CBS Sports and Tony Romo "have mutually agreed to part ways," the network said Friday. Romo, a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, had called CBS's biggest NFL games since 2017. Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies arrested him for drunk driving on July 23, and CBS put him on leave on July 31. On Sept. 1, he pleaded no contest to first-offense OWI, or operating while intoxicated. In Wisconsin that's a civil offense, and he lost his license for six months. That day he said back pain had left him dependent on pain medication, and that trying to quit the pills led to "an over-reliance on alcohol." He had about four years and $72 million left on a 10-year, $180 million contract. The Athletic reports the two sides settled the money before announcing the split. Neither has disclosed terms. Romo says he will "take a break."

1. CBS Used the Arrest to Get Out of a Bad Contract

Sports-media writers say CBS had soured on Romo's work long before July, and the arrest gave it a way out.

These writers say CBS had soured on Romo's work before the arrest. Andrew Marchand, senior sports media columnist at The Athletic, said on a podcast around Sept. 1 that Romo had "gone backward" and that "the work ethic's been questioned." In August, Marchand said CBS wanted "to get out of the Romo business."

Romo might never have missed a game if his work hadn't slipped. Jon Lewis, founder of Sports Media Watch, called the arrest "the pretense" for the exit. "Had the tide not turned on Romo's performance, there is an argument to be made that he would not have missed a single game," Lewis wrote Friday. He said CBS "was quite obviously looking for a way out" of a deal reported at $17 million a year.

Romo bargained hard, and that left bad feelings at CBS. Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd said Romo "squeezed them for every nickel" when he had leverage in contract talks. "Even if you have leverage, it will create resentment somewhere upstairs," Cowherd said. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy agreed with Lewis: "They were clearly looking for an out."

2. CBS Should Have Given Him a Second Chance

Romo's defenders say a first civil offense shouldn't end a career, and other broadcasters came back from DUIs.

Romo's defenders say one arrest shouldn't wipe out nine years of work. Barrett Media columnist John Mamola wrote in August that Romo "deserves the same second chance that most of us would hope to receive in a similar situation." Former NFL lineman Mark Schlereth said he would put Romo back in the booth after whatever punishment CBS chose. "Maybe it's a game or two suspension," he said.

Other networks kept their broadcasters after DUI arrests. NBC took no disciplinary action against broadcaster Al Michaels after his 2013 DUI arrest, and he missed no games. TNT suspended analyst Charles Barkley and ESPN suspended analyst Jalen Rose after their DUIs, and both came back.

Some in sports media say CBS let a star go. On Friday, Dom DiTommaso of 93.7 The Fan called the split "a royal mistake" and said Romo in his prime "was the greatest to ever do it." Fox Sports' Mark Gunnels wrote, "Him and Nantz made games feel bigger."

3. Romo Should Earn His Way Back and Put His Health First

These critics say drunk driving is serious, and Romo's recovery matters more than his next job.

These voices say nobody should brush off drunk driving. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith called the arrest "a very serious transgression, and we can't minimize that," even as he hoped Romo would keep his job. Sports Illustrated senior writer Conor Orr called the arrest "abhorrent," especially to the thousands of people whose lives drunk-driving crashes change every year.

If Romo comes back, he should have to earn it. Radio host Dan Patrick said, "I would not bring Tony back. And if I did, I would make him earn his way back. And I don't know if he's willing to do that." Patrick has said Romo stopped doing his homework as he got further from his playing days.

His health matters more than which booth he lands in. Dallas Morning News columnist Tim Cowlishaw has written about his own 2007 DUI. In September he noted that many fans on X want Romo back because they believe in second chances. "Not so much in television," he wrote. "No. 1 analyst or No. 3 doesn't make a significant difference if one is living an honest and healthy life," Cowlishaw added.

Where This Lands

CBS analyst J.J. Watt, who replaced Romo in the top booth in July, will stay beside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz for the rest of the season, and the two are scheduled to call Chiefs–Raiders on Sunday. Sports media reporter Richard Deitsch says Romo is contractually free to work elsewhere. Marchand and Lewis say a pricey contract and slipping work cost Romo his job, and the arrest gave CBS cover. Mamola and Schlereth say CBS should have given him a second chance. Patrick says Romo should have to earn his way back, and Cowlishaw says getting healthy matters more than his next job. OutKick's Armando Salguero predicts Romo will "author a comeback," while ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio says he's unlikely to land a top job at another network. No network has publicly shown interest yet.

Sources