CBS' Tony Romo "rose to the occasion" during his first Super Bowl broadcast, as it was "his humor that made a surprisingly lackluster matchup bearable," according to Christine Brennan of USA TODAY. It became clear early on during the game that the "action on the field needed some augmentation from the booth, so Romo happily obliged" (USATODAY.com, 2/3). In Dallas, Kate Hairopoulos writes Romo's "willingness to poke fun at himself" from the beginning of the broadcast "set the tone for the next four hours, featuring a game so offensively challenged most of the way that it needed humor" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/4). In L.A., Tom Hoffarth writes Romo's "endearing goofiness and self-deprecating nature is what ultimately gave viewers enough to digest" during the Super Bowl (L.A. TIMES, 2/4). In Buffalo, Alan Pergament writes Romo and broadcast partner Jim Nantz were “more entertaining than the game.” Romo’s sense of humor “stood out in a game without many plays to get excited about” (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/4). THE ATHLETIC's Richard Deitsch writes yesterday was the "loosest I have heard Romo in a broadcast this year -- and the game desperately needed it" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/4). In Albany, Pete Dougherty notes Romo "seemed comfortable," while his "personality and knowledge enhanced -- and did not detract from -- the telecast" (Albany TIMES-UNION, 2/4).
BRINGING THE FUNNY: In DC, Ben Strauss notes Romo and Nantz "delivered some good laughs," and Romo's first line of the night "was a self-deprecating zing." Nantz said, "Welcome to the Super Bowl, Tony Romo." Romo referenced his own lack of postseason success by replying, "I've been waiting to hear 'Welcome to the Super Bowl' my whole life." Meanwhile, in the third quarter, Romo heard Patriots QB Tom Brady yell "Reagan" at the line of scrimmage. Following a short gain by RB Sony Michel, Romo said, "Obviously, Reagan means run to the right." Strauss notes it was unclear whether Romo was "referring to the alliterative nature of the play call and the direction of the run or the political leanings of the former president" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/4). Romo missed a couple plays in the first quarter due to a faulty microphone, which he sarcastically acknowledged with, “I was saying such good stuff on that play, Jim, it was fantastic” (CLEVELAND.com, 2/4).
WORK WITH WHAT YOU GOT: YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Kaduk writes there "weren’t many big plays for Romo to dissect, but he was all over Rob Gronkowski’s big reception down to the two-yard line in the fourth quarter." As the ball was snapped, Romo "instantly identified that it was the same play that the Patriots had run on the two previous plays" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/4). On Long Island, Neil Best writes Romo "mostly was on top of X’s and O’s, explaining how the Rams’ defense was confusing" Brady early by "disguising whether it was in man-to-man or zone." Romo also noted that Patriots coach Bill Belichick was confusing Rams QB Jared Goff by "coming at him from unpredictable directions" (NEWSDAY, 2/4). SPORTSNET.ca's Josh Weinstein noted prior to the Patriots running a play late in the first quarter, Romo highlighted WR Julian Edelman’s matchup against Rams CB Aqib Talib "pre-snap." Weinstein: "Lo and behold, Brady found Edelman for a key completion that led to a first down" (SPORTSNET.ca, 2/3).
MATCHING THE HYPE: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick writes Romo lived up to the "hype he was drenched in after his nailed-it-all pre-snap calls" in the AFC Championship. Romo "steals the show without even knowing it and by barely trying." He is "just himself," he is "special." Mushnick: "CBS wins. We win" (N.Y. POST, 2/4). WEEI.com’s Alex Reimer writes Romo’s performance “fell short of that broadcasting masterpiece” in the AFC Championship, and there “wasn’t enough discussion about de-facto Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who helped architect the game plan that stifled the high-flying Rams.” However, Romo “still explained the nuances of the game more articulately and clearly than anybody else out there.” Reimer: "I understand football better when Romo is behind the microphone" (WEEI.com, 2/4).
CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE: In Philadelphia, Marcus Hayes writes in Romo's "biggest moment," he "came up a little short." He offered some "interesting insight, but little second sight." Romo was "almost as underwhelming" as Rams coach Sean McVay (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/4). In Charlotte, Scott Fowler writes Romo’s pre-snap predictions "were pedestrian." Romo "wasn’t bad by any stretch, and at least he was honest," but he "didn’t elevate what we were seeing much, either" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/4).
