Tony Romo faces uphill battle to reclaim CBS job after OWI arrest leads to indefinite leave

Tony Romo may be on the wrong end of another sack even in his post-playing days.

The star CBS Sports announcer’s spot on the network’s NFL No. 1 broadcast is in jeopardy after his recent OWI arrest in Wisconsin, according to The Athletic.

Romo, who has been placed on leave “until further notice,” will “have to make quite a case to get his top job back,” according to Andrew Marchand.

CBS has already promoted J.J. Watt to take Romo’s spot on the network’s “A” broadcast alongside Jim Nantz, and this report makes it seem it’s not a given that the company will simply forgive Romo.

The ex-Cowboys star is reportedly owed $72 million over the next four years that includes a moral clause, and financial factors usually are considered in such situations.

NFL training camps are underway, though, and CBS now has a negative story to handle involving one of its most public-facing personalities.

Marchand reported that CBS has three important NFL-centric dates on its upcoming schedule that Romo had been slated to attend: a seminar for on-air talent that includes a media session, a Week 1 Vikings-Packers clash on Sept. 13 and a Week 3 Cowboys-Ravens game in Brazil on Sept. 27.

“Right now, CBS doesn’t want Romo any of those places,” Marchand wrote, while noting that the former quarterback has a Sept. 21 court date in Wisconsin.

Further hurting Romo’s cause is what Marchand labeled as “poor performance” in recent years, along with his reputation for not putting in the requisite work.

The combination of this arrest, plus Romo possibly missing the first month and seemingly shoddy performances has created a situation that could be hard for 46-year-old to recover from.

Marchand noted that the arrest will follow Romo, which could create headaches for CBS down the road should he screw up again.

It’s possible he could be demoted to the “B” or “C” teams or even a studio job, but both he and CBS would have to figure out if that works or even makes sense for the parties.

Romo finds himself in such a precarious spot after being arrested last week in Wisconsin on suspicion of operating while under the influence.

He told officers after being stopped he had “zero” drinks and was going to visit his “grandma and grandpa.” Romo also received a citation for “unsafe passage on the right.”

One officer alleged Romo had an “open bottle of an alcoholic beverage,” on the passenger side of the car, and that he did not fare well in his field sobriety tests.

Romo also received a citation for refusing “to take test for intoxication after arrest.”

“I’ve heard from all the lawyers don’t ever do that,” he said. “So, we’re not going to do that.”