New York Jets: Tony Romo Passed On A Ride On QB Carousel
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) leaves the field at the end of the game. The New York Jets defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 27-24, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Sunday, September 11, 2011. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT via Getty Images)

The New York Jets picked Josh McCown as their veteran to start Week 1. However, a new report suggests they could’ve had someone else.

While most New York Jets fans are shaking their fists at the tide ahead of the 2017 season, there was another option. No, not throwing yourself over a cliff. I mean an option at the quarterback position.

A polarizing talent that could’ve brought a new dynamic to the position. No, not current minor league baseball star Tim Tebow. Nah, the Jets could’ve brought in Tony Romo.

Per Neil Best of Newsday, Romo said Wednesday the Jets were “one of [the] teams he considered before deciding to retire and go into TV.”

Just imagine how different the 2017 season would be perceived. Because here’s the skinny: You don’t bring Romo in unless you’re trying to compete for the playoffs. Which means all this tanking crap would’ve been tossed out of the window.

But instead the Jets continue their games of musical chairs at the position with an estimated win total of no more than seven games across the league.

Insert generic football cliche, “that’s why they play the games.” It’s interesting that Romo, after the fact, is kind of revealing some of the teams that showed interest. But putting the bias aside of wanting a Pro Bowl-level quarterback, Romo with the Jets would’ve been a disaster.

60 percent of the offensive line is crap for the Jets. There will be the third different starting left tackle in three years, regardless of what happens. Nick Mangold isn’t there anymore and, heck, he isn’t even on an NFL roster. Plus, right tackle is either going to be a journeyman swing tackle or a green youngster in Brandon Shell.

But I digress. Back to fairy tale land for a second. Romo would’ve been the most talented quarterback to join the Jets since the Brett Favre experiment back in 2008. Expectations would’ve been high and the Jets were going to have to hope for some kind of 2015 lightning-in-the-bottle season.

And look at their option now (McCown) and what could have been (Romo), the stats aren’t even close.

  • McCown in his last 22 starts is 2-20. Romo in his last 22 starts is 16-6.
  • Romo has a career completion percentage of over 65 percent.
  • 248 touchdowns to 117 interceptions.
  • Over 34,000 career passing yards

How would those compare to Jets franchise records? Romo would beat Namath by over 7,000 yards passing for a career. Romo has nearly 80 more touchdown passes, while Namath has nearly 100 more interceptions than Romo.

WAKE UP!

via GIPHY

Jets fans, that was a dream. Your quarterback is still the 37-year old McCown. Romo is in the booth, watching the massacre from a safe distance. Speaking of safe, I can’t say the same for whoever is going to be playing behind that putrid offense line for Gang Green. Yikes.

Instead of high hopes and a possible end to the Jets’ seven-plus year playoff drought, the fans instead must endure a painful season full of misery and blowouts. Although there’s a light at the end of the tunnel: draft picks, cap space, and hope for the future. You just have to wait nine painful months to get there.

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People call me Boy Green for my unwavering dedication to all things New York Jets. I work at The Score 1260 in Syracuse and I'm extremely passionate about sports. I aspire to continue my rise through the business and hopefully I'll end up working for the New York Jets in some capacity.