Investing in Romo has some risks
by Mike Finger
Express-News
There was little chance of buyer's remorse, if billionaires even experience such a thing. But seven months after announcing his new stadium would boast the biggest video board installation the world had ever seen, Jerry Jones had to have been at least a little nervous as he watched an amateur scientific experiment at the Alamodome on Friday.
Using a sporting-goods store range finder and the right leg of punter Mat McBriar, a group of Dallas Cowboys staffers was trying to determine how high the state-of-the-art scoreboard needed to be hung to avoid interfering with booming kicks.
Turns out, there was nothing for Jones to worry about. But can you imagine if, like a guy who springs for a Hummer to park in his single-car garage, Jones had brought his new toy home and the darn thing didn't fit?
With major purchases, there is always the risk of splurging too soon. That's why Jones is taking his time with his most important spending decision of the offseason, and it's also why he should wait until long after training camp is over to make it.
Sure, Tony Romo looks like he might be worth $20 million or so. But before Jones writes that check, shouldn't he do a little more measuring first?
That issue — whether or not to extend Romo's contract, which expires after this season — is one that has hung over the Cowboys for months. It reared its head again Friday, with word that the St. Louis Rams had signed Marc Bulger to a six-year extension worth $27 million in guaranteed money.
Because Bulger has a longer, more distinguished track record, it probably wouldn't cost the Cowboys that much to lock up Romo for the foreseeable future. But Romo is coming off a Pro Bowl appearance, and he won't be a bargain.
The question for Jones is, does he shell out the cash for Romo now and run the risk of committing to a quarterback who might have been nothing more than a 12-game flash in the pan? Or does Jones wait, and potentially cost himself millions more dollars if Romo fares even better this fall?
Jones this week has danced all around this problem, other than to say "it's a good one to have." Some think the Cowboys will focus on the Romo negotiations now that they've signed all of their draft picks. Others are saying Jones will wait, which, considering the uncertainty about how Romo will respond to last season's disappointing finish, is probably the wisest thing to do.
But it's not that simple. There are other factors at play, the most important one being that the Cowboys have no long-term answer in case Romo fails. Brad Johnson is a fine backup for this season, but he has about as much of a chance of being a franchise quarterback in 2008 as Priest Holmes has of playing for the Chiefs in 2007.
(Memo to Kansas City running back Larry Johnson, who the Chiefs are trying to scare into signing a new deal by invoking Holmes' name: I spoke to Holmes two weeks ago, and he said he hadn't been working out all summer, but added that his poker game was in fine shape. So when he says he's coming back, here's betting he's bluffing.)
As for Jones' options, he limited himself in April, when he passed on Notre Dame's Brady Quinn on draft day. By choosing not to select a quarterback, Jones was saying he believes Romo was the man for the team's future. And if that's still the case, then an extension probably is coming soon.
Romo, for his part, insists he doesn't care. The stability of a long-term deal would obviously be nice, but he said that wouldn't relax him any more than playing for a big contract would motivate him.
"It doesn't really enter my mind as far as being a reason to play or an extra incentive in any way," Romo said Friday. "If I ever thought that, I'd probably diminish myself, as far as work habits or work ethic that I have. All I know is, it's not fun if you're not trying to win."
Romo seemed a bit perturbed that he had to answer the question, which is another argument for an extension — the sooner he signs a new contract, the sooner the distraction goes away.
But sooner isn't always best. As Jones watched and measured with McBriar, he knew: If you're going to spend that kind of money on something, you better be sure it fits.
Express-News
There was little chance of buyer's remorse, if billionaires even experience such a thing. But seven months after announcing his new stadium would boast the biggest video board installation the world had ever seen, Jerry Jones had to have been at least a little nervous as he watched an amateur scientific experiment at the Alamodome on Friday.
Using a sporting-goods store range finder and the right leg of punter Mat McBriar, a group of Dallas Cowboys staffers was trying to determine how high the state-of-the-art scoreboard needed to be hung to avoid interfering with booming kicks.
Turns out, there was nothing for Jones to worry about. But can you imagine if, like a guy who springs for a Hummer to park in his single-car garage, Jones had brought his new toy home and the darn thing didn't fit?
With major purchases, there is always the risk of splurging too soon. That's why Jones is taking his time with his most important spending decision of the offseason, and it's also why he should wait until long after training camp is over to make it.
Sure, Tony Romo looks like he might be worth $20 million or so. But before Jones writes that check, shouldn't he do a little more measuring first?
That issue — whether or not to extend Romo's contract, which expires after this season — is one that has hung over the Cowboys for months. It reared its head again Friday, with word that the St. Louis Rams had signed Marc Bulger to a six-year extension worth $27 million in guaranteed money.
Because Bulger has a longer, more distinguished track record, it probably wouldn't cost the Cowboys that much to lock up Romo for the foreseeable future. But Romo is coming off a Pro Bowl appearance, and he won't be a bargain.
The question for Jones is, does he shell out the cash for Romo now and run the risk of committing to a quarterback who might have been nothing more than a 12-game flash in the pan? Or does Jones wait, and potentially cost himself millions more dollars if Romo fares even better this fall?
Jones this week has danced all around this problem, other than to say "it's a good one to have." Some think the Cowboys will focus on the Romo negotiations now that they've signed all of their draft picks. Others are saying Jones will wait, which, considering the uncertainty about how Romo will respond to last season's disappointing finish, is probably the wisest thing to do.
But it's not that simple. There are other factors at play, the most important one being that the Cowboys have no long-term answer in case Romo fails. Brad Johnson is a fine backup for this season, but he has about as much of a chance of being a franchise quarterback in 2008 as Priest Holmes has of playing for the Chiefs in 2007.
(Memo to Kansas City running back Larry Johnson, who the Chiefs are trying to scare into signing a new deal by invoking Holmes' name: I spoke to Holmes two weeks ago, and he said he hadn't been working out all summer, but added that his poker game was in fine shape. So when he says he's coming back, here's betting he's bluffing.)
As for Jones' options, he limited himself in April, when he passed on Notre Dame's Brady Quinn on draft day. By choosing not to select a quarterback, Jones was saying he believes Romo was the man for the team's future. And if that's still the case, then an extension probably is coming soon.
Romo, for his part, insists he doesn't care. The stability of a long-term deal would obviously be nice, but he said that wouldn't relax him any more than playing for a big contract would motivate him.
"It doesn't really enter my mind as far as being a reason to play or an extra incentive in any way," Romo said Friday. "If I ever thought that, I'd probably diminish myself, as far as work habits or work ethic that I have. All I know is, it's not fun if you're not trying to win."
Romo seemed a bit perturbed that he had to answer the question, which is another argument for an extension — the sooner he signs a new contract, the sooner the distraction goes away.
But sooner isn't always best. As Jones watched and measured with McBriar, he knew: If you're going to spend that kind of money on something, you better be sure it fits.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:50 PM
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