CBS and Tony Romo are officially done, bringing an end to that super awkward holding pattern we’ve all been watching. The network announced they’re mutually parting ways with their No. 1 NFL color commentator. This comes more than two months after Romo’s July 23rd arrest on suspicion of operating while intoxicated following a golf event in Wisconsin, an incident that had him on leave from CBS.
Watt Takes the Mic Full-Time After Romo’s Exit
He pleaded no contest to those OWI charges on September 1st, so this isn’t exactly out of left field, you know? While all that was going down, J.J. Watt stepped right into those No. 1 color duties for CBS’s top NFL broadcasts through the first three weeks of the regular season. CBS’s statement was pretty clean, saying they “mutually agreed to part ways,” thanking him for nine years, and wishing him the best. But they also made it clear: J.J. Watt is staying put with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson for the rest of the season. The rest of the teams, like Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker, and Evan Washburn, are staying the same too. It’s a quick pivot for the broadcast booth, but Watt was already there.
The Heavy Toll: Romo’s Statement and Contract Questions
Romo himself dropped a statement the same day he pleaded no contest, and it’s heavy stuff. He opened up about developing a reliance on pain medication after all those back surgeries from his playing days as the Cowboys QB. He said trying to get off those meds led to an “over-reliance” on alcohol. He didn’t mince words, though: “None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them.” Man, that’s a tough situation. Romo was a star, joining CBS in 2017 right after his 13-year run with the Cowboys. He was immediately awesome in the booth, calling out plays before they happened, so much energy. Remember that monster 10-year, $180 million contract he signed in 2020? Yeah, that’s got four years left on it. And here’s the kicker: reviews on his performance had apparently “waned in recent seasons.” You gotta wonder if CBS saw a chance to maybe get out of that huge deal.
So, it’s a new era for CBS’s top NFL broadcast team. J.J. Watt is officially the guy alongside Nantz and Wolfson, and it’s a huge shift just a few weeks into the regular season. This definitely leaves us watching how the broadcast dynamic changes going forward. It’s a sudden, big change for how we’re gonna hear the biggest games called every Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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