NFL Notes: Tony Romo, Patrick Mahomes, Browns, Steelers

Tony Romo

• Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, citing two sources close to Cowboys QB Tony Romo, reports that he expects to have an answer from the Cowboys about his future with the team by the end of the Combine. Robinson’s sources added that
• Romo spoke with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones after the Super Bowl and indicated that he wants to be a starting quarterback in the NFL next season.
• According to Robinson, Romo prefers to be released by the Cowboys and the ideal situation for him would be to have as much time as possible to speak with interested teams before the start of free agency.
• Robinson adds that the only that could stand in the way of the Cowboys cutting Romo would be a team approaching them about a trade at the Combine.

Patrick Mahomes

Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes mentioned that he’s hoping to convince the Browns he’s worthy of taking ahead of the other quarterbacks in this year’s draft class.

“I want to get drafted as high as possible and I want to get drafted to the right team and I feel like Hue Jackson has a great thing going there,” Mahomes told Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “I feel like they’ll keep it going in the right direction in the near future.”

“I feel like I have a lot to offer and I feel like if I do well at the Combine and at Pro Day, I will be up there with them,” Mahomes added.

• In an interview with Pro Football Talk, Mahomes said he received a second-round grade from the NFL’s College Advisory Committee.

Browns

• Joel Corry believes the transition tag may make the most sense for the Browns in regards to free agent WR Terrelle Pryor.
• This would give Cleveland the right of first refusal for any offer he receives from another team. However, the downside is that the Browns would allow another team and Pryor to negotiate the terms of the deal.
• They did this with C Alex Mack a few years ago when he signed an offer sheet with the Jaguars that gave him the ability to later opt out of the agreement and become a free agent.

Steelers

• Ian Rapoport reports that Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell hasn’t scheduled a groin surgery as of now and likely would have done so by now if it was considered necessary.