When it comes to broadcasting NFL games, Tony Romo is currently larger than life. You could even argue he has been better at predicting plays than he ever was as the Dallas Cowboys quarterback. Now, he is looking to get paid like he was still behind center.
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According to Sporting News, the 38-year-old Romo is looking to become the first $10 million a year TV analyst in sports history when his CBS Sports contract ends following the 2019 season.
Before Super Bowl LIII, a game Romo broadcasted with CBS teammate Jim Nantz, the network knew they would have to give the four-time NFL Pro Bowl signal caller a "substantial raise" to keep him around, according to The New York Post. However, the new figure is expected to be massive.
Move over John Madden: Tony Romo wants record $10 million a year to sign contract extension with @CBSsports for 2020 and beyond. Could Romo walk away from sports TV world he conquered in just two years? https://t.co/jhTufsfF1o pic.twitter.com/NoPGwjauxD
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) March 26, 2019
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In a perfect world for CBS, it will just extend Romo's contract so he doesn't become the biggest TV free agent since Hall of Fame analyst John Madden, who worked for CBS, ABC, Fox and NBC during his career. But that's easier said than done.
What's crazy is $10 million per year is right on par with what he made in his prime with the Cowboys.
After being undrafted in 2003 out of Eastern Illinois, Romo found a home in Dallas and ended up becoming the historic franchise's all-time passing leader. It's a great story, outside of his NFL playoff runs, but to think he could make more money as a broadcaster is mind-blowing.
In fact, Romo's highest base salary was $8.5 million in 2010 and 2016. Of course, some big-time prorated bonuses made him ridiculous money, yet it's still crazy to know he's asking for this kind of money — an eight-figure salary — just to call games.
Perhaps more importantly, Romo, who was hired by CBS in 2017 and currently makes $4 million annually, is looking to earn more money than almost every single NFL coach. Although coaching salaries aren't officially released, there's only a handful who could even come close to matching what he is looking for.
According to Sportscasting, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick leads the pack with an estimated salary of $12.5 million, but Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden ($10 million), Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll ($9 million), and New Orleans Saints head coach ($9 million) all make a nice living these days.
Ironically, Romo would be making more than Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, who takes home about $6 million per year.
So is Tony Romo worth $10 million a year to be in the broadcast booth? It's hard to say. What he did in predicting plays in the AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs was nothing short of legendary. If anything, fans loved it.
But while ESPN figures out if it wants Peyton Manning on Monday Night Football, Fox having the formidable duo of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, and NBC riding with Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, it's probably time for CBS to pony up some money and make sure Tony Romo stays on the network as an NFL analyst for a long, long time.
