Things Are About To Get Ugly Between Tony Romo & CBS

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Tony Romo’s future with CBS Sports is up in the air.

The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback has been the network’s lead NFL game analyst since 2017, but he now faces big questions about his job following a recent arrest in Wisconsin. Police arrested Romo last Thursday for suspected drunk driving, and local reports noted officers found an open alcohol bottle inside his car.

CBS was quick enough on their part. On Friday, the network placed Romo on a leave of absence and named former NFL star JJ Watt to take his spot alongside broadcasters Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on its lead NFL team.

“JJ Watt will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as CBS Sports’ lead NFL team during Tony Romo’s absence,” CBS said. “We will release the remainder of our NFL ON CBS roster at a later date.”

Romo’s Contract Could Become The Biggest Issue

The situation carries major financial stakes for both sides.

Romo still has $72 million remaining on his contract with CBS. That figure could create a legal battle if the network decides to move on from him permanently.

According to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Romo’s contract includes a morals clause. Such clauses often enable networks to take action when talent damages the company’s public image.

Marchand noted that Romo’s recent performance could also affect how CBS evaluates the situation.

“Like all on-air TV contracts, Romo’s deal includes a morals clause, one that networks can challenge if a star is unable to represent their brand in a positive fashion after a public embarrassment,” Marchand wrote.

He added that Romo may face a tougher road because some critics already questioned his work in the booth before the arrest.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes Romo would likely challenge any attempt by CBS to avoid paying the remainder of the deal.

“The challenge for Romo’s lawyers would be to find other situations in which CBS broadcasters engaged in potentially similar conduct without being fired for cause,” Florio wrote.

For now, CBS has not indicated whether it plans to end Romo’s contract. The network simply placed him on leave.

Much could depend on what happens next. If Watt performs well in the lead analyst role, CBS could face a difficult decision.