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Dallas Cowboys Should Swallow Tony Romo’s $27 Million

By John Bankston

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Dallas Cowboys Director of Player Personnel Stephen Jones was asked recently whether the team is sure to restructure quarterback Tony Romo’s contract this offseason. Romo will count more than $27 million against the salary cap in 2015, and space will be needed to retain some core free agents on offense and upgrade the defense.

In answering, Jones strongly advocated fiscal responsibility.

"“Our goal is not to mortgage the future,” Jones said. “I mean, we’d like to have guys play under their contract at their cap numbers.”"

Then in the same breath, Jones counterpointed himself.

"“But it’s also, I think, a unique window for the Cowboys right now.”"

Protect future iterations of the Cowboys by building through the draft and small-ball free agency, or risk breaking future caps to load up for a run now. What will the Cowboys do?

If they believe they can get three more years out of Romo, they’ll likely restructure him. According to Mike Fisher at CBS, Dallas could free up as much as $16 million for the 2015 cap by restructuring Romo. That space could be critical to extending All Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant or All Pro running back DeMarco Murray, or adding an elite edge rusher.

Judging by Romo’s contract figures at overthecap.com, that restructure would add $4 million in guaranteed money to each of the final four years of his contract, through 2019. Should the need arise to cut Romo sometime after 2015, his dead money figures would look something like this:

[table id=92 /]

A $6.5 million cap hit in 2018 is peanuts for a franchise quarterback, and should be easy enough to digest amid rising cap ceilings. The team took a harder hit cutting Miles Austin’s hamstring before 2014. The question is, can Romo play at his usual elite level, or close to it, through 2017? He’ll be 37 years old for the 2017 season. Three more years of taking a pounding. A surgically removed cyst. Then a herniated disc. Then two fractures in his spine. What will be the straw that breaks Romo’s back?

The day Romo can’t go, this team will need every playmaker it can muster to stay competitive. The Romo-less Cowboys will need every dime of cap space allotted. Think you hate watching 8-8 football? Five-win seasons are a hell of a lot worse. Restructuring Romo is a decision that can be redeemed only by winning the Super Bowl.

I say leave his contract alone. The Cowboys may win the Super Bowl next year anyway. People are wrong when they say Dallas was “close” this year. Dallas wasn’t close. Dallas was there.

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    • Dallas, Green Bay, even Detroit were all good enough to win the Super Bowl this year. The Cowboys got the breaks against Detroit, and they advanced. The Packers got the breaks against Dallas, and they advanced. The Seahawks got the breaks against Green Bay, and they advanced.

    There is so little separation at the top of the NFL, almost any of the 12 teams playing each January can win it all by catching a few breaks. Being healthy at the right time. A call goes your way. The ball bounces just right. A coach makes the right decision at the right time. What’s the right decision? The one that works, obviously. When the split is 51-49, it’s not always easy to see the distinction clearly. Make a call and live with it.

    This organization is competent in the draft room. The coaching staff has shown the ability to develop young talent. The franchise culture of competition and accountability inspires the very best from every player and staff member. These Cowboys are built right, and they can field a team capable of winning it all again next season without compromising future iterations of the star.

    It’s a tough choice. The “unique window” Jones spoke of will be open only as long as the franchise quarterback is healthy and able to make his throws. How long that will be is anyone’s guess. And it’ll be just that – a guess.

    But even if the Cowboys decide to push dead money down the road and go big in free agency, it’s no guarantee of a Super Bowl in 2015. I think the brass understands that.

    "“Seems like we’ve found, you know, it’s really tough to find the quick fix,” Jones said, wrapping up his Q&A. “Usually the best fix is through the draft, and if you’re going to go through the draft, you know, that’s the most economical way to do it, too. So you’re not in a situation where you’re putting yourself in a bad situation from a salary cap standpoint.”"

    Usually, the best fix is through the draft. Smart. Smart for 2015, and all the way through the end of Romo’s contract in 2019. Romo can still get his ring; he’ll just need a few breaks. Like any other quarterback who wins it all.

    Next: Cowboys: Potential Free Agents To Keep An Eye On

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