Report: ESPN to make CBS' Tony Romo a historic offer to join its NFL coverage

[OZBILLS]

2 hours ago, Charles Romes said:

He is very good.  Enthusiastic, funny, and informative without being Collinsworthy preachy. 

Now here's a guy who knows what he's talking about!

[Mister Defense]

2 hours ago, dpberr said:

If I'm Tony Romo, I'll stay at CBS where he's paired with Jim Nantz and I get the better weekend games.  

 

ESPN likely pairs him with mediocre talent and Romo alone can't fix what ails their stale MNF presentation.  

 

 

 

Good points, analysis.  Money is great, but not if it means a diminished broadcast and less progression for Romo.

 

I am not a big fan of his, though I think he is decent.  I want Phil Simms to return to game action.  Dan Fouts is the best right now, in my opinion.

 

[eball]

2 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

The current play by play guy for ESPN -- Joe Tessitore -- is flat out terrible. He makes Joe Buck sound like a rank amateur in the overdramatic department. If they don't get rid of him, even Romo won't be able to cover up the stink. 

 

This.  I re-watched the end of regulation of our playoff game to see the tying FG drive and Tessitore exclaimed, "NEVER in the history of the NFL has a postseason game been tied at 19 going to overtime!"

 

And I thought to myself "so...?"

 

The guy is horrible.

[IDBillzFan]

1 hour ago, DCbillsfan said:

Yep.  Joe Tessitore is terrible.  I usually have it on mute for MNF games.

 

He and Booger are, by far, the worst announcers. I'm so tired of ESPN trying to personalize the game with trivial, moronic facts that virtually no one cares about.

 

Tessitore: "There's yet ANOTHER tackle by 3-time Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt, who seems to single-handedly be taking over this game, and that was his 28th tackle since November when, coincidentally, Watt's step-sister, who was initially adopted by a family of dwarves in Muskogee, PA opened a serve-yourself yogurt shop in a town close to the city of, you guessed it, Watts. CA."

 

Booger: "So that's just a good, heads up play by Watt's step-sister to bring delicious frozen desserts to people who usually eat their dessert after their main meal. Just really good stuff."

 

Alternately, the Romo bit yesterday when the cameras were on Reid and Kelce with Kelce trying to convince Reid to put him back in the game was hysterical.

[OZBILLS]

I don't get to see many Romo games, but ESPN would allow me to see him much more.

That said, stay Tony.

[John in Jax]

This has always made NO sense to me. You watch the game(s) because it is either: your team playing, or two good teams playing, NOT because who is announcing the games.

 

Yes, I agree that Romo brings some good insight, BUT, if the Monday night matchup is Bengals vs. Redskins, I'm not watching even if Jesus Christ is in the booth.

 

The same theory goes for all the young nubile eye candy the sports networks give jobs to. It's truly baffling.

[Utah John]

Romo is great.  He watches the games as a QB, figuring out the defense and talking about what would work and what won't.  Most color announcers are just repeating the same old information about the players that everyone knows.  

 

If ESPN got Romo and replaced Tessitore their MNF ratings would go way up.  The salary cost would be budget dust for ESPN.

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

...foresee a major, MAJOR conundrum brewing......ESPN floating $10-$14 mil for Romo?.......now Steven A wants a raise to be the Top Dawg....after all, he IS the best, right?...just ask 'em (COUGH)....

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

19 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

 

Good points, analysis.  Money is great, but not if it means a diminished broadcast and less progression for Romo.

 

I am not a big fan of his, though I think he is decent.  I want Phil Simms to return to game action.  Dan Fouts is the best right now, in my opinion.

 

 

 

...didn't ESPN cut 100+ positions awhile back because they're tanking?....so Romo wants to walk the plank on the SS Minnow?.....

[Mr. WEO]

3 hours ago, dpberr said:

If I'm Tony Romo, I'll stay at CBS where he's paired with Jim Nantz and I get the better weekend games.  

 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

Won’t work.

 

 

 

And does ESPN get the Super Bowl?  I thought it was just CBS, FOX and NBC.  So Romo would take himself out of the rotation for biggest game of the season.

 

Not worth it.

 

Did you read the part where they would be offering him 10-14 million a year?

Edited January 13, 2020 by Mr. WEO

[OZBILLS]

4 minutes ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

 

...didn't ESPN cut 100+ positions awhile back because they're tanking?....so Romo wants to walk the plank on the SS Minnow?.....

 

They're only cutting the dead weight. They have room for a big fish.

[MDH]

Yeah, if they could get rid of the worst color commentator (Though Fouts might have something to say about this) and replace him with the best I’m all for that.

 

Really, getting rid of Booger for anybody on a nationally televised game where I have no alternative football has got my approval. 

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

1 minute ago, OZBILLS said:

 

They're only cutting the dead weight. They have room for a big fish.

 

 

 

...if memory serves me, Werder and Dilfer were in that wave of cuts....dead weight??........

[K-9]

3 hours ago, Charles Romes said:

He is very good.  Enthusiastic, funny, and informative without being Collinsworthy preachy. 

True, but his booth mechanics need work. His feet are NEVER pointing towards the field during his commentary!

[OZBILLS]

1 minute ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

 

 

...if memory serves me, Werder and Dilfer were in that wave of cuts....dead weight??........

 

Dead weight to someone

[Malazan]

3 hours ago, SlimShady'sGhost said:

 

To put that in perspective, the largest base salary Romo ever made as Dallas Cowboys quarterback was $8.5 million, according to Spotrac.

 

 

I'm not making a statement on his play, but he's a better broadcaster than he was a QB

[stevewin]

28 minutes ago, John in Jax said:

This has always made NO sense to me. You watch the game(s) because it is either: your team playing, or two good teams playing, NOT because who is announcing the games.

 

Yes, I agree that Romo brings some good insight, BUT, if the Monday night matchup is Bengals vs. Redskins, I'm not watching even if Jesus Christ is in the booth.

 

The same theory goes for all the young nubile eye candy the sports networks give jobs to. It's truly baffling.

Regardless of who is playing - if the announcers are Beth Mowins and Rex Ryan - do you still enjoy the game (with the sound on)?

 

I get your point - to a point.   I'm not a person who normally ever focused on or cared much about who the announcers are - am more interested in the game itself - but the trash production that these networks are coming up with is getting ridiculous.  I yearn - yearn - for the days when you could tune in a national game and hear those great familiar voices, who actually knew how to call a game.  Michaels to me is one of last ones left.  It's crazy they can't find better talent - and crazier still they can't find people who don't actually impact the broadcast negatively.  

[LabattBlue]

9 minutes ago, stevewin said:

Regardless of who is playing - if the announcers are Beth Mowins and Rex Ryan - do you still enjoy the game (with the sound on)?

 

I get your point - to a point.   I'm not a person who normally ever focused on or cared much about who the announcers are - am more interested in the game itself - but the trash production that these networks are coming up with is getting ridiculous.  I yearn - yearn - for the days when you could tune in a national game and hear those great familiar voices, who actually knew how to call a game.  Michaels to me is one of last ones left.  It's crazy they can't find better talent - and crazier still they can't find people who don't actually impact the broadcast negatively.  

Even worse is the pre & post game shows with 5 and 6 people on the set.  All they do is yell over each other.  Really bad production.

[Rico]

Yeah, Tony should stay. Jim Nantz is free to leave anytime though.

[LabattBlue]

Not sure if he still does it, but Nantz used to have a habit of saying "LOOK AT THAT!", in response to a good play.  Hey dumbass, what do you think I’m "looking at"?

Edited January 14, 2020 by LabattBlue

[Rico]

1 minute ago, LabattBlue said:

Not sure if he still does it, but Nantz used to have a habit of saying "LOOK AT THAT!", in response to a good play.  Hey dumbass, what do you think of "looking at"?

Imagine Nantz and Collinsworth, calling a Pats-Chiefs game. Major competition to see who can kiss the most QB ass.

[Happy]

5 minutes ago, Rico said:

Imagine Nantz and Collinsworth, calling a Pats-Chiefs game. Major competition to see who can kiss the most QB ass.

 

That would be terrible.  I probably wouldn't watch that game.

[Punching Bag]

4 hours ago, dpberr said:

If I'm Tony Romo, I'll stay at CBS where he's paired with Jim Nantz and I get the better weekend games.  

 

ESPN likely pairs him with mediocre talent and Romo alone can't fix what ails their stale MNF presentation.  

 

 

Maybe he wants his weekends off?

[stevewin]

53 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Even worse is the pre & post game shows with 5 and 6 people on the set.  All they do is yell over each other.  Really bad production.

That's been one of my peeves for years - sometimes I look forward to just tuning in before/after the game to hear about the games and it ends up being basically unwatchable.   

 

For a couple years the thing that was really in vogue on the highlight shows was to inexplicably have 3-4 guys just mindlessly mumbling and shouting over highlights all over each other while the were being narrated (esp NFL Network) - like throughout every highlight.  It drove me crazy - luckily they seem to have toned that down a bit.

 

On a related note - every time I turn on Sportscenter on the weekend I'm newly stunned as to the horror that has become.  An interchangeable plastic male and female talking head with zero chemistry constantly reaching for jokes and yukfest that just isn't there.  It's really cringe-worthy - like a bad SNL skit.  I always think - can anyone really like this?

[Mister Defense]

2 hours ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said:

 

 

...didn't ESPN cut 100+ positions awhile back because they're tanking?....so Romo wants to walk the plank on the SS Minnow?.....

 

 

yes, something like that.

 

And Nantz is one of the best play by play guys--he'd be working with an inferior broadcaster, and if the current guy, much more inferior than Nantz. 

 

Part of Romo's immediate success has been because of a good  broadcast team, both the production quality and his partner. 

 

I am always surprised when I watch the current MNF because of how amateurish it is.

 

 

[Mark92]

Romo wants to be Nantz.  It's not just NFL, he wants Butler Cabin and the Final Four.  I think he stays.  

[JetsFan20]

If Romo goes to ESPN expect to see him featured in much more content. 

 

Romos QB camp 

[Bangarang]

He is great at what he does. Sounds like this could really happen. Romo gets to keep pursuing the PGA Thursday-Sunday and gets to make a boatload of Money calling MNF.

 

It would instantly make me more excited for MNF

[IDBillzFan]

3 hours ago, John in Jax said:

This has always made NO sense to me. You watch the game(s) because it is either: your team playing, or two good teams playing, NOT because who is announcing the games.

 

Yes, I agree that Romo brings some good insight, BUT, if the Monday night matchup is Bengals vs. Redskins, I'm not watching even if Jesus Christ is in the booth.

 

The same theory goes for all the young nubile eye candy the sports networks give jobs to. It's truly baffling.

 

It makes no sense to you because you're essentially just a fan of a team, not of the game.

 

Many of us watch every prime time game, regardless of who is playing, because we love the sport, and it gives you a good idea of where your team sits, regardless of who is playing. Not to mention, unlike other sports, you just get 16 weeks.  Then it's months before you see people put pads on again. So yeah, I'm going to watch every snap that I can.

 

Hell, some of us watch every preseason game, including the last one, because as I've said many times, after months of no football at all, preseason football is like the Cinemax of porn. It's not really porn, but you'll still watch it for a while.

 

Some of us even watch the Pro Bowl. Hell, I watch the Pro Bowl just to watch the extra point attempts. Funniest thing you'll ever see.

 

But again, just because you don't watch every game doesn't mean no one does. It just means you don't.

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

When MNF was THE game to watch,  Gif, Cosell , and Dandy Don were a big part of the success .... if ESPN wants any hope of supplanting SNF as the marquee game of the week, then it’s a move that they need to make. 

[4merper4mer]

54 minutes ago, Mark92 said:

Romo wants to be Nantz.  It's not just NFL, he wants Butler Cabin and the Final Four.  I think he stays.  

IMO Butler Cabin comment was out of line because Romo is free to be both gay and Republican,. Why would that matter?  

[Mark92]

1 hour ago, 4merper4mer said:

IMO Butler Cabin comment was out of line because Romo is free to be both gay and Republican,. Why would that matter?  

What the hell are you talking about?  Guess I should assume everyone knows about the Masters.  

[Nester]

I have never in my life thought I would pick a game to watch based on the announcer. But I did that this year to catch a Romo game. 

[/dev/null]

1 hour ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

When MNF was THE game to watch,  Gif, Cosell , and Dandy Don were a big part of the success .... if ESPN wants any hope of supplanting SNF as the marquee game of the week, then it’s a move that they need to make. 

If ESPN MNF wants to be the marquee game again, they will have to break from parent Disneys corporate media culture of defining a narrative and basing coverage around The Narrative.

[4merper4mer]

31 minutes ago, Mark92 said:

What the hell are you talking about?  Guess I should assume everyone knows about the Masters.  

There is a group of gay republicans called the ButlerCabin republicans.  I didn't know the Masters connection.  Sorry for the mixup.

[CIrvine]

3 hours ago, JetsFan20 said:

If Romo goes to ESPN expect to see him featured in much more content. 

 

Romos QB camp 

Maybe he will get his own hotline.

[RyanC883]

8 hours ago, dpberr said:

If I'm Tony Romo, I'll stay at CBS where he's paired with Jim Nantz and I get the better weekend games.  

 

ESPN likely pairs him with mediocre talent and Romo alone can't fix what ails their stale MNF presentation.  

 

 

if CBS matches or is close I agree I’d stay.   CBS should match.  Let espn product atrophy.  

[Bferra13]

I hope he goes. Just my opinion though. Can do without him. I will say he is one of the few commentators that bring value, but I just dont like him. It is what it is.

[PetermansRedemption]

I really hope he goes. It’s such a rarity to get Romo on CBS anyways. When other games are on I really don’t care as much about the announcer. Prime time, I want the best announcer. Currently, that is Tony Romo. It would drastically improve Monday Night Football. 

[John in Jax]

11 hours ago, IDBillzFan said:

 

It makes no sense to you because you're essentially just a fan of a team, not of the game.

You must have missed the part where I said I watch two good teams, or really, even two mediocre teams, if it's a good game. And of course I watch all of the post season games. I am a fan of the game, but I don't have time to sit around and waste my time watching garbage.  Everybody has different priorities in life, that's for sure.

 

And I'm sure that "bad" announcers won't stop people from watching their favorite teams and/or a good matchup. OTOH, "good" announcers have never, and will never, make me tune in to a crap game.