Famous QB Has Epic Game, and He Didn't Even Suit Up

Tony Romo gaining renown for his smart calls of NFL games
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 22, 2019 7:44 AM CST
Meet the Nation's New Fortune-Teller: Tony Romo
CBS football analyst Tony Romo walks across the field during warm ups before an NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, in Arlington, Texas.   (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

Tom Brady had a great game on Sunday, as did Rams QB Jared Goff. But in the view of ESPN's Mike Greenberg, "no one in the sport had a better day ... than Tony Romo," he tweeted. "Just exceptional." Tony Romo? Yes, the quarterback who retired two years ago is fast gaining legendary status up in the booth calling games for CBS. Greenberg is not alone in his view, thanks to Romo's uncanny ability to predict plays on the fly. Details:

  • Epic call: One particular call is getting lots of attention—watch it here. As the Patriots lined up for a critical play in the fourth quarter, Romo noted that Brady was killing the original play call. Then he predicted what would follow: "Usually means a motion and a run out wide to the right." It was, and it resulted in a touchdown.
  • Others: NFL rounds up other calls by Romo during the game here. At one point, after this play, fellow broadcaster Jim Nantz says of Brady, "He saw what you saw, Tony."

  • Super Bowl: Yahoo notes that Romo never made it to the Super Bowl as a quarterback, but he'll call this year's game for CBS on Feb. 3. "For the first time in a long time, who is in the booth will be a big story for a Super Bowl," writes Frank Schwab. "Romo is an instant superstar, a rarity in a social media world that hates practically everything (and especially announcers), and this will be his biggest stage."
  • Payday: Romo's three-year contract with CBS ends after next season, and the New York Post reports that the network is prepared to give him a "substantial" raise from the $4 million he currently makes. A bidding war is expected, however, and "it is hard to see how he does not become the highest-paid NFL TV analyst," writes Andrew Marchand.
  • Unless? At 38, Romo is younger than Brady and Drew Brees of the Saints. And Romo tells the Athletic that teams are interested in having him un-retire. "There are legitimate contract offers and there are, 'Hey, what are you thinking?'" Romo replied when asked about offers.
  • Knows all: Among those who took note of Romo's game Sunday was one of baseball's biggest free agents, Bryce Harper, who tweeted: "Confirmed: Just called Tony Romo to see where I’m going to play next year. #YoureAWizardTony"
  • Knows all, II: "Tony Romo knows how Game of Thrones ends," tweeted another admirer.
  • The secret: "Tony has miss Cleo in his earpiece," tweeted Philadelphia Eagles player Chris Long, referring to the late TV psychic.
  • Having fun: At the Washington Post, Cindy Boren sums up Romo's booth career: "He can be a little too excited, a tad overcaffeinated at times, but he’s become the best thing about color commentators: You know it’s a big game when he’s calling it and, in two years, he hasn’t disappointed."
(More Tony Romo stories.)

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