Klis: Elway has inched closer to but not completely dismissing Romo
Mar 28, 2017, 12:00 AM | Updated: 8:26 am
If John Elway’s comments at the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month indicated the door to bring in veteran quarterback Tony Romo had cracked open a bit, his thoughts this week from the owner’s meetings seemingly inched toward shutting it.
Then, the Denver Broncos general manager said, “We’re open to anything,” when asked if the club would bring in a veteran (read Romo) quarterback should he become available.
But in speaking with 9News Broncos Insider Mike Klis on Monday, Elway reportedly said the team’s “intent” was to not go that direct, even if Romo is released by the Dallas Cowboys.
A door once swinging toward open now back the opposite way.
But Klis, who joined “The Drive” on Monday, said despite Elway’s words, the door will stay ajar likely until there’s a resolution.
“He still, even though he’s inching closer to dismissing Tony Romo — he has inched closer the last couple of days in dismissing Romo — he still has not completely dismissed Romo,” Klis said of Elway.
Klis said Denver was “very much interested in Romo” but has cooled not due to his injury history necessarily but the fact he’s had “three big hits and three broken bones in the last two years.”
“It’s because of how quick those injuries have happened that has, I think, the Broncos backing off of Tony Romo,” Klis said. “And right now, I would put a quarter on the fact that Paxton Lynch or Trevor Siemian is going to be Broncos opening day quarterback in 2017.”
Elway is in a “tough” position, Klis said, because perhaps the best thing for Lynch’s development is to play a whole season despite the outcomes, but by the time he develops, this Super Bowl-caliber defense could be gone.
“That’s why it’s tough for Elway to make a decision on Romo, because is it now or are they better off going a year from,” Klis said.
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