Source: Cowboys to release Romo
Tony Romo’s starcrossed career as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys will soon be over.
A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that the Cowboys will release Romo when the NFL year opens today. The person spoke to the AP on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t announced a decision on Romo, who will get a chance to pursue a starting job elsewhere.
Romo will leave the Cowboys as the franchise leader in yards passing (34,183) and touchdowns (248).
But he could never match the postseason success of Hall of Famers and multiple Super Bowl winners Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.
A 10-year starter who joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003, Romo lost the job last season to rookie Dak Prescott after breaking a bone in his back in a preseason game.
When he was healthy again, Romo conceded the job to Prescott during a franchise-record 11-game winning streak. His departure has been expected ever since.
A trade was unlikely because Romo turns 37 next month, carries a $24 million salary cap hit and has missed most of the past two seasons with injuries. But he should be attractive as a free agent to contenders wanting a quarterback, a list that could include Denver and Houston.
A release will free about $5 million in cap space for the Cowboys, who can split the dead money from a $19 million hit over two seasons.
Romo was 78-49 as the starter, but his playoff debut 10 years ago illustrated the postseason struggles ahead when he infamously flubbed the snap on what could have been a winning field goal in Seattle.
The four-time Pro Bowler went 2-4 in the playoffs, never winning on the road or reaching the NFC championship game.
Owner Jerry Jones and Romo talked “Cowboy for life” when Romo signed the franchise’s first $100 million contract in 2013 — a $108 million, six-year extension through 2019.
Bills sticking with Taylor at quarterback
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is staying put in Buffalo.
The Bills ended two months of uncertainty on Wednesday by announcing Taylor would remain in Buffalo for a third season after agreeing to restructure his five-year contract extension.
The deal was reached a day before the NFL’s free-agency period opens, and with Buffalo facing a deadline on Saturday on whether to activate or opt out of the extension Taylor signed in August.
The move cleared the biggest offseason question for the Bills, who are undergoing their latest transformation under newly hired coach Sean McDermott , who took over in January after Rex Ryan was fired.
49ers reach deal with Hoyer
The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly adding a quarterback to the roster, agreeing to a two-year deal with free-agent Brian Hoyer.
The NFL Network said Wednesday that Hoyer has decided to join the Niners where he will have a chance to compete to be the starter next season. The deal can’t be announced until the start of the new league year today.