Report: Cowboys nixed potential Favre trade when Packers wanted Romo
The football world seems to have missed out on what would have been one of the biggest blockbusters in league history.
Relaying an old and previously untold story from Tony Romo, NFL reporter Ed Werder explained on a recent episode of "The Doomsday Podcast" that the Dallas Cowboys were looking into acquiring Brett Favre when he became available in the latter stages of his career with the Green Bay Packers.
Why didn't it happen? Well, as Werder recalls of the story, talks broke off when the Packers wanted Romo included as part of the package they'd receive in return.
Here's Werder's bit, via Will Brinson of CBS Sports:
He talked about during the round about how the Cowboys had had an interest in trading for Favre late in his career when he was available, (Bill) Parcells was the coach.
I said, "Oh yea, I kind of heard that."
And he said, "Well you know, the deal went dead when the Packers asked for me to be in the trade."
And now I'm like, "Oh really the Cowboys didn't trade for Favre because they didn't want to give you up?" And maybe it was true as it turns out, right? He was good enough as it turns out! He had a hell of a good career!
It's unclear from Werder's recollection exactly when the trade talks would have taken place.
Given that Parcells was only the coach through the 2006 season, Romo's first year getting work as the starter, it's clear that the Cowboys made an early and ultimately correct call with an eye on the future.
The former undrafted free agent would go on to make 127 starts for Dallas, posting a 78-49 record while throwing for 34,183 yards and 248 touchdowns before retiring earlier this year.
Things worked out incredibly well for the Packers, too. Green Bay would select Aaron Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 draft and groom him as the backup for three years before trading Favre to the New York Jets in 2008.
Nine seasons later, Rodgers has long established himself as an all-time great.
But that trade sure would have been fun.