Sports divorces can be me sy. This is particularly true with an NFL team and a player that has been the face of franchise for an extended period of George Gervin Jersey time. More on Cowboys The NFLs annual spring meetings ended Wednesday with still a member of the despite owner Jerry Jones publicly stating in early March . The expectation was Romo, who has a $24.7 million salary cap number and a $14 million salary this year, would be released with a post-June 1 designation once the 2017 league year began March 9.The $19.6 million salary cap charge relating to the bonus proration in Romos 2013 extension and the subsequent contract restructurings for cap purposes in 2014 and 15 would be taken over the next two years with a post-June 1 designation. The Cowboys would be required to carry Romos full cap number until June 2, when his $14 million 2017 salary would come off their cap, leaving a $10.7 million cap charge for this year. Romo would remain on the Cowboys books in 2018 with an $8.9 million cap charge.Almost a month later, Romos status hasnt changed. Jones is still holding onto Romo, which is well within his rights, like the Texans or . Announcing this Do Right rule, to which Jones is giving lip service, isnt helping trade efforts. A trade market hasnt and is unlikely to materialize because teams hardly ever give up anything of value when they expect a player Dejounte Murray Jersey to be released. Jones . He anticipates a resolution with Romo before the start of training camp in late July. This date could just be posturing for trade purposes, which other teams should easily see through. Considering Jones keeps moving the goal line, there isnt anything preventing him from keeping Romo deep into preseason just in case theres a significant injury to a starting quarterback, like the had with last year. Romos contract doesnt contain a roster bonus or guarantees vesting on a specific date, which probably would have forced the Cowboys to make a decision by now. In all fairne s, a contract signed in 2013 shouldnt be expected to have these kinds of mechanisms four years into the deal.How it should endA logical ending point to Romos days in Dallas should be April 17. Its the start of the Cowboys offseason workout program. If Romo is still under contract to the Cowboys at this time, he needs to seriously consider playing the hand he has been dealt by using the tools at his disposal to try to accelerate his departure from the Cowboys. That is, if his goal is to play football next season. If so, he is going to want as much time as po sible to learn a new offensive system with another team and develop chemistry with new receivers. Romo probably doesnt want to end his career as a backup after looking pretty sharp leading the Cowboys to a touchdown in his lone drive against the during the regular-season finale, which was his first real game action since Week 12 in 2015. As long as Romo plans on playing football in 2017, he should show up for the Cowboys offseason program when it begins with the intention of participating. Although workout programs and organized team activities are voluntary, he would be fulfilling the conditions of his contract even though it isnt expected to be in existence when regular-season games begin.Paragraph 26 of his 2015 contract is titled, 2016-2019 Non-Performance De-escalator. Romos base salary will decrease by $500,000 in any season that he doesnt complete at least 90 percent of the total scheduled workouts in the offseason program, fully participate in offseason minicamp(s) and training camp as well as honor all other contractual obligations up until the Tuesday before the first Dennis Rodman Jersey regular-season game of that particular year. This type of de-escalator is routinely a part of the most lucrative Cowboys contracts, such as those signed by , and .What Cowboys risk by keeping RomoThe Cowboys shouldnt want Romo participating in any of their offseason activities since he isnt expected to be on the roster once the season starts. A serious injury could put the Cowboys on the hook for his entire $14 million salary and $24.7 million cap number. Besides the financial liability, Romos presence could be awkward for his teammates and coaches. Reports surfaced last week that Romos heartfelt speech to the media last November where he conceded the starting quarterback job to , the eventual 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, created a rift between him and head coach Jason Garrett. Once close, Romo and Garrett havent spoken since the season ended. have Romo distancing himself from teammates and coaches that are big supporters of Prescott.Precedent isnt on the Cowboys side if Romo is prevented from being a part of the workout program and OTAs. The NFL Players A sociation won a grievance against the in 2006 for breach of contract and violating the collective bargaining agreement after quarterback Steve McNair was barred from working out at their facility. The NFLPAs position was that McNair should be allowed to work out at the Titans premises or be released. McNair was under contract for $10 million with a $23.46 million cap number while the Titans were expected to take a quarterback with the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. The Titans used the pick on . McNair Bruce Bowen Jersey was traded to the that June shortly after the arbitrator rendered his decision.The NFLPA intervened on quarterback Daunte Culpeppers behalf in June 2007 when he was prevented from participating in the minicamp because the team was trying to trade him and didnt want be liable for his contract if he suffered a setback in his recovery from knee surgery. Culpeppers release was sought by the NFLPA through an expedited grievance, which would probably be pursued in a Romo case. Unlike the Titans, the Dolphins allowed Culpepper to work out at their facilities. Culpepper was released in the middle of July a day before his grievance was scheduled to be heard, so the i sue of whether a team has the right to keep out a healthy player who wants to participate in offseason practices hasnt been settled. Romos nuclear optionAdditional steps could be taken by Romo to give Jones the drama he seems to enjoy stirring up. Romo was the consummate profe sional in how he handled his demotion last year. He could start taking a different approach after showing up for workouts.As an agent, I was involved in a couple of protracted contract disputes where players considered true profe sionals, Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith, took actions that were out of character in order to achieve a desired result. Unfortunately, this is how the busine s of the NFL can work with players perceived as nice guys because kindne s can get mistaken as weakne s by teams.For starters, Romo could up the ante by reading Keita Bates-Diop Jersey another prepared statement to the media or holding a pre s conference where he requests an opportunity to compete with Prescott t