John Elway Takes Huge Gamble Abandoning Tony Romo Pursuit

Mar 1, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos executive vice president of operations John Elway speaks to the media during the 2017 NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

For the past couple months it looked like Tony Romo was the best option available for the Denver Broncos in their quarterback pursuits.

Despite Trevor Siemian playing decent at times and having former 1st round pick Paxton Lynch on the roster, the team still finished with a 9-7 record and missed the playoffs. Now with a new coaching staff coming in, the desires for stability at that position are higher than ever. There’s no telling how the defense will play with another scheme change. Having Romo under center would’ve added a bit more security. Instead VP John Elway dropped thoughts of a trade, putting his stock squarely on Siemian and Lynch.

One thing is for sure. The best option the Broncos had for getting some credibility at the position just exited stage left.

Neither the #Broncos, nor the #Texans, will trade for #Cowboys QB Tony Romo, sources says. Still. Today’s news didn’t alter the plans.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2017

#Cowboys and Tony Romo reached an end of their drama. He is set to retire from football, as Dallas was set to release him, as ESPN said
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 4, 2017

Word is Romo prefers going the route of broadcasting at CBS where he’d be allowed to work NFL games as well as professional golf. His two favorite sports. Besides that, it appears he’s concerned about the state of his back. Having suffered a number of injuries over the past few seasons, there is a growing worry that more hits to the area could cause lasting damage. The type that could cause serious long-term complications.

Though winning a Super Bowl is the one thing he hasn’t accomplished, Romo seems ready to accept that it just won’t happen for him. He can look forward to a lucrative career in broadcasting. He certainly has the personality for it. As for Elway, this decision is a bold one. Often the best course of action is to stick with the young guys. Especially at quarterback. Still, there is a lingering concern that the title window might be closing for Denver. A proven QB like Romo could give them the best chance to swipe another Lombardi trophy.

Time will tell if he made the right call. It starts with deciding whether Siemian remains the starter for if it’s time for Lynch to assume the mantle.