Outgoing CBS Sports boss Sean McManus addressed the growing criticism of Tony Romo.

With Romo and Jim Nantz set to call Super Bowl 2024 on Sunday, McManus joined Chris Russo on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio on Thursday and was asked if, given the circumstances, this was a particularly big event for Romo to nail.

After McManus talked about how of course it’s a big moment for the Super Bowl, he acknowledged that network brass has asked the former Cowboys quarterback to chill out a little bit.

“He’s not your meat-and-potatoes analyst,” McManus said, as covered by Awful Announcing.

“He’s more of a fan. He gets excited. We sometimes say to him, ‘Hey, calm down a little bit because you do get too into the game.’ Which I think is a plus. But I think generally speaking, people really enjoy listening to Nantz and Romo and Tracy [Wolfson]…

“When social media starts to turn, it really turns and it becomes almost a self-fulfilling prophecy and the people who really like Tony tend not to tweet. It’s mostly the negative…and right now they’re all focused on Tony Romo.”

There have been murmurs in sports media circles dating back to last season that Romo does not work as rigorously on his homework as other top analysts.

This rumor grew more public legs as Colin Cowherd called Romo’s obsession with golf a distraction for his football broadcasting.

McManus disagreed with the assessment that Romo is coasting on the job.

“I think he’s working his rear end off,” McManus said. “I think the fact that he’s not prepared is not fair.”

McManus will be replaced by David Berson at the conclusion of football season.