The Dallas Cowboys have been in talks with Tony Romo about a possible contract extension for months and the talk at the NFL owners meetings was that the deal is still being worked out between the two sides.
According to ESPN.com, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones, who is the son of owner Jerry Jones, commented about the deal, saying that the talks were "ongoing" and that he was confident the two sides would reach an agreement. The team has said they would like to bring down Romo's cap number for 2013 since its very high, but Jones expressed that it wasn't a sticking point in the negotiations.
"There's never really a start or stop time with Tony," Jones said in the lobby of the Arizona Biltmore. "I do think it will get done."
The Cowboys have a number of reasons why they would like to get the extension done sooner rather than later, possibly even this month. If the team reaches an extension, they could lower the cap number this year by dispersing money out over the later years and they also could avoid the issues his contract has in dead money.
Romo is entering the final year of his deal and has a $16.8 million salary cap hit, which is the most on the roster. The Cowboys also have to figure out a contract with Anthony Spencer, who the team tagged with its franchise tag for next season. Jones was asked about the two priorities at the meetings.
"Tony's," he said. "Quarterbacks take precedence."
The Cowboys are in a tough financial situation due to cap penalties and other financial issues and at one point before the deadline they were $20 million over the cap. The team cut a number of players, including Gerald Sensabaugh, and has already lost Dan Connor to the Giants in free agency. The team lost Kevin Ogletree as well and could use some help in the secondary. Doug Free could also be cut with some other players, but the Cowboys are taking those decisions slowly.
The team also would like to figure out the extension since they may want to draft a quarterback in April to serve behind Romo or possibly trade for one later on. The biggest issue for the Cowboys is what happens if they can't reach an extension before the season starts, as Romo's contract would add $8.1 million in dead money after the 2013 season, meaning they possibly could have to cut him or trade him to stay out of a tough salary situation.
Romo will be 33-years-old this season and time is running out for him and the Cowboys to get it together to make a playoff run. Everyone agrees Romo is a fantastic quarterback and he puts up great stats, but he seems to come up short in the biggest games, including the past two Week 17 games that would have seen the cowboys go to the playoffs with a win, as well as Seahawks playoff game that he blew.
Romo has won just one playoff game in his Dallas career and even though he threw for 4,903 yards and 28 touchdowns this season, the team finished just 8-8 and out of the postseason. Romo had one of his worst games following his playoff win, tossing one interception and losing two fumbles to the Vikings.
One reason why the Cardinals could be possible, and maybe not even so bad for Romo, is that they need a franchise quarterback, they have high draft picks and Larry Fitzgerald is there. Chances are the two sides will come to an agreement, but this is the NFL. Anything can happen.
