Tony Romo's career as a broadcaster for CBS may be nearing its end following his July 23 arrest for operating while intoxicated (OWI) and subsequent indefinite leave from the network, according to media executives. Opinions vary on Romo's future with CBS, with some executives believing the network will part ways with him, potentially voiding the remaining $72 million on his contract.
Discussions among sports media executives, as reported by Puck News, center on whether Romo's arrest and the subsequent 40-minute police questioning video could negatively impact CBS's brand image. Concerns have been raised about viewers questioning Romo's sobriety during broadcasts or the potential for social media to generate memes from the arrest video, creating uncomfortable situations for sponsors.
Ross Pitcoff, founder and managing partner of Pitcoff Law Group, suggested that CBS's decision to suspend Romo indicates a degree of embarrassment regarding the situation. The network's ability to terminate Romo could hinge on the 'morals clause' reportedly included in his 10-year, $180 million contract. If this clause broadly allows termination for scandal or contains subjective language, CBS might have grounds to end the contract.
However, the specifics of the morals clause remain undisclosed. Alex Davis, founder of Omni Law P.C., who has experience negotiating such clauses, indicated that Romo's contract likely contains language favorable to the talent. At the time of his signing in 2020, Romo was considered a top NFL analyst with no significant prior legal issues.
Romo's contract might include termination qualifiers tied to felonies or convictions, which could favor him. His arrest occurred in Wisconsin, where a first-offense OWI is typically a civil infraction rather than a criminal charge. Sources familiar with sports media contracts indicated that moral clauses rarely list DUIs as grounds for termination, usually specifying acts like theft, insubordination, workplace misconduct, violence, or felonies.
If CBS does terminate Romo, the network reportedly has a pool of potential replacements. JJ Watt is expected to fill in on CBS's top broadcast team alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson during Romo's absence and is considered a rising talent. Additionally, Troy Aikman, Kirk Herbstreit, and Greg Olsen could potentially move to CBS, as their contracts are set to expire at the end of the season.