Football season is about four months away, but that isn’t stopping Shannon Sharpe from critiquing CBS lead analyst Tony Romo.
On a recent episode of “Nightcap,” Sharpe’s co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was discussing Greg Olsen being replaced by Tom Brady, saying Olsen isn’t as good as Romo but is an enjoyable listen.
“I like Tony Romo because Tony played the game at such a high level … When plays are developing I love how he calls the play before it happens,” Johnson said.
“I think a lot of guys can do that,” Sharpe said, disagreeing with Johnson.
“You’re robbing the fans listening at home of that opportunity. Now, some fans, they love that. They love, ‘Oh, Tony says it’s gonna be a run, Tony says it’s gonna be a pass.’ Well, hell, it can’t be but one of the two. You can either run the ball or you can throw the ball. You ever come to the line and hear the defense, ‘Watch the run! Watch the pass!’ Well, damn, you got a 50/50 chance!”
Sharpe also mentioned that Romo has an unfair advantage in being able to see plays being practiced in the week leading up to games, making his predictions disingenuous.
Romo burst onto the scene for CBS during the 2017 season, when he made an instant impact, accurately predicting plays from the booth before they unfolded.
He also stole the show in the lead-up to and during Super Bowl 2019.
Romo has come under fire in recent seasons as many have felt the quality of broadcast with him and play-by-play man Jim Nantz has slipped.
Fans have reacted to the slip in quality commentary from the two, as CBS executives had an intervention of sorts after the 2023 season, visiting Romo to discuss ways that he can better mesh with Nantz.
CBS is in the Romo business through the 2029 season, as he signed a 10-year contract worth $160 million in 2019.
Meanwhile Brady will be the newest face in the NFL broadcasting booth, usurping Olsen on the “A” team, after grabbing a 10-year, $375 million deal.