Romo's new salary is more than double the previous NFL high of $8M that John Madden receivedGETTY IMAGES
CBS was motivated to sign Tony Romo last week by ESPN's ability to "start bidding on Romo in March, when he could have been eligible for free agency," and CBS thought ESPN -- "which hoped to use Romo as a carrot as it goes after a Super Bowl in the next round of negotiations -- would bid $20 million per year," according to Andrew Marchand of the N.Y. POST. ESPN officials "vigorously disputed that, saying they would never have bid close" to the $20M figure, but Romo still "agreed to the largest sports analyst contract in TV history," as CBS will pay him around $17M per season. Romo's salary is "more than double the previous NFL high" of $8M per year that John Madden received more than two decades ago from Fox. Though his salary is "astronomical" for 20 NFL games, CBS officials "felt he showed loyalty." In Romo's rookie deal, CBS "did have a card to play that could have prevented him from becoming an unrestricted free agent." Sources said that in Romo's original contract, he "had to tell CBS what it would take for him to agree to a contract prior to him being allowed to go on the open market." CBS was "willing to meet" the around $17M per year and $100M-plus figure that "blocked out ESPN from even getting a chance" (N.Y. POST, 2/29). ESPN's Adam Schefter cited sources as saying that CBS is giving Romo a "firm three-year deal," but it "could grow to a 10-year deal" if the NFL extends its rights deal with CBS (TWITTER.com, 2/29).
HOW IT HAPPENED: In DC, Ben Strauss noted CBS' recruitment of Romo had been "ongoing, at least informally, since last summer, but heated up a week after the Super Bowl" when Romo was playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus, CBS' Jim Nantz and Romo and a few others "had dinner and discussed Romo's future." With Romo "expressing his desire to stay," CBS spent the following weeks "hammering out the deal" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/29). YAHOO SPORTS' Jason Owens noted the deal "puts an end to speculation" that Romo would leave CBS for ESPN. Between his "enthusiasm, relatability and penchant for calling plays before they happened," Romo became an "immediate favorite among fans and critics." Concerns that he "jumped the line to join the network's No. 1 team with no experience were quickly quelled as his game analysis drew rave reviews" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/28).
A NEW LANDSCAPE: In Dallas, Reece Graham noted Romo would become the "first sports analyst to score an eight-figure contract." His previous contract was worth $4M per year (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/29). NBC NEWS' Dylan Byers writes Romo's deal "resets the market," and his "competition will no doubt be seeking raises." CBS "enters negotiations with the NFL on a strong note." ESPN "misses out on a flashy new broadcaster, but avoids internal strife with its other big personalities" (BYERS MARKET, 3/2). THE ATHLETIC's Richard Deitsch writes the motivation for CBS to sign Romo "was obvious: They wanted to signal loud and clear to the NFL (and the advertising community) that they are serious about extending their media partnership." A broadcast agent said, "The fact that ESPN was willing to pay that kind of money, and CBS actually agreed to pay that kind of money, gives agents and talent the right and the ability to command higher dollars even when networks try to cry poverty" (THEATHLETIC.com, 3/2). NBCSPORTS.com's Peter King writes, "CBS needed to keep Romo to show the NFL it would remain a bejeweled property, and CBS desperately wanted to keep Romo from making ESPN's telecast ... much better" (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/2).
SQUARE ONE: The AP's Joe Reedy noted ESPN was "expected to make an aggressive bid" for Romo to move to "MNF" but "never got the chance." ESPN is "likely to retool its booth again after lukewarm reviews for Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland" (AP, 2/29). THE BIG LEAD's Ryan Glasspiegel wrote the question immediately becomes "where ESPN turns to now, and in my opinion their best realistic option is Kurt Warner." Warner has been in the booth for NFL Network and "delivers strong analysis." There is "no risk that he will not be up for the job and thus blow up in ESPN's face" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 2/29).
TEE TIME? GOLFWEEK's Forecaddie wondered if fans will see Romo "tee it up again next fall on a sponsor invite" at the PGA Tour's Safeway Open. At $850,000 per game, would CBS execs "take a chance" Romo would miss an NFL broadcast if he made the cut? (GOLFWEEK.com, 2/28).
