Over the past offseason, CBS Sports activities executives recognised that among the lustre of Tony Romo’s NFL evaluation had pale.
Because of this, they staged one thing of an intervention, The Submit has realized.
In an effort to have Romo focus extra on being totally ready and to assist him discover a option to mesh higher together with his broadcast associate, Jim Nantz, executives together with CBS Sports activities chairman Sean McManus and CBS’ lead NFL recreation producer, Jim Rikhoff, flew on separate journeys to Romo’s Dallas dwelling, in keeping with sources.
“To name this an intervention is a whole mischaracterisation, we meet recurrently with our on-air expertise,” CBS Sports activities spokeswoman Jen Sabatelle mentioned.
No matter one chooses to name it, the executives reviewed tapes with Romo, went to dinner, and mentioned the printed in an try and return him to the shape that made him a media sensation in his first three years on air, starting in 2017, and culminated in what was on the time the biggest contract in sportscasting historical past, a 10-year deal for a complete of US$180 million (A$260m).
Whereas the get-togethers have been mentioned to have gone properly, they didn’t enhance the printed as Nantz and Romo continued to go within the flawed route, a lot the identical method as Nantz and his earlier associate, Phil Simms, went backward.
Romo has acquired warmth from TV sports activities insiders, media critics and social media.
The Romo-Nantz combo can have much more relevance a 12 months from now as a result of Tremendous Bowl LVIII, which might be performed in Las Vegas on Feb. 11, 2024, will air on CBS.
This offseason, CBS officers plan to attempt to once more tackle the problems with the community’s lead crew.
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In the meantime, sports activities media determine Colin Cowherd has recommended Romo’s struggles might be put right down to his obsession with golf.
“I’ve used this for years after I would interview individuals and I used to be going to rent them,” Cowherd mentioned. “If I had lunch or espresso with them, I all the time requested them in the event that they liked golf. ‘Oh, I really like golf. Do you’re keen on golf?’
“And in the event that they mentioned sure, I wouldn’t rent them. As a result of I all the time had this idea that as guys age, lots of them get hooked on golf.
“They’re on PGATour.com, they’re placing within the yard, they’re occupied with it at work, they’re scheduling a visit to Scotland they usually lose sight of their different job.”
Romo, who’s three seasons right into a 10-year contract value $180 million with CBS, has competed in quite a few skilled tournaments through the years.
Whereas his love for the game was an preliminary chemistry draw with Jim Nantz, their partnership has not felt as crisp the final two years.
“Romo needs to be on the Tour,” Cowherd continued.
“He actually needs to be on the Tour. And what’s the very first thing Aaron Rodgers does within the low season, he goes and golfs, he loves it. Each, by the way in which, nice golfers, particularly Romo. “However I’ve all the time felt like Tony Romo is a kind of guys, and all of us have any individual in our social circle like this, they acquired the golf bug, he’s had it for 15 years. Tony needs to be on the PGA Tour — however he likes the paycheck from CBS.”
Cowherd spoke about the way it’s high quality that (NBA legends) Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal might not know each NBA participant. He defined that they’re likeable and doing hours and hours of TV. Romo, alternatively, may get 20-25 minutes of airtime per week after the three-hour recreation is sliced into Jim Nantz’s play-by-play, sideline studies, advert reads, commercials and Romo’s commentary.
“Soccer is completely different. You get 20 million viewers. It truly is an important weekly broadcast for networks. And in the event that they’re paying you $17 million, and also you’re speaking about 20 minutes per week, they need you to be dialled in,” he mentioned.
Cowherd didn’t assume Romo is horrible — however argued he’s not been exemplary both.
“I don’t assume he does a foul job. I feel he’s high quality,” Cowherd mentioned.
Then, the host juxtaposed Romo’s lackadaisical preparation with Fox analyst Greg Olsen’s fastidiousness.
“Once I take heed to Greg Olsen, he feels like he’s been learning for these three hours for six days. Romo feels like typically — and he’s entertaining — he’s winging it.”
– This text first appeared within the New York Submit and was republished with permission.
