Tony Romo welcomes his new challenge as the lead analyst on the NFL on CBS
Tony Romo thinks life as the NFL on CBS lead analyst job is something he looks forward to mastering. One of the worst kept secrets in television sports was CBS wanting to replace lead analyst Phil Simms, with former Dallas Cowboys back-up quarterback the aforementioned Tony Romo.
But Romo has never annualized a single moment of a telecast but CBS is putting on their lead broadcast team with play-by-play man Jim Nantz along with sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson, starting this fall.
I was on the press call and curtesy of CBS Sports here are some of the highlights from the open conversation with Romo.
ON CHALLENGES OF COMING RIGHT OFF FIELD INTO NO. 1 SEAT
ROMO: I’ve got to go attack this just like football and see where I’m good and where I’m not… If there is a strength of mine, it’s my ability to learn. If I’m not very good right away, my hope is it doesn’t take too long. And if I’m not [good right away], I can promise you I’ll be spending 20-hours a day trying to figure it out… That’s the approach I’m going to take, and I think that gives me the best chance to succeed.
ON BEING A BROADCASTER
ROMO: This is a decision that I come to because I’m excited about this craft. I’m excited about trying to be really good at this. I understand the challenges ahead. I also understand that it can be pretty fun trying to attack something and do something at a high level. If I’m not very good, I can tell you I won’t be sleeping very well.
ON CHOOSING BROADCASTING OVER PLAYING
ROMO: I’m making the decision to go to CBS because I am choosing CBS over playing football… That’s the decision I want to make. Not because I’m being forced to… I’m excited about this. It’s going to be great, and hopefully I’m good enough to do this for a really long time
ON JERRY JONES
ROMO: I’ve never had a better boss, owner or mentor than Jerry Jones. I’d be remiss if I went through this entire conversation and never mentioned how much he’s meant to me and how much he’ll mean to me going forward because he’ll always be in my life, and I’ll always be in his.
Quotes provided by CBS Sports