CBS has officially confirmed that Tony Romo will not be part of its broadcast team for Weeks 2 and 3 of the NFL season, fueling further speculation about his future with the network. Romo struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Wisconsin last week, two months after his OWI arrest.
Initially, Romo was only slated to miss Week 1, with JJ Watt stepping in alongside Jim Nantz for the Packers-Vikings game. However, CBS's updated commentary pairings reveal Watt will continue in the lead booth for the Steelers-Patriots matchup in Week 2, and also for the highly anticipated Ravens-Cowboys game in Brazil in Week 3.
The decision to keep Romo off-air comes after bodycam footage of his sobriety tests went viral following his arrest. While some fans have praised Watt's performance, expressing a preference for the new pairing, others have criticized his announcing.
Sports media insider John Ourand recently stated that there is a "95 percent" certainty Romo will not return to CBS. "I think it's highly unlikely," Ourand said on "The Powers That Be Daily," "and by highly unlikely, I think it's like 95 percent that he's not back at CBS."
David Berson, CBS Sports' president, indicated in early August that the situation was still under assessment with no set timeline for a final decision. Ourand suggested that the release of the arrest footage could negatively impact the network's brand. He also noted that Romo's substantial salary of $18 million per year could be a factor in negotiations for his departure.
Romo's plea deal includes a requirement for an ignition interlock device on all his vehicles, a fine exceeding $700, a six-month driver's license revocation, and a commitment to complete an alcohol assessment program. A subsequent drinking-and-driving conviction within the next decade would result in a mandatory jail sentence.