If Tony Romo opts for retirement this offseason, the Cowboys will not attempt to recoup the $5MM in signing bonus money to which they’d be entitled, reports Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram.
Romo was paid a $25MM signing bonus when he agreed to an extension in 2013, and although that total has already been paid out, $5MM remains on the 2017 salary cap. Signing bonuses are spread out over five seasons for accounting purposes, and the contractual bargaining agreement would allow Dallas to go after that money if Romo decides to hang up his cleats.
Thus far, the 36-year-old Romo has given no indication that he’s ready to retire. In fact, reports have indicated that Romo is set on playing in 2017 despite interest from both CBS and FOX, both of whom are intrigued by Romo’s future in television. But as potential landing spots dwindle — the Broncos, at least publicly, are content to roll with their internal quarterback options — Romo may now believe the Texans or retirement are his only remaining options.
The Cowboys will also not target the signing bonus cash remaining on offensive tackle Doug Free‘s contract, per Hill. Free announced his intent to retire earlier this month.
Why can’t Houston just pony up a 5th rounder and lets end this saga?
Jerry doesn’t want to trade him to Houston. Doesn’t want to help out the other Texas team
Because nobody is giving anything up to take 20mil off of Dallas’ books.
For all the people out there saying ” just give Dallas a 5th rounder for Romo? Or let him come in and be your backup. The reason against trading for him are these, 1), he’s broken his collarbone 3x, 2), he’s had how many back surgeries and is 37 years old. 3), and the most important one is that by trading for Romo you take on his contract and cap hits, plus relieve the Cowboys of it. According to NFL salary cap numbers, he counts $24.7 million against the cap in 2017, $25.2 in 2018, and $23.7 in 2019. Why would you do that?
…Houston gave Brock Osweiler $72 mil with a $12 mil signing bonus and $37 mil guaranteed, and only got out of it because the Cleveland Browns are the Cleveland Browns. There is zero room for logic here.
If you can’t find a logical explanation for the Browns acquisition of a 2nd round pick, you might not be the best suited to decide on the presence/absence of logic.
And the money that the Browns have to pay Osweiler is still less than what Romo is owed in a trade. But lets ignore the fact that the Browns, armed with roughly $100 million in cap space, took a shot on a bad QB (who isn’t better or worse than RG3) and also pulled a 2nd and 6th rounder out of the trade in exchange for a 4th round pick. Any GM would make trade a 4th round pick for a 2nd and a 6th in a heartbeat. Adding in Osweiler was just conditional of them getting the 2nd round pick. Any other team makes that trade, and we’re raving about how smart they are.
You know, for all the crap the Cowboys (often deservedly) take, I respect the loyalty factor here.
They only got out of that contract because they paid a 2nd rd pick to get out of it.
None of his restructured bonus comes to team he is traded to. His base salaries could move over and still be non guaranteed. So cap hit is 14 mil the team would have to take on this year. Looks like you went through a lot of time to post so just wanted to let you know you data was not completely accurate.
Hey Robby, thanks for the clarification. Without having seen the actual contract the signing bonus may or may not be transferable to the new team and would stay as ‘dead’ money with the Cowboys. If it’s not Romos cap hit on his fully guaranteed contract is $14M in 2017, $19.5M in 2018, and $20.5M in 2019.
Its not fully guarenteed,none of it is actually.