CBS Wins Tony Romo Sweepstakes
Tony Romo’s latest career decision ensures he will be working at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta in February of 2019, but it will be in the broadcast booth. Romo will join Jim Nantz at CBS as the top color commentator, replacing Phil Simms. Romo says the decision came down to health and what is best for both he and his family at this time. After missing time with serious injuries each of the last two seasons, Romo wasn’t willing to risk another serious injury.
The decision will allow the Cowboys to release Romo with a post June 1 designation, softening the blow on the salary cap this year by extending it over this year and next. With a pre-June 1 cut, Romo would have counted $19.6 million against the salary cap this year. Romo will now count $10.7 million against the Cowboys salary cap this season, saving them $14 million from his scheduled $24.7 million. He will then count $8.9 million against the salary cap in 2018.
The move gives the Cowboys some freedom to sign a couple more free agents and their draft picks this year. Before the announcement, the Cowboys only had about $1.87 million in salary cap space, which was still not nearly enough to sign their rookies this year. That will now increase to over $15 million, meaning they will have about $8-9 million they can still spend in free agency while still having money to sign their rookies.
The Texans and Broncos now lose their opportunity to pick up Romo, which could lead to free agency and draft implications. The Texans had dealt Brock Osweiler in an NBA style salary cap clearing trade mostly to make room for Romo, and will now go into 2017 with Tom Savage as their starter at quarterback. They may now look to pick up a quarterback early in this year’s draft.
Love Romo or hate him, he has to go down as one of the best value quarterbacks of all time. When he was signed as an undrafted free agent, nobody expected him to rise to a starting position, never mind a multiple time pro-bowler and leader in Dallas Cowboys history in numerous passing categories. He never had the playoff success Dallas fans demand, but in his era he was undoubtedly one of the top ten best quarterbacks, and to make it to that point as an undrafted free agent, he deserves a ton of credit. He will end his career watching from the sidelines as rookie sensation Dak Prescott takes over, as another low expectations rookie that got thrust into the spotlight.
Romo will now fulfill his dream of working at the Super Bowl, but not in the way he had originally hoped. Do you like the move? Do you think he should have went to Houston or Denver? Most importantly, are you relieved that Phil Simms will no longer be calling games? Comment and let us know! Stay tuned for more current sports stories. Don't forget to follow us on social media. You can find us on , Instagram @beyondthemetrics, and Twitter @byondthemetrics
