Jets need to make a serious push for Tony Romo

Could quarterback Tony Romo be the answer the New York Jets need for 2017? Make no mistake about it, he would be a huge acquisition by Gang Green this upcoming offseason.

When the New York Jets finally gave in to Ryan Fitzpatrick and signed him to a one-year, 12 million dollar contract, they never envisioned him playing the way he has this season. Fitzpatrick is dead last in almost every statistical category and has missed open wide receivers with regularity. Last week, Bryce Petty replaced him as he was still not 100% healthy.

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While Petty looked serviceable against one of the better defenses in the league, he doesn’t seem to be the long-term answer at quarterback for Gang Green. Christian Hackenberg was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but is essentially red-shirted this season, just as Petty did last year. Hackenberg is different from Petty, in that he has serious mechanical issues which will not be corrected anytime soon.

This means that there is no chance Hackenberg will be ready to play at the start of next season. Petty was coming from a spread offense and he had to learn an NFL offense as well as being able to read defenses. Hackenberg’s problem is much larger and more complex than Petty’s so if Petty wasn’t ready after a red-shirt year, there is no way Hackenberg is either.

With the way the season has gone this year for the Jets, they will likely finish with a top 5 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Unfortunately for the Jets, there is no sure-fire franchise quarterback. The Jets will have to look externally for a quarterback, and look no further than Dallas and the veteran Tony Romo.

Some may say that the Jets need to blow this thing up and certainly signing a 36-year-old veteran would not carry out that goal. That is true, but owner Woody Johnson will not shy away from making a bold move for Romo. Remember, Woody made the move for Brett Favre after an abysmal 2007 season that actually closely resembles 2016.

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General manager Mike Maccagnan has a long-term vision for this organization and has been in the process of rebuilding the team through the draft since he arrived while staying competitive. Romo would provide invaluable experience for his handpicked quarterback Hackenberg, as well as keep the Jets competitive and buy time for Hackenberg to continue to develop.

Signing Romo not only will benefit the Jets chances to win next year and be a mentor to Hackenberg, he will also allow head coach Todd Bowles some wiggle-room and rebound from what has been a bad showing from him this year.

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Even if Maccagnan is against bringing Romo to New York, I believe that Woody would overrule him anyway. Woody is as frustrated as anyone with how the season has gone, due to the high expectations going in. He realizes how restless the fan base is and wants to please them. Romo will be the ultimate gift that could finally lift the Jets out of their playoff drought.