Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo turns 35-years-old in April. However, Romo’s age does not seem to be a deterrent for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in planning for the next five years.
Discussing the quarterback’s future at the NFL Scouting Combine, Jones had this to say when asked about the next five years with Romo as the team’s signal caller (via the team’s official website).
I feel very comfortable, to the main part of your question, with a five-year time frame. I feel very comfortable with that. When I say comfortable: I’m ready to make decisions based on him being our quarterback that far into the future.
I’m not going to look into the crystal ball with you and tell you he’s not going to have down days over the next five years — I can’t do that. But I can tell you I’m comfortable, and I’m going to make decisions based on him being here.
Romo’s age, along with the fact that he is in an expensive contract which is calculated to pay him whopping $17 million in 2015 and count $27.7 million towards the overall cap of the team, are certainly factors for the team to keep in mind. Additionally, Romo has already undergone two back surgeries over the past couple of years.
However, this laundry list of variables is easy for Jones to put aside for now. Romo is coming off of an awesome season where he threw 34 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. Additionally, Romo had a career-best completion rate of 69.9 percent. He also led the team to the divisional round of the playoffs.
Five more years with Romo would have him playing until just shy of his 40th birthday. Realistically speaking, the Cowboys should be planning for a successor far earlier than five years from now considering their only back up at this time is the underwhelming 32-year-old quarterback Brandon Weeden.
For now, all eyes will be on Romo to pick up where he left off last season.
Photo: media.philly.com