CBS Fumbles on Romo's Future: 'No Timetable' After DUI Arrest
The golden-boy broadcast booth just got a whole lot colder for Tony Romo. After the former Cowboys quarterback was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence last month, CBS Sports president David Berson is playing the waiting game — and he's not tipping his hand.
"It's an evolving situation and we are still assessing," Berson said Tuesday at the "NFL on CBS" Media Day. "There is no timetable or final decision at this time."
Translation: Romo's seat is far from safe. The 46-year-old analyst was pulled over on July 23 after being spotted passing cars in a gore area — that awkward no-man's-land between the interstate and an on-ramp. He failed field sobriety tests, got booked, and was later cited for refusing a post-arrest intoxication test. Oh, and there was an open container of alcohol in his black Jeep. Not a great look.
CBS put Romo on leave a week later, and his court date is set for Sept. 21. But that's not the only headline from Tuesday's announcement.
The network is shuffling the deck chairs. JJ Watt is getting the call-up to the No. 1 crew alongside Jim Nantz, while Ross Tucker jumps into the No. 2 booth with Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn. A deep bench, according to Berson, but let's be real: Watt's got some massive cleats to fill.
Romo had been the lead analyst since 2017, riding off a four-time Pro Bowl career that kept him in Dallas from 2004 to 2016. He became one of the most recognizable voices in football — and now his future is hanging by a breathalyzer test's worth of thread.
Berson stressed that "the focus should be and needs to be on our presentation and this great product" — which is corporate-speak for: we're not happy about this distraction. "Fortunately," he added, "everybody is stepping up."
No official goodbye. No comeback date. Just uncertainty and a whole lot of silence from CBS headquarters. One thing's for sure: Romo's next play call might be the most important one of his broadcasting career — and it won't happen on the field.