Opinion: Romo Should Stay In Dallas
- There’s lots of speculation about Tony Romo‘s future, but former NFL coach Mike Singletary believes that his best bet is to stay pat with the Cowboys. “If I’m Tony Romo, I better stay here in Dallas,” Singletary told 105.3 The Fan (link via SportsDayDFW.com). “Let me put it this way: You’re the backup, but that is the best job in the NFL if you’re a backup on the Dallas Cowboys. I think they have one of the best lines, they’ve got a great running game.” The Broncos are said to be Romo’s ideal landing spot and they could pursue him in free agency, if he is available. The Texans are likely to draft a quarterback this year, but they won’t be targeting Romo.
Texans Likely To Draft QB, Won’t Pursue Romo
The Texans are likely to select a quarterback at some point in the 2017 draft, team owner Bob McNair told the media today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (all Twitter links). “We need better performance out of that position, [but there’s not much available out there,” said McNair, referring to the dearth of quarterback options on the free agent market, before intimating that he’d hope Tom Savage is given the opportunity to compete with Brock Osweiler for the starting job in Houston.
[RELATED: Top 3 Offseason Needs — Houston Texans]
Veteran Cowboys QB Tony Romo, meanwhile, isn’t an option for the Texans, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, ruling out one potential fit for the 36-year-old signal-caller. Denver is said to be Romo’s preferred landing spot, although the Broncos may be more apt to pursue him if he’s released from Dallas (rather than being forced to finagle a trade). Cowboys owner Jerry Jones may not wish to see Romo land with another Texas-based club, and Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) reports Romo wants to join a team that will play the Cowboys in 2017, another factor against the Texans.
Houston is essentially stuck with Osweiler, who completed less than 60% of his passes for 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions last season, as releasing him now would leave the Texans with a $25MM dead money cap charge. Even a post-June 1 cut would result in a $19MM hit, so the club doesn’t have much of an option other than retaining Osweiler for at least one more season.
Roger Goodell On Ezekiel Elliott, Josh Brown
In Houston on Wednesday afternoon, Roger Goodell fielded questions from reporters on a wide range of topics. Here’s a look at the highlights:
- Goodell said there’s no timetable on the league’s investigation into domestic violence allegations against Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY). About two weeks ago, Elliott indicated that he is unhappy with the pace of the NFL’s investigation. The league has been investigating Elliott since July, and it reportedly regarded him as “Public Enemy No. 1” as of November.
- The NFL is still reviewing the possibility of putting together a developmental league, Goodell said (Twitter link via CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora). review/study. “We have a debate that goes on,” he said. “It’s something we’re actively considering.” Troy Vincent, the NFL’s head of football operations, has been pushing the idea of a D-League or in-season academy to help groom young talent. Meanwhile, there will be a non-NFL affiliated spring league launching this year.
- Goodell says Josh Brown‘s domestic violence investigation remains open (Twitter link via La Canfora). Regardless of the outcome, it’s hard to see the former Giants kicker getting another chance in the NFL. If Greg Hardy and Ray Rice can’t get work, then I can’t imagine a team weathering a PR nightmare for a kicker.
- Goodell indicated that the league is ready to start discussing an extension to the collective bargaining agreement (Twitter link via Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports). The current CBA goes through the 2020 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/31/17
Tuesday’s minor moves:
Reserve/Futures Contracts
Baltimore Ravens
- DB Otha Foster
- LB Boseko Lokombo
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Quincy McDuffie
- WR Uzoma Nwachukwu
ERFA Re-Signing
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (Twitter link via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com)
Zack Martin Wants To Sign Extension With Cowboys
- The Cowboys recently exercised the fifth-year option on offensive guard Zack Martin, but both sides are hoping the player’s tenure with the team lasts beyond 2017. Jon Machota of the Dallas News writes that the team is hoping to hammer out a long-term deal with the three-time Pro Bowler, and the 26-year-old echoed that sentiment. “It would be huge,” Martin said. “I’m not real worried about that. I’m worried about playing. Obviously I’ll be here for hopefully a long time. These guys make it fun to come to work every day…Hopefully we can get something done.”
[SOURCE LINK]
Tyrone Crawford Has Shoulder Surgery
- Cowboys defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford underwent shoulder surgery for the second straight offseason, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Crawford faces an uncertain future as a starter, Hill writes. The veteran lineman, though, cannot be realistically cut this year. The Cowboys, who signed him to a five-year deal in 2015, would be saddled with $10.4MM in dead money.
Will McClay Declines GM Requests
Several teams extended general manager interview requests to Cowboys executive Will McClay this offseason, but as he did last year, McClay resisted those overtures, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. In 2016, McClay — whose official title is senior director of college and pro personnel — turned down an invite from the Lions, who ultimately hired Bob Quinn as GM. McClay wields a strong amount of influence in Dallas, but hasn’t ruled out leaving the club for another vacancy at some point down the line, per Archer.
Cowboys To Exercise Zack Martin’s Fifth-Year Option
The Cowboys possess one of the more open-and-shut fifth-year option cases in the league as the 2017 league year approaches. Executive VP Stephen Jones said the team plans to pick up Zack Martin‘s fifth year, via Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter), and categorized it as a “big priority” to keep the All-Pro guard around.
Dallas already has Tyron Smith and Travis Frederick signed to long-term deals, so prioritizing a potential Martin accord makes sense considering how the team is now constructed to win. Now that Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott are the centerpieces of the Cowboys’ offense, a possible Martin extension — which is now an option for 2014 draftees — would make more sense without a franchise-quarterback salary on the payroll. Neither Prescott nor Elliott is extension-eligible until 2019.
Tony Romo‘s league-high cap figure of $24.7MM could be coming off the Cowboys’ books — well, much of it, at least. So, the currently cap-strapped team could move into better position to sign one of its cornerstone performers in the near future. But that might have to wait. For now, Dallas is projected to be more than $8MM over the 2017 cap.
The fifth-year figure for offensive linemen drafted outside of the top 10 in 2014 will likely exceed $9MM. Martin is scheduled to make $2.853MM next season. Like Smith, Martin is a two-time first-team All-Pro. Frederick’s earned that distinction once, so Jones tabbing the 26-year-old right guard as a player that’s going to be part of Dallas’ long-term future seems like a given.
Cowboys Want To Re-Sign WRs Terrance Williams and Brice Butler
- Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones said his team would like to keep free agent wideouts Terrance Williams and Brice Butler (via Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News on Twitter). Williams had one of his least-productive seasons in 2016, but he still finished the campaign with 44 receptions for 594 yards and four touchdowns. Butler, a former seventh-round pick, finished the season with 16 receptions for 219 yards and three touchdowns.
- Jones also passed along that Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will need back surgery for the second straight offseason (via George on Twitter). The former second-round pick has only played in 32 games over his three seasons in the NFL, including nine games (three starts) in 2016.
[SOURCE LINK]
Jones: Cowboys Eyeing Edge Rushers
The Cowboys defensive line struggled at times this past season, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the team would be searching for some reinforcement this offseason. Executive vice president Stephen Jones essentially confirmed that the team would be pursuing an edge rusher when appearing on Ben and Skin on KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan (via DallasNews.com):