Werder: Perception that Cowboys owner Jones blocked Romo wrong

From the moment that news broke that the Dallas Cowboys would not be releasing Tony Romo on the first day of free agency, as was previously reported, Jerry Jones has faced speculation that he went back on his “do-right rule” with the veteran quarterback.

Perception of the situation was that Romo wanted to pursue his NFL career elsewhere after losing his starting role to 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Dak Prescott, and Jones pulled the rug out from underneath him.

But, as reports Tuesday indicate Romo will leave football for the broadcast booth, ESPN’s Ed Werder told “Schlereth & Evans” that in reality Jones likely wanted to give his gunslinger time and space to make up his mind.

Said Werder: “There’s this perception that Jerry Jones has been blocking him when I think the reality is he was waiting for Romo to make up his mind on whether he wanted to pursue one of these unique TV opportunities maybe a year or two earlier than he planned but knowing that they might not be there if he played another two or three years, as he believed he was capable.”

Werder said he was told Romo believed he could start under center for “elite teams” like the Denver Broncos, which ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said likely moved on from pursuing the quarterback, or the Houston Texans.

But, given several factors including his family life, his recent injury history, and the possibility of losing out on a future career path, Romo moving behind the microphone “makes a lot of sense,” Werder said.

“In his mind, he’s probably retiring two or three years before he has to, but he’s doing it because there’s a unique opportunity that might not exist later,” Werder said.

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