Tony Romo, a prominent sports analyst for CBS, has been placed on leave following his arrest last week on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence. CBS Sports announced on Friday that Romo would be on leave “until further notice.” During his absence, JJ Watt is set to join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as part of CBS Sports’ lead NFL team.
Details of the Incident
The 46-year-old former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was apprehended on July 23 while driving on Interstate 43 in Wisconsin. According to a report from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Romo did not perform satisfactorily on field sobriety tests, leading to his arrest. He was subsequently booked and later released.
Romo has a court appearance scheduled for September 21. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office report indicated that during an inventory before his vehicle was towed, an open bottle of an alcoholic beverage was discovered on the passenger side of his black Jeep.
According to police, the initial stop occurred when Romo was seen passing vehicles in a gore area, a section dividing interstate traffic from on-ramp cars. It was noted that Romo questioned the term “gore area” during the stop.
Body camera footage revealed Romo mentioning that he had been returning from a golf course and was on his way to visit family at the time of the stop. Authorities noted signs of impairment, including red, glassy eyes and the smell of alcohol.
Romo graduated from a high school located approximately 35 miles from Milwaukee in Burlington, Wisconsin. He has served as the lead game analyst for CBS NFL coverage since 2017, after a successful playing career in the NFL from 2004 to 2016, all with the Dallas Cowboys. He remains the franchise leader in career touchdown passes and held the record for career passing yards until last season.
Watt joined CBS in 2023 and has been involved with “The NFL Today” prior to his current role. Romo’s expected return was set for the opening Sunday of the regular season on September 13, with CBS also scheduled to broadcast a preseason game on August 28.
CBS is anticipated to announce its scheduling and announcer pairings for the first few weeks of the regular season in the near future.
Why It Matters
This situation marks a significant shift for both Romo’s career and CBS Sports’ NFL coverage as they navigate the implications of this incident during the crucial preseason and upcoming regular season.