CBS has moved on from Tony Romo.
After nine seasons in the broadcast booth, the former Cowboys quarterback is out at the network following his OWI arrest in Wisconsin over the summer. When videos of Romo’s sobriety test surfaced, the situation looked serious enough that CBS put him on leave “until further notice.” Now the split is official.
“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways,” CBS Sports said. “We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.”
The move locks in a new setup at the top of CBS’s NFL coverage, with three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt becoming the permanent No. 1 color commentator alongside Jim Nantz. For CBS and for NFL viewers who grew used to Romo’s style, it marks a sharp end to a run that stood out from the start.
Romo built his reputation on anticipation, often seeing the play develop before it happened and talking viewers through it in real time. That was part of what made the Phil Simms-to-Romo transition feel so dramatic for CBS in the first place.
There will be plenty of people who question the outcome, especially since other athletes and celebrities have dealt with worse and kept working. But Romo’s case carried real consequences: his driving privileges were revoked for six months, and he paid a $784 fine.
Kevin Hageland from 105.3 The Fan said he expected Romo to return in some form.
"I really thought at some point Romo would be back. Now, whether or not that meant he would be on a different announced team or they would just put him back alongside Jim Nantz and move J.J. Watt elsewhere, I thought eventually he would be back."
Watt brings his own forceful energy to the booth, but Romo’s knack for reading a play before it unfolded made him a different kind of voice. He’ll be missed by plenty of Cowboys fans, and now he’ll have to find his next landing spot after the CBS exit.
In Other News...
Dan Campbell Hinted At Big Lions Roster Decisions Before Carolina
With a short week leading into Carolina, Dan Campbell spent part of his pregame update signaling that the Lions still have some roster chess to play. Detroit is in trade talks for Joey Porter Jr., while safety Brian Branch is nearing a return to practice, and Campbell also made clear that he remains confident in linebacker Jack Campbell even after a slow start to the season. The message was less about the headlines than the direction: the Lions are still sorting out how their defense wants to look as the schedule tightens.
The immediate assignment, though, is straightforward enough. Detroit is focused on keeping Bryce Young from settling in, and Campbell said the biggest defensive concern beyond that is handling tight ends in the middle of the field. He also raised the possibility of rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder getting defensive snaps, a reminder that the Lions may not be done adjusting the group as they balance short-term needs with longer-term decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch Return Timeline Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Brian Branchs path back to the field is starting to come into focus, and that matters for a Lions defense that has had to wait out one of its most important young pieces. The safety is close to returning from the Achilles injury he suffered last season, according to Dan Campbell, after beginning the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list. If the timeline holds, Branch is expected to be eligible to return to practice next week, a first step toward getting him back in the mix.
What happens after that will be the part Detroit is watching most closely. The Lions would then have the 21-day window to work through before deciding on activation, and Kelvin Sheppards recent comments about the defense and its preparation only add to the sense that the unit is bracing for a potentially meaningful addition. For a team trying to keep its defensive rhythm intact, Branchs return would be one of the more notable developments on the horizon. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Could Have Tough Trade Calls If Young Talent Keeps Rising
The Lions are heading toward the trade deadline in an unusual spot for a team still trying to build something lasting: they are expected to be buyers, but they also have to keep sorting through which veterans and depth pieces fit the roster long term. As Detroit evaluates its options, cornerback Amani Oruwariye, defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike and offensive lineman Logan Stenberg have surfaced as names to watch, especially if the front office decides a roster spot or draft asset can be better used elsewhere.
What makes the calculus trickier is that the answer may not be about those players alone. The Lions also have to factor in how younger talent is coming along and whether injuries create new pressure points before the deadline arrives. If those developments keep breaking the right way, Detroit could find itself making some difficult calls on useful pieces rather than simply adding help. [Read more 🡒]