Tony Romo Comments on Future with Cowboys, Recovery from Shoulder Surgery

At February's NFL Scouting Combine, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters he believed Tony Romo could be the team's quarterback "for the next four or five years."

According to ESPN.com's Todd Archer, Romo concurred with Jones' estimate Wednesday even though he's been plagued by injuries—including a broken left collarbone in 2015 that has altered his approach to organized team activities this offseason:  

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I'm not in my mid-20s anymore, but I do think based on what my situation has been like the last three or four years, I do think this [offseason] is drastically different. It takes me back five years ago when I was able to do things the way [I had]. I'm not there yet. I still got these months to just get after it, but it's exciting to actually be able to get after it a little bit. But if everything keeps going the way it's going, I think it's going to be exciting going into camp."

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The 36-year-old also reportedly said the broken collarbone, which forced him to miss 12 games a year ago, is a "non-issue" following March surgery. 

However, Archer reported that Romo is just now starting to feel comfortable following a slew of back ailments—several of which required surgery.

"The further removed I am from surgery—and now it's been quite a while—I can go a lot longer periods of time doing what I could do before," Romo said. "But for shorter periods of time before, it would just get heavy or I'd need a break or rest."

According to Archer, Romo underwent a pair of procedures in 2013 for a cyst and herniated disk in his back. A season later, the Dallas quarterback suffered two fractured transverse processes, which are bones that stick out from the back's vertebrae. 

As is the case with all players his age, Romo's longevity will depend on his health. But if he can remain upright and off the injury report in the seasons ahead, he could help carry the Cowboys to new heights. 

During his last full season as starter in 2014, Romo completed a league-high 69.9 percent of his passes for 3,705 yards, 34 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. During that stretch, the star-clad signal-caller led the NFL with a quarterback rating of 113.2 and touchdown percentage of 7.8. 

If he can harness that sort of production behind one of the league's best offensive lines with weapons such as wide receiver Dez Bryant, rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott and tight end Jason Witten by his side, Romo will be a surefire Comeback Player of the Year candidate. 

And if he can string together a few healthy seasons, Romo may just earn one final deal in Dallas after his contract expires following the 2019 season. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com. Contract information courtesy of Spotrac.com.