John Elway and company have done something very difficult to do in the NFL. They have created a defense that ranks with some of the best in the history of the NFL. Super Bowl 50 solidified the legend of that defense in NFL history. However, Super Bowl windows close fast.
The 2016 season was wasted on a bad offense, and the defense will only be able to play at this level for so long. That is what makes a move for Tony Romo more than a good idea. As Ian St. Clair and I discussed on the Mile High Report Radio podcast, acquiring Romo is necessary for the very notion of winning while winning is possible.
The arguments against signing Romo are valid. He is injury prone. He has never won anything. He only has one more career playoff win than Tim Tebow. His career is littered with mistakes, and no one in their right mind would take a chance on an aging quarterback with his history. No one, except John Elway.
It wasn’t that long ago that Elway was able to convince Peyton Manning to come to Denver. No, these are not exactly the same, but Elway wants to win now. Not just in 5 year, but 2017, and 2018, and 2019. There is no scenario where Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch gives the Denver Broncos a better chance to win the Super Bowl than Romo.
Romo brings a veteran presence to the locker room. While Siemian has gained the respect of the team for his toughness, Romo is highly respected, with enough weight to help repair the splintered relationship between the offense and defense.
The current Broncos roster has two quarterbacks that are simply not ready to win now. They are both projects. Whether you fall into the Siemian or Lynch camps, neither seems ready to win a Super Bowl. With a new offensive scheme, 2016 is a wash. The defense can no longer be wasted by these developing young QBs.
Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. Injuries are bound to happen. Making a move to Romo shows the defense that the Broncos are serious about winning. It shows the offense that now is the time to contribute. It gives the young developing quarterbacks a chance to grow so they can take over when Romo is done.
In a surprising turn of events, Tony Romo is the answer at QB for the Broncos. Without him, 2017 will just be another season of a wasted great defense.