Tony Romo was preoccupied with a golf round when the news of his CBS exit broke on Friday morning, according to the New York Post. The former NFL analyst was competing at the PGA Tour Q-School in Oklahoma during the announcement. It is a wild way to lose a broadcasting career.
A distracted exit at Q-School
The timing of the split suggests the golf course was the only thing on Romo’s mind. Romo sat tied for 48th on the leaderboard upon receiving the news. He needed to reach the top 37 to move past the pre-qualifying round. He was still struggling through his third round at nine over. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was clearly more focused on his score than his contract.
This exit follows a period of significant trouble. Following a July 23 arrest in Wisconsin for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, CBS placed Romo on indefinite leave. He later pleaded no contest to that OWI charge. He also shared a statement regarding an “over-reliance on alcohol” linked to back surgeries from his playing days.
The cost of the CBS parting
The money involved in this split is massive. Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million extension with the network in 2020. According to reports, he is expected to receive a large part of the $72 million remaining on that deal. CBS is moving in a different direction with J.J. Watt serving as the primary analyst alongside Jim Nantz.
The loss of such a high-value talent is a major shift for the network. Romo has been a fixture at the booth since retiring from the NFL in 2017. Now, the focus shifts back to the course at The Club at Forest Ridge where he was seen playing this past Wednesday.
