INDIANAPOLIS — To Dallas Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones, the issue of getting a new deal done with quarterback Tony Romo is not a matter of if but when.
Jones said signing the nine-year veteran, who is heading into the last year of his contract, to a long-term extension is a huge priority for the Cowboys this off-season.And contrary to reports earlier this week, Jones said the team has already began informal, though not detailed, talks with the quarterbacks representatives and have an idea of what it would take to get a deal done.“Yes, that is wrong, we have visited with Tony,” said Jones, sitting on the team’s shiny $2 million bus Thursday outside the Indianapolis Marriott, where the Cowboys are staying for the NFL Scouting Combine this week. “I don’t know that we have had detailed talks but we have had talks. Usually on these things you get boundaries. You get the lay of the land.“And usually these things can happen.”Jones said he wouldn’t give a timetable on when a deal could be consummated. According to a source, Romo is likely waiting to see the outcomes of possible contract extensions by Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco and Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan before entering serious talks with the Cowboys.But Jones says he is confident of getting something done, allowing Romo, 32, to retire as a Cowboy.“I feel good about our situation with Tony,” Jones said. “I think that is the best way to sum it up. Usually these things get done quickly when both sides decide they are going to get something done. That doesn’t mean we are going to be done next week or by the start of the league year.”Getting a deal done by the start of the league year on March 12 would be ideal for the salary-cap strapped Cowboys, who are roughly $20 million over the league’s cap number for 2013. They will have to make a number of moves to clear space to get in compliance.Considering Romo has $16.8 million cap figure for next year, signing him to a new deal and lowering his cap figure would be one way to get it done.It’s unlikely, however, the two sides will move that quickly, meaning the Cowboys will likely restructure the contracts of veterans such as cornerback Brandon Carr, tight end Jason Witten, linebacker DeMarcus Ware and possibly receiver Miles Austin.The Cowboys could also save money by releasing safety Gerald Sensabaugh, linebacker Dan Connor and defensive end Marcus Spears, who have base salaries of $3 million, $3 million and $2 million, respectively, next season.Jones said anything is possible.While the Cowboys would like to get something done with Romo so they can manage their cap before or after the start of free agency, it would be wrong to suggest that their motivation for an extension is purely salary related.“First and foremost, I would like to extend Romo because he is a great quarterback,” Jones said. “We want him here. It’s time for him. He is in the last year of his dealThe second thing I would say is whenever you are a great quarterback and you take up a significant amount of the teams cap, then you have to be good partners and they have to work with you. Obviously, Tony has been that way with us. I don’t expect it to be any different. It’s obviously a priority for us to work on his deal.” Jones said there is no need for the Cowboys to wait until his contract is up and make him earn a new deal like the Ravens did with Flacco this year because they already believe Romo is a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback despite his dismal playoff record.It also would be harder to manage the cap if they let him play it out now and in the future, Jones said.“We have a lot of confidence in Tony,” Jones said. “We believe in him. You say he has won just one playoff game. I understand that. But I still think Tony Romo is a great quarterback. I think our time is going to come with him.” Clarence E. Hill Jr., 817-390-7760 Twitter: @clarencehilljrHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
