Jerry Jones is not ready to watch Tony Romo get pushed out of CBS without putting up a fight.
CBS has Romo on leave until further notice after his OWI arrest in Milwaukee, and the immediate buzz around the league has centered on whether the network will eventually sever ties with him. Jones, though, made it plain this week that he still believes in the former Cowboys quarterback.
Speaking to Fox 4 as Dallas opened training camp, Jones didn’t mince words about Romo’s character or his value.
"I love him. I love what he's about.
I love his character. I love his love of sport.
He's a very, very unique talent," Jones said.
Jones also pointed to Romo’s resilience when asked whether he knows how to respond when things go sideways.
"Do you think Tony Romo knows how to get up when he gets knocked down?" Jones continued. "Absolutely, that's one of his greatest attributes, and he can handle adversity."
CBS has already turned to J.J. Watt to work alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson while Romo’s situation remains unresolved. The network is also dealing with the reality of Romo’s contract, which still has four years left and is worth more than seventy million dollars.
Romo was arrested on July 23 in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He also received citations for an open container and unsafe passing in a designated gore area.
He refused a breathalyzer test and is scheduled to appear in court on Sep. 21.
Jones’ backing carries weight because his connection to Romo goes back a long way. He signed the undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois in 2003, and Romo eventually became the Cowboys’ all-time leader in passing touchdowns. Jones later rewarded him with a six-year, $67.5 million contract in 2007.
That relationship has clearly endured. Jones’ comments made it obvious he still sees Romo as a rare football mind, someone who can see the game and explain it in a way few others can.
There’s also the broader backdrop: Jones is not just any former boss with fond memories. He helped broker Fox’s landmark NFC broadcast rights deal in 1993, which gives him real standing when it comes to how NFL networks operate and how they handle major names.
That matters because CBS, like the other broadcast partners, depends on maintaining strong relationships with NFL owners to protect those massive rights deals. So while Jones can’t make the final call, his public support is hardly meaningless.
For now, CBS has not set a timeline for Romo’s return, and with the court date still ahead, the situation remains open. Jones has made his stance clear. Whether the network follows his lead is another matter.
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