Romo era in Dallas ends today
DALLAS — Tony Romo’s starcrossed career as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys will soon be over.
A person with knowledge of the decision told the Associated Press that the Cowboys will release Romo when the NFL year opens today. Romo will now 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 post-season 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 franchiserecord 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 US 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 post-season 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.
Giants ink Marshall
EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — Eli Manning and the New York Giants now have two legitimate threats on the outside.
The Giants found a complement to Odell Beckham Jr. on Wednesday by signing veteran free-agent receiver Brandon Marshall to a two-year, $12-million US contact.
Marshall said the Giants’ offer might have been the lowest that he got after being released by the Jets last week.