Tony Romo will be a TV analyst with CBS next season, according to sources. A deal has yet to be signed, but CBS and Romo have reached a verbal agreement. The Cowboys QB is expected to replace Phil Simms as the net’s top game analyst, where he will be paired with Jim Nantz. CBS outbid Fox Sports for Romo’s services, sources said. Fox Sports wanted Romo to replace John Lynch as the game analyst on the net’s No. 2 broadcast team. Just a couple of weeks ago, Fox was considered the front-runner to land Romo, since it carries the NFC package that Romo knows so well. But a concern for Romo was that another former Cowboys QB, Troy Aikman, is the net’s top NFL game analyst, and he is not likely to leave the booth any time soon. ESPN first reported that Romo will retire and move to the broadcast booth following his expected release from the Cowboys today. There still is a chance that another NFL team may try to sign Romo, but ESPN is reporting that the 36-year-old Romo will retire, citing health reasons. Romo is being repped by CAA Sports in this deal. An unresolved question is what will happen on Thursday nights. A source says that Romo, a broadcasting neophyte, does not want to call both “TNF” and CBS’ national Sunday game right off the bat. The NFL in the past has made it clear, though, that CBS and NBC, its "TNF" broadcasters, have to use their top broadcast team for the series. Last season, the NFL balked at NBC’s plan to have Mike Tirico replace Al Michaels on Thursday nights.
TWITTER REAX: ESPN's Adam Schefter: "Romo also could wind up working on CBS' golf coverage down the line, but Romo - a scratch golfer - first wants to focus on football." NFL Network's Ian Rapoport: "CBS job was the most attractive to Tony Romo -- being in the No. 1 booth and doing golf. In his mind, not a tough call. ... Lot of questions about the timing of Tony Romo’s decision. Can’t ignore the one thing that’s happening this week: The Masters." ESPN producer Matt Pomeroy: "Don Meredith, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, Tony Romo. All from Cowboys QB to broadcast booth." Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz joked, "I'm told Phil Simms will in fact still be calling playoff games for CBS, who is anticipating Tony Romo not showing up for the playoffs." Complex' Russ Bengtson: "Romo throws back to the sideline reporter ... pick six."
