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Tony Romo seemed to indicate that he will eventually return to broadcasting at CBS in a statement Tuesday about his recent OWI arrest in Wisconsin.
Romo was pulled over on a Milwaukee highway in late July after participating in a nearby golf tournament and charged with OWI. In a statement published Tuesday on Instagram, Romo said he has pleaded no contest to the charge and that he had developed an “over-reliance on alcohol.”
“Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain,” Romo wrote, in part. “That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.”
Nevertheless, he said that this was not an “excuse” and that he takes “responsibility” for the incident.
Romo was placed on indefinite leave by CBS after the incident. JJ Watt has been elevated to the network’s top NFL team with Jim Nantz, and Ross Tucker is working with Ian Eagle on the second team, where Watt called games last year.
It has been an open question as to if or when Romo will return to CBS at all. CBS Sports president David Berson told reporters in August that he was still “assessing” the situation and that there was no timetable or “final decision” as to whether Romo will come back.
In his statement on social media, Romo seemingly indicated he will be back with CBS one day.
“I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes,” he wrote. “I am deeply grateful for the support of my family, my friends, and the NFL community including players, coaches, and owners. Your encouragement has meant more to me than you know. As I turn my attention to my health, my family, and, in time, my return to CBS, I kindly ask for privacy during this period.”
Many former athletes have described a painful cycle of surgeries and prescription medications in their retirement years. Romo’s account resembled the later years of Tiger Woods’s career; Woods sought treatment after a recent DUI after years of prescription drug use to deal with pain from back surgeries.
Plenty of questions remain for Romo. When will he be back on the air for CBS? We don’t know. Will CBS bump him to a No. 2 analyst job and keep Watt No. 1? That’s to be determined. More importantly, will CBS keep Romo at all? Or use his arrest, and embarrassing police-cam video, as an excuse to exercise a morals clause in his contract and wriggle out of the four years and $72 million remaining on his contract?
CBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The NFL declined to comment.
