With the jobs of Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles on the line, the New York Jets should acquire the services of Tony Romo for 2017.
If the New York Jets go through another 5-11 season, both Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan will be gone. In fact, if the Jets stumble at the start of the season, owner Woody Johnson may get rid of them before the season is over.This is why they need to go out and acquire Tony Romo.
There’ve been conversations that the Dallas Cowboys will keep Romo mainly because Jerry Jones loves him. But, eventually, Jones will realize it’s best to part ways with Romo and improve the defense. This will leave the door open for the Jets to acquire the veteran signal-caller.
Here are four reasons why the Jets need to acquire the services of Tony Romo.
1. He’s the best quarterback available
Other quarterbacks such as Colin Kaepernick and Mike Glennon have been rumored to be on the Jets radar, but Romo is clearly better than these two — a record of 78-49 and has thrown for 248 touchdowns while completing 65% of his passes.
Kaepernick and Glennon have thrown for a combined 102 touchdowns while completing 59.6% of their passes. In addition, neither has thrown for 4,000 yards in a season. Romo has four seasons where he’s thrown for at least 4,000 yards. Yes, there’s a risk considering his injury history, but his upside makes it worth the risk, especially with unproven Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg the only quarterbacks on the roster.
2. Would guarantee a bounce back year by Brandon Marshall
Twenty-sixteen was a disappointing season for Brandon Marshall. He caught 59 passes for 788 yards and scored just three touchdowns. His 59 receptions were the second fewest of his career. Only in his rookie year, in 2006, did Marshall have fewer receptions (20). However, if Romo is in the mix in 2017, he’ll have a bounce-back season.
Romo has had success throwing the ball to receivers with similar stature to Marshall (Terrell Owens and Dez Bryant) so there’s every reason to believe Marshall can once again have double-digit touchdowns playing with the best quarterback he’s ever had.
3. Steal headlines from the Giants
The New York Jets are the stepchild of the NYC/NJ area to the New York Giants. Following the Giants 11-5 season and a playoff berth, all of the attention heading into next season will be about them. However, if the Jets can acquire a quarterback of the caliber of Romo, then they will have their fair share of back page headlines. Owner Woody Johnson did something similar in 2008 when he signed Brett Favre following the Giants winning Super Bowl XLII.
4. They have the money
Last season, the Jets paid over 13 million dollars in salary to Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith. Both are now free agents which open up a lot of cap space. Romo is set to make $19 million next year, so the Jets will have to do minor maneuvering to acquire him in a trade. Or, best case scenario the Cowboys cut Romo and the Jets sign him to an incentive based contract. Either way, the Jets will have the money to sign him.