Dallas Cowboys set to release quarterback Tony Romo

The Dallas Cowboys are expected to part ways with longtime quarterback Tony Romo Thursday, when the National Football League year opens.

Teams like the Jets, Bears and 49ers might want to have Romo on their roster, but all three are so far away from contending for a title that it’s hard to believe he would actually sign with one of them. There is no scenario where Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch gives the Denver Broncos a better chance to win the Super Bowl than Romo.

Though he’d miss the majority of the 2010 season with a broken collarbone, Romo remained a reliable starter for the Cowboys well into the next decade.

Tony Romo’s days with the Dallas Cowboys are over.

Romo was also scheduled to carry a $24.7 million salary cap hit in 2017.

However, he should be attractive as a free agent to contenders wanting a quarterback, a list that could include the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans. They have created a defense that ranks with some of the best in the history of the NFL.

The Cowboys decision doesn’t come as a surprise.

The Texans landing Romo wouldn’t automatically mean the Titans won’t win the AFC South in 2017, but it would certainly make it a lot tougher goal to achieve.

Dallas’ front office and coaching staff likely feel confident moving forward without Romo given Dak Prescott’s breakout rookie season, and already seeking a potential backup with journeyman quarterback Josh McCown visiting with the team on Wednesday. And just like always, the Cowboys seem to be right in the middle of everything. However, GM John Elway made it pretty clear from the get-go that while he was interested in seeing what Romo had left in the tank, he was not interested in trading for him.

Romo, 36, still seeks a Super Bowl ring. The Dallas Cowboys veteran might be older than most and coming off of a back injury, but the reality is that Romo is a proven victor, a man who, at his best, rivals the NFL’s best.

Other teams like the Bears, Jets, Bills, and Rams could use a veteran hand behind center, though they won’t be almost as appealing for Romo.