(SP) – Tony Romo’s broadcasting career will come to a quick end if NFL teams have their way. According to multiple sources, teams are interested in moving the former quarterback to the tight end position to utilize his basketball skills.
“While Tony Romo never won a Super Bowl or was the best quarterback in the NFL, it’s remarkable the success he had in the league considering he was very likely playing out of position all those years,” said one NFL GM. “We’re excited about what he could do as a tight end.”
Romo was allowed to warm up with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night and the surrounding media coverage revealed to many for the first time that the retired quarterback was a star basketball player in Wisconsin in high school, averaging 24.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game as a senior. Despite offers to play college basketball, he chose to go to Eastern Illinois and play football.
“I think he’ll look back at that decision as a mistake,” said one NFL scout. “Dallas could have had an unstoppable tight end combo in Tony Romo and Jason Witten. But he still has a few years to make an impact in the league as a tight end. I see him as an Antonio Gates type.”
Although Romo was a basketball guard and stands just 6-foot-2, relatively small for a modern tight end, some NFL personnel people see that as a benefit, too.
“His lack of size and the fact that he is, you know … you know … uh … a … cerebral player, let’s me know he’ll be very scrappy and tough and not afraid to make plays over the middle,” said a scout. “I could definitely see the Patriots going after him.”
