Tony Romo has been placed on leave from his role as the lead analyst on CBS’ NFL coverage following his arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. NFL.com announced Friday that the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was on leave until further notice.
Tony Romo Placed on Leave by CBS Sports Following Wisconsin Arrest
Romo, 46, was arrested July 23 after being stopped while driving south on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. According to a report from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests before being taken into custody, booked, and released. He has a court date set for Sept. 21. Citations released by the agency also indicated that an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage was found on the passenger’s side of Romo’s black Jeep during an inventory before it was towed.
Details of the Traffic Stop and Body Camera Footage
Police stopped Romo after he was observed passing cars in a gore area, which separates interstate traffic from vehicles entering from an on-ramp. Authorities stated that Romo questioned what a gore area was during the stop.
Body camera footage showed Romo telling deputies he was coming from a golf course and heading to visit his grandparents when he was pulled over. A deputy reported suspecting Romo of impairment due to red glassy eyes
and an odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage.
The arrest and subsequent video of Romo undergoing the sobriety test circulated widely, placing branding pressure on sports.yahoo.com.
Interim Broadcast Lineup and Contract Implications
During Romo’s absence, J.J. Watt will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as part of CBS Sports’ lead NFL broadcast team. Romo has served as CBS’ lead game analyst since 2017 and signed a 10-year contract extension in 2020 paying $17 million per year, leaving him with over $70 million and at least four years remaining on his deal.
The situation has created a financial and logistical dilemma for the network regarding Romo’s substantial remaining compensation. Analysts have noted that Nbcsports could attempt to terminate the agreement with cause, settle out court, or face a potential legal battle if they choose to permanently part ways with the commentator.
Potential Long-Term Replacements and Fan Reaction
As speculation mounts over Romo’s long-term future in the booth, observers have pointed to potential successors should the network decide to make a permanent change. Among those mentioned are J.J. Watt and Greg Olsen. Olsen, whose contract with Fox is reported to expire following the 2026 season, won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Event Analyst earlier this year.
Fan reactions to the network’s decision have been mixed. While some social media users criticized the move or defended Romo’s cooperative demeanor during the traffic stop, others welcomed a change in the broadcast booth following mounting viewer criticism over Romo’s recent seasons on air.
Worth a look
