Polumbus: Cool jets aside, Broncos interest still tied to Romo release

The Denver Broncos have been doing all they can to cool the jets on any Tony Romo talk the last few days, with both John Elway and Vance Joseph fielding questions on team’s interest in the veteran quarterback.

The company line is they are happy with the two young QBs on the roster — Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. Elway even took it a step further, saying, “It is not our intent to go in that direction,” when asked if they’d pursue Romo if he’s released.

Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan Broncos Insider Cecil Lammey reported the Houston Texans have begun to waver on their interest in Romo as well. Apparently, the Texans are very high on draft eligible quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and they are prepping to move forward as if Romo is not in their plans.

However, both the Broncos and Texans interest in Romo could change overnight, as the prevailing thought around the league is that the Dallas Cowboys might release Romo after the NFL owner’s meetings wrap up. It is assumed that the meetings were the last attempt from Jerry and Stephen Jones to facilitate a face-to-face deal with either the Broncos or Texans, with hopes of getting either team to bite on a trade.

Neither team took the bait, and now, rumor has it, the Romo camp is beginning to voice frustration as to how Jerry Jones has not yet released the quarterback.

The “do right rule” that Jones himself told reporters applies toward the Cowboys and Romo’s reciprocal interest in seeing each other have success after their relationship ends.

Jones has officially not done right by Romo, and at this point all he can do is stop holding him hostage as part of the Cowboys’ business interests and allow him to find himself a new team.

Houston and Denver’s “interest level” in a trade, or even their “interest level” if he were to be released, is all easy to discount when Romo is not actually available to pursue in free agency.

If Romo is indeed released this week, I predict both the Texans and Broncos will give him and his representation a call within minutes. Both teams will instantly change their “interest level,” which has been discussed publicly, and Romo will more than likely have his pickings between the two teams.

The language of the NFL is, and always has been, money, and this could make it difficult for Denver to attain Romo’s services if they have to get into a bidding war with Houston.

As of Tuesday, the Broncos have roughly $16 million in cap space before accounting for the 2017 rookie class. In reality that number is going to be closer to $11 million.

Is that enough to get Romo if a bidding war takes place? I would imagine that the Broncos want to pay him less than $10 million, and I would imagine the Texans have more room to finagle than that.

If Romo is released this week and becomes a Bronco, I believe it will be because Elway gave him one heck of a sales pitch about why Denver gives the quarterback his best chance to win a Super Bowl in his last few years in the NFL.

Elway probably could reasonably sell Denver as a better place to win a title, but Romo would likely be taking less money to play for the Broncos.

Despite what any player says about taking a discount for the opportunity to win a Super Bowl, money still talks.

That is exactly why I do not believe we’ll ever see Tony Romo in a Broncos jersey, even if Jones “stops doing wrong” by him and grants his release this week.