USA Today: Romo's early play could set tone for contract
By Jim Corbett
USA TODAY
SAN ANTONIO — While Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggested to reporters recently that he might wait until after the season to sign quarterback Tony Romo to an extension, Jones indicated early in training camp he could be persuaded to act sooner.
Much centers on how the fifth-year quarterback with 11 career starts plays at the start of the season. Much depends on if agent Tom Condon's asking price will be closer to the $27 million in guarantees St. Louis Rams quarterback (and Condon client) Marc Bulger just received, or the $7 million guaranteed and $10 million option bonus Houston gave the unproven Matt Schaub.
Entering the final year of a two-year, $3.9 million deal, Romo has looked sharp in camp.
SNAPSHOTS FROM CAMP: Cowboys training camp
"I passed on (Notre Dame quarterback) Brady Quinn because I think Tony's our best chance to get it done," Jones says.
"I've seen his work ethic and his competitiveness for years. He's done it the way you really do want to see it done, and that's the hard way."
The question is, how much more does Jones need to see before committing to a quarterback who led his team to the playoffs, but remains something of a self-admitted question mark?
After winning four of his first five starts, Romo went 2-3 in his last five regular-season games and mishandled the snap of a potential game-winning field goal in Dallas' playoff loss in Seattle.
"Tony really wants to be the quarterback of the Cowboys, and I want him to be the quarterback of the Cowboys," Jones says. "He can play it a little safer, and I can take a little more risk (and) sign now; or I can take a little less risk and pay a little more and sign later."
If Romo and the Cowboys start fast, Jones will likely want to keep momentum going.
No better way to avoid further distraction than by erasing what figures to become an incessant question for the quarterback he believes can take the Cowboys where they hope to go.
USA TODAY
SAN ANTONIO — While Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones suggested to reporters recently that he might wait until after the season to sign quarterback Tony Romo to an extension, Jones indicated early in training camp he could be persuaded to act sooner.
Much centers on how the fifth-year quarterback with 11 career starts plays at the start of the season. Much depends on if agent Tom Condon's asking price will be closer to the $27 million in guarantees St. Louis Rams quarterback (and Condon client) Marc Bulger just received, or the $7 million guaranteed and $10 million option bonus Houston gave the unproven Matt Schaub.
Entering the final year of a two-year, $3.9 million deal, Romo has looked sharp in camp.
SNAPSHOTS FROM CAMP: Cowboys training camp
"I passed on (Notre Dame quarterback) Brady Quinn because I think Tony's our best chance to get it done," Jones says.
"I've seen his work ethic and his competitiveness for years. He's done it the way you really do want to see it done, and that's the hard way."
The question is, how much more does Jones need to see before committing to a quarterback who led his team to the playoffs, but remains something of a self-admitted question mark?
After winning four of his first five starts, Romo went 2-3 in his last five regular-season games and mishandled the snap of a potential game-winning field goal in Dallas' playoff loss in Seattle.
"Tony really wants to be the quarterback of the Cowboys, and I want him to be the quarterback of the Cowboys," Jones says. "He can play it a little safer, and I can take a little more risk (and) sign now; or I can take a little less risk and pay a little more and sign later."
If Romo and the Cowboys start fast, Jones will likely want to keep momentum going.
No better way to avoid further distraction than by erasing what figures to become an incessant question for the quarterback he believes can take the Cowboys where they hope to go.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:37 AM
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