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Tony Romo’s run as the top NFL voice at CBS Sports might be nearing its final whistle. The network placed its lead analyst on an indefinite leave of absence after his arrest for driving under the influence in Wisconsin late last month, and now the search for his replacement appears to already be underway.
Puck News reporter John Ourand says CBS is eyeing two names to potentially take over Romo’s booth for good. One of them is Greg Olsen, the former Pro Bowl tight end who’s currently calling games for Fox.
The other candidate? J.J. Watt.
The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year has actually been filling Romo’s seat since July, stepping in right after the OWI arrest happened. Whether that interim role turns permanent is still up in the air.
Why Olsen Could Actually Make the Jump
Here’s what makes Olsen a realistic option, not just a name being floated: he’s got an out clause in his current Fox contract. That deal expires this year, and it lets him walk if another network offers him a top analyst job. CBS courting him for its No. 1 seat would check that box easily.
There’s also a bit of a redemption angle here for NFL fans. Many felt Olsen got a raw deal when Fox brought in Tom Brady and bumped him down the depth chart. Olsen didn’t exactly fade quietly, either — he’s picked up three Emmy wins as a commentator, and he actually beat out Brady for Outstanding Personality/Event Analyst just this year.
Olsen’s playing career backs up the broadcasting resume, too. Chicago drafted him 31st overall out of Miami back in 2007, and he spent four seasons with the Bears before a trade sent him to Carolina. That’s where he really made his name — three Pro Bowl selections, and he became the first tight end in NFL history to put up three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons.
The Romo Problem CBS Can’t Ignore
None of this is simple for CBS, though, because Romo’s contract situation is a mess. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback is still owed $72 million over the next four years. CBS could try to cut ties “for cause” and pay him nothing — but that route almost certainly ends up in court.
Romo’s popularity as an analyst had already been slipping before the arrest, for what it’s worth. This latest incident just adds pressure to a situation the network was probably already rethinking.
Whatever CBS decides, it won’t be a quick fix. Between the money owed, the legal risk, and two credible replacement options already in play, this is shaping up to be one of the more complicated broadcast booth shakeups in recent memory.
