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Credit: CBS, CBS Sports Network
With Tony Romo on indefinite leave from CBS following his arrest for OWI, Boomer Esiason doesn’t expect the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback to reclaim his lead analyst chair.
Romo was placed on leave “until further notice” by CBS after its longtime NFL analyst was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated during a traffic stop in Milwaukee. CBS has since already promoted J.J. Watt to their lead booth alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson, prompting speculation about Romo’s future with the network.
This week, CBS Sports President David Berson remained coy about Romo’s future during the network’s NFL Media Day, asking everyone to respect that this is a “personal matter and a legal one for Tony.” Berson reiterated there is no timetable or final decision on Romo’s future at this time, but did note the importance of protecting the network’s image and brand.
Wednesday morning, Boomer Esiason, who spent 22 years as an analyst on CBS’s The NFL Today, spoke about Romo’s future with WFAN co-host Gregg Giannotti.
“If I had to guess, purely speculation given what’s going on right now, I would think it’s over,” Esiason said of Romo’s tenure at CBS. “He may end up going somewhere else and getting things straightened out.”
Esiason recalled how the network handled Romo replacing Phil Simms in the lead booth nine years ago. At the time, CBS reportedly offered Simms the chance to continue calling games by joining their third or fourth booth.
“That’s an insult,” Esiason said of CBS attempting to demote Simms. “Especially a guy that worked 20 years as your lead analyst.”
Instead, Simms joined Esiason on The NFL Today, which could be seen as more of a role change than a demotion, even though that’s what it was. As Esiason explained, there was a need for Simms in the studio in 2017 because Tony Gonzalez had just left. With Romo, however, there is no void to fill on The NFL Today, especially after CBS already replaced Matt Ryan with Russell Wilson. Which means if CBS is going to keep Romo, it would likely have to be in a lower booth.
It’s hard to imagine Romo accepting a lesser role at CBS. It’s also hard to imagine CBS welcoming Romo back once his legal matter is resolved. Romo’s future at CBS likely hinges on whether the network wants him to continue being one of the faces of their NFL contract for the foreseeable future. When Al Michaels was arrested for a DUI in 2013, NBC did not suspend or fire him. But NBC still liked Al Michaels being the face of their NFL coverage in 2013.
With Romo, CBS has shown little support for the analyst they once gave a 10-year $180 million contract to since his arrest. And if they’ve been souring on Romo as an analyst in recent years, just as many NFL fans have, CBS could consider his legal matter an opportunity to divorce the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback.
The post Boomer Esiason thinks ‘it’s over’ for Tony Romo at CBS appeared first on Awful Announcing.
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