Broncos, Texans not inclined to trade for Cowboys QB Romo

In a plot twist on the first day of the NFL free agency period, a three-way staring contest has developed between the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys to determine where Tony Romo will be under center next season.

Contrary to reports Wednesday that the Cowboys were set to give Romo his release, letting the veteran quarterback plunge into the free agency waters, Dallas opted to hold off in favor of seeking a trade partner for the gunslinger.

Cowboys now expect to trade Tony Romo to Broncos or Texans, sources say. Broncos talking with Jets about Trevor Siemian.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) March 9, 2017

The move hampered the chances of Romo landing in Denver, as 9News Broncos Insider Mike Klis told 104.3 The Fan’s “The Drive” in early February that the only way the club would be interested in the quarterback was through free agency.

Klis, on with “The Drive” on Thursday and again Friday with “Schlereth & Evans,” reiterated the Broncos position.

“The Broncos will not trade for Tony Romo,” Klis said.

Klis said Thursday he believes, from what he was hearing, that the Texans would hold out longer than the Broncos in waiting for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to blink, but that he didn’t “see anybody trading for Romo” because his pricetag was too high for a quarterback who missed the bulk of the last two seasons.

Longtime Houston Chronicle NFL reporter John McClain, however, told “The Drive” Thursday that the Texans were also unlikely to trade for Romo despite clearing a path for him by trading away 2016 free agent signee Brock Osweiler to the Cleveland Browns.

“They have a plan to draft a quarterback high. Now, they’re not going to trade for Tony Romo, but if Romo is available they’ll pursue him,” McClain said. “But the contract, it would have nothing to do with what happened today.”

Time will tell where Romo ends up, or if he leaves Dallas at all. But “The Drive” co-host DMac put his money on Houston winning the Romo sweepstakes.

“To me this is a move that puts Houston as a front-runner. I mean, this frees things up,” DMac said of the Osweiler trade. “And I’m going to be surprised if they don’t get Tony Romo at this point.”

McClain, however, went the opposite direction.

“I’ll be surprised if he’s not playing for Elway. You guys have won these last two. You’re probably going to win this one too,” McClain said.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.