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CBS Places Tony Romo on Leave After OWI Arrest

8/12/2026

25 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Romo Placed Leave

CBS placed NFL quarterback Tony Romo on leave after his July 23, 2026 OWI arrest in Wisconsin.
Romo received citations, refused an intoxication test, faces a $1,568.50 fine, and CBS president David Berson said on August 11, 2026 the case is “evolving” with no timetable.
J.J. Watt will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as an analyst for the September 13, 2026 broadcast, while Tucker moves to the No. 2 team with Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn.

Summary

Romo Leave Fallout

Wisconsin classifies a first-offense operating while intoxicated (OWI) as a civil violation, not a criminal charge.
CBS says cutting $18 million from its budget would be simpler than fighting a costly legal dispute over Romo’s $180 million contract.
Former NFL lineman Ross Tucker was elevated to the No. 2 NFL broadcast team with Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn after Romo’s indefinite leave.

History

Historical Context

Since the 1960s the NFL has been a national TV staple, but the 1993 Fox bid that stripped CBS of NFC games forced the network to rebuild. CBS won back AFC rights in 1998 with a $4 billion eight-year contract and now shares the $110 billion 2023-2033 rights pool. That legacy drives CBS’s strict response to Tony Romo’s July 2026 OWI arrest.

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Romo Placed Leave

CBS placed NFL quarterback Tony Romo on leave after his July 23, 2026 OWI arrest in Wisconsin.
Romo received citations, refused an intoxication test, faces a $1,568.50 fine, and CBS president David Berson said on August 11, 2026 the case is “evolving” with no timetable.
J.J. Watt will join Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson as an analyst for the September 13, 2026 broadcast, while Tucker moves to the No. 2 team with Ian Eagle and Evan Washburn.

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