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Cowboys quarterback Romo calls time

Tony Romo had been a fixture of the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons, now the quarterback has called it a day.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has retired from the NFL. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has retired from the NFL.

The 36-year-old spent 14 seasons with the Cowboys and was their number one Quarterback for 10 years before injuries and the emergence of rookie Dak Prescott saw him replaced last season.

He leaves with franchise records of 34,183 passing yards and 248 touchdowns, against 117 interceptions, but won only two playoff games and never appeared in a Super Bowl.

Talk of a trade or free agent move for Romo has dominated the off-season, with the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos frequently mentioned as possible suitors who could offer him a shot at going out on a high - as fellow veteran Peyton Manning did two years ago by winning the Super Bowl with the Broncos.

Romo will instead move into broadcasting with CBS following Tuesday's announcement. He tweeted a photograph of himself in a blazer with a CBS logo, accompanied by the words: "I guess it's time to start dressing up."

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Running back Ezekiel Elliott wrote on his own Twitter feed, referencing Romo's jersey number: "Thank you #Number9. Good luck to your new career in broadcasting."

Another teammate Tyrone Crawford added: "Bitter sweet moment today! My guy @tonyromo hangin em up today!"

Dallas owner Jerry Jones thanked Romo for what he gave to the Cowboys.

"We wish Tony and his family nothing but the best," Jones said in a statement.

"We did what he asked us to do in terms of his release. He will leave us with many great memories and a legacy of being, truly, one of the greatest players in Cowboys history.

"We are thrilled for him and his family that he will be able to continue working as a professional in the game he so dearly loves."

Signed in 2003 as an undrafted free agent from Eastern Illinois University, Romo learned his trade for three seasons behind veterans including Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe before graduating to the starting role.

He led the team to the playoffs in his first two campaigns as a starter but had to wait until 2009 for his first post-season win, adding just one more in 2014.


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