When Tony Romo burst onto the NFL broadcast scene, he was lauded for his insight and ability to predict plays before they unfolded.
Unfortunately the last couple of seasons, Romo’s broadcasting skills have been criticized as “regressing,” especially after signing the, at the time, largest contract in sportscasting history, a 10-year deal for a total of $180 million after the 2019-2020 NFL season.
As such, the New York Post reports that CBS executives grew so concerned with the decline in Romo’s performance, they staged an intervention with the former Cowboys QB in order to help him find a way to mesh better with his broadcast partner, Jim Nantz.
CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus and CBS’ lead NFL game producer, Jim Rikhoff, flew on separate trips to Romo’s Dallas home, according to the Post, though according to the network, to call it an “intervention” is blowing the event way out of the water.
“To call this an intervention is a complete mischaracterization, we meet regularly with our on-air talent,” said CBS Sports spokeswoman Jen Sabatelle.
The Post reports that though the meetings went “well,” executives believe they did not improve the broadcast as Nantz and Romo continued to go in the wrong direction, with some comparing their decline to the decline of Nantz with his previous partner, Phil Simms.
CBS will reportedly try to again address the issues with the broadcasting duo this upcoming offseason.
LISTEN on the Audacy App