Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears: Tony Romo is Not a Good Fit

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Tony Romo has accomplished a lot in his career, but he would be a horrible fit on the quarterback-needy Chicago Bears.

The quarterback position for the Chicago Bears has been a disaster for literally decades. The team has made the Super Bowl twice in the past 31 years. And both times, they were led by average quarterbacks at best (Jim McMahon in 1985 and Rex Grossman in 2006). Sid Luckman, a quarterback who last played in 1950, still holds numerous Bears’ records. That’s sad.

When the Bears acquired Jay Cutler in 2009, he was supposed to be the “savior.” He had (and still has) a cannon for an arm and, at the time, he was just a 26-year old who was sure to get better. Well, we all know how that has worked out.

It appears imminent that the Bears and Cutler will part ways this offseason. If the team cuts him, they’ll save nearly $13 million in cap room. Although they would absorb about $2 million in dead money, I’m sure it’s a price the Bears will pay to rid themselves of the headache Cutler has become.

With Cutler likely gone, the question now turns to who will quarterback the Bears in 2017? There’s been a growing notion that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (who also appears to be on his way out of Dallas due to the emergence of rookie quarterback Dak Prescott) could be the answer. However, this fit does not make any sense.

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There is no denying what Romo has accomplished in his career. In his 12 years in the league, Romo has thrown for over 34,000 yards, 247 touchdowns, and won 78 regular season games. He has made the Pro Bowl four times and has led the Cowboys to the playoffs four times (2-4 record). Now, he’s also tossed 117 interceptions and has had some less than stellar moments in the playoffs (i.e. the botched extra-point hold), but Romo has also been considered one of the better quarterbacks in his generation.

The problem is, his body is falling apart. He has suffered numerous back and collarbone injuries, and in the past two seasons, has started only four games. He’ll be 37 years old at the start of next season he’ll come with a hefty price tag via trade. The last time I checked, you pay for future performance, not past.

The Bears will need a quarterback for next season, but Romo simply is not the answer. He’s much more accomplished than Cutler, but in a sense, their gunslinger mentalities—and knack for critical turnovers—are eerily similar. Plus, Romo is three years older than Cutler, so he’s clearly not the long-term answer.

The best bet for the Bears is that they use a high draft pick on a quarterback in the upcoming draft and have a veteran backup (i.e. Brian Hoyer) start the first few games of the season. The best case for Romo is to sign (or get traded to) a contending team (i.e. Denver Broncos)—or simply listen to his body and retire.

Regardless of what’s on his resume, Romo is not the answer for the Chicago Bears. The team needs to get younger at the position—not older—and should not touch Romo with a 10-foot pole. Romo’s best days are far behind him.

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