It's been a busy week for former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, as he was arrested last week and cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). Authorities also revealed that he had an open container in the car. Some have said it's not the end of the world for Romo's CBS career, but this definitely happened at the worst time for him.
Romo started as the eager, friendly announcer who became an instant star in the 2017 season. He called plays and predicted routes before they happened, but since he won over fans, he hasn't been as sharp in recent years.
Over recent years, he's mixed up names, which seems like an innocent thing, but fans have noticed. In last season's wild card round of the playoffs, Romo said the Jaguars can "surprise a lot of people" by beating the Bills, even though the Bills were road underdogs. Are Romo's blunders a scapegoat for CBS amid a PR nightmare for the network? Possibly.
Tony Romo's blunders, plus his suspension, are a double whammy against him
Romo is also on a 10-year, $180 million contract that he signed in 2020. This is now a breaking point that CBS has to figure out.
CBS couldn't stay quiet any longer, and they decided to suspend Romo indefinitely "until further notice." We don't know what that means yet, but his court date is set for September 21st. Less than a week later is CBS' late-afternoon game between the Ravens and Cowboys in Brazil. Romo was set to call that game, but international travel requires a lot more preparation than usual.
This means the former Cowboys QB could come back in October, but nobody knows what to expect. Could we see him at all this calendar year? How would CBS even go back to transitioning Romo back to the No. 1 team with Jim Nantz in a situation like this? With CBS set to broadcast the Super Bowl in 2028, those questions have to be answered.
In the meantime, J.J. Watt will take charge with Nantz and Tracy Wolfson for the 2026 season. Watt, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is usually on the No. 2 team with Ian Eagle. It's an opportunity for Watt to build up his announcing resume.
That's why this is a terrible time for Romo to be on the fence with CBS. Getting arrested and having an open container in the car isn't a good look for him at all, but when we add that to what's been an iffy season for Romo on the mic, it doesn't spell good for his broadcasting career right now.
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