CBS has responded to a report regarding a supposed “intervention” for lead NFL analyst Tony Romo.
“To call this an intervention is a complete mischaracterization, we meet regularly with our on-air talent,” CBS Sports spokeswoman Jen Sabatelle told New York Post sports media columnist Andrew Marchand.
During the latest edition of “The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast,” Marchand explained that CBS “tried an intervention last offseason” after Romo sounded at least somewhat unprepared while working gameday assignments.
That story dropped less than a full week after the former quarterback was largely bashed in multiple online pieces and by fans posting on social media for his call of last Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.
Per Marchand’s update that went public after the podcast, legendary play-by-play broadcaster Jim Nantz, Romo’s in-booth partner, along with “executives including CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus and CBS lead NFL game producer Jim Rikhoff” took “separate trips to Romo’s Dallas home” following the 2021 campaign.
Marchand added that “CBS officials plan to try to again address the issues with the network’s lead team” during this offseason that began for CBS after last Sunday’s broadcast.
As things stand today, Nantz and Romo are scheduled to call Super Bowl LVIII for CBS next February.
According to Alex Reimer of Audacy, Marchand questioned during the podcast why Nantz hasn’t helped Romo improve beyond performances from the 2019 AFC Championship Game which helped the 42-year-old put pen to paper on a 10-year contract back in 2020 that reportedly pays him $17.5 million per season.
Fox’s Greg Olsen has replaced Romo as the top NFL analyst featured on network television in the eyes of many. Per a clause in Olsen’s contract, he potentially could seek work elsewhere this spring or summer if the recently retired Tom Brady becomes Fox’s new No. 1 analyst for the 2023 season.
