Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd has suggested that Tony Romo’s recent OWI arrest in Wisconsin may have landed amid existing frustration inside CBS, claiming network executives “already had resentment” toward the high-profile NFL analyst.
Romo, the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback who reportedly earns $18 million per year as CBS’s lead NFL commentator, has been taken off the air “until further notice” following his drunk-driving arrest. In his absence, NFL great J.J. Watt is set to join Jim Nantz in the broadcast booth.
The situation intensified after police bodycam video surfaced showing the 46-year-old failing several field sobriety tests. With the NFL season approaching, CBS moved quickly to distance its broadcast plans from the controversy.
Cowherd, a veteran sports media commentator, argued that the strain between Romo and CBS did not begin with the arrest. In his view, the dynamic dates back to Romo’s massive 10-year, $180 million contract signed in 2020.
Speaking on the “House of Strauss” podcast, Cowherd said Romo had rare negotiating power at the time. “When you go into contract negotiations, there was a moment in time that Tony Romo had tremendous leverage over CBS,” he said. “And he squeezed them for every nickel.”
Cowherd added that even successful negotiations can leave a mark behind the scenes. “Even if you have leverage, it will create resentment somewhere upstairs,” he said, noting that he has long felt CBS executives were not especially quick to publicly defend Romo. He also pointed to reports that, after the latest story emerged, no one from CBS contacted Romo during the first two days.
Romo, who reportedly makes $18 million annually at CBS, has been placed on leave by the network
Colin Cowherd has also said he views Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh as the greatest football coach ever
‘That’s what I heard from somebody who would know. And I thought, is there resentment upstairs? Because he had them. He had them dead to rights, and he got every penny he wanted.’
When Romo proved to be an instant TV star on CBS in 2017, ESPN tried to poach him for ‘Monday Night Football’ when his contract was up. That appears to be the ‘leverage’ Cowherd is referring to.
It is currently unclear whether Romo will be back in time for Week 1 of the NFL season, or if he is being paid while on leave. He is owed $72m over the next four years of his current contract.
In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson for the network said: ‘Tony Romo is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice.’
On the air, Romo’s work as the lead color analyst for the NFL on CBS has become increasingly divisive with fans.
As he approaches what would be his 10th season with the network, he has been facing calls to step down after being criticized for his strange affectations and errors in commentary.
Whether it was confusing Josh Allen for Patrick Mahomes, letting out a bizarre groan during the Bills-Jaguars game or calling a 4th & 1 carry like a first-down, Romo had his share of blunders in last season’s playoffs alone.
Romo said he felt unwell during the Bills-Jaguars incident, explaining: ‘We had a bunch of guys sick, we were just grinding through it. You’re not going to miss a playoff game.’
Romo looks out of his driver’s side window after being pulled over by cops in Milwaukee
Footage of a rambling and glassy-eyed Romo failing police sobriety tests emerged on Tuesday
Romo, who famously dated Jessica Simpson, is married to wife Candice, a past Miss Missouri
In December 2023, at the height of ‘Tayvis’ Mania, Romo bizarrely addressed Taylor Swift as the wife of Travis Kelce while she watched him play for the Kansas City Chiefs.
It came long before the couple announced their engagement back in August of 2025 and got married last month.
Romo, who famously dated Jessica Simpson from 2007 to 2009, is married to Candice Crawford Romo, a former broadcast journalist and past Miss Missouri. They have three children.
His arrest on July 23 came after he had participated in a golf tournament in Milwaukee, and he was driving home when he was pulled over by cops.
When asked by officers, Romo insisted he had not consumed any alcohol that day prior to his arrest – but citations released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office revealed that an open container of alcohol was found on the passenger side of his Jeep.
Romo’s OWI charge carries a $1,066 fine on top of the $235 penalty he received for his moving violation, and he is due back in court on September 21 – at the end of Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season.
