Tony Romo‘s contract situation has been the top priority on the Cowboys’ to-do list this offseason, and the story just continues to develop.
Romo has reportedly been offered a massive extension in recent weeks, which has drawn a lot of attention considering the Cowboys’ playoff drought and tight cap situation. But the extension seems to make even more sense now, given the team’s inability to hit the quarterback with the franchise tag, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Romo would become a free agent after this season if he can’t agree on a new contract with the team, but due to some particulars in his current deal the Cowboys would be unable to franchise him in 2014. As it turns out, Romo’s contract actually contains three added seasons beyond 2013, meaning he will technically be under contract past next year’s franchise tag deadline. But the trick is that those extra years will void after the tag window closes, making Romo an unrestricted free agent.
The voided contract would also leave the Cowboys with almost $9 million in dead cap space for 2014, enhancing Jerry Jones‘ desire to get a new deal done. Maybe even more important than spreading out the $16.8 million cap number Romo holds for 2013.
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