo’s inaccurate reputation as a choke artist is still following him around to some degree. That’s a shame.

There’s certainly something to the notion of watching someone ply their craft day after day, week after week, year after year. You grow to appreciate how they prepare, how they study, and the hard work that goes into the process. We experienced it here with Maverick legend Dirk Nowitzki. Until he won an NBA championship, he was just another soft Euro destined to fail in the clutch. But then 2011 happened, and everyone had to shut up. Almost six years later, DIrk’s still the king of Dallas.

Sadly, that moment never came with Tony Romo, but the fans here know what we witnessed. At least most of the rational ones do. We watched a guy give his heart, body, and soul to the Cowboys organization. When he took over as the starter back in 2006, we realized everything between him and Troy Aikman was a simple procession of clowns. Franchise quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. Ask Cleveland. No, we recognized what was going on when we saw it, and we grew to love it more and more as the years passed.

More from Sports Dallas Fort-Worth

Next: Dallas Cowboys Free Agency: Why Things Are Going Just Fine

The times have changed in the interim. He’s no longer a young man. This brutal game has extracted its pound of flesh on his increasingly fragile body. Yet the man feels like he can contribute to a good team. Given a reasonable level of good health, there’s no reason to think he couldn’t push a franchise to the next level. It’s a huge “if”, but if your team decides to take a chance, you’re going to love him.

Home/Dallas Cowboys