Dick Ebersol needs to make Tony Romo nice once more.
Ebersol, the legendary longtime former boss of NBC Sports activities, joined Chris Wallace on HBO Max for the newest version of “Who’s Speaking to Chris Wallace?” Ebersol lamented that Romo doesn't appear “into” broadcasting these days.
“I’ve recognized Tony Romo, since he first bought to the professionals. He’s an unbelievably participating man, he ought to have been a terrific, nice broadcaster,” Ebersol stated. “One thing’s occurred since he bought into that chair. And it doesn’t seem to be he’s into it. Like he was on his method up. He doesn't appear to be the storyteller that he must be. The factor that makes [Al] Michaels nice, [Joe] Buck nice, and all these guys are they’re actually, they’re actually storytellers. And Tony has gotten additional and additional away from that I believe.”
Romo supplanted Phil Simms on CBS’ prime NFL workforce alongside Jim Nantz in 2017 — and have become the toast of the sports activities’ broadcasting world. He introduced with immense enthusiasm for the game, and his capability to foretell offensive performs was uncanny. In 2020, Romo agreed to a brand new cope with CBS price $17 million a yr, which reset the saying pay scale market and in the end instantly led to a frothy NFL saying free company this previous offseason that noticed Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Buck and Troy Aikman land blockbuster offers.
Ebersol doesn't see a excessive degree of preparedness for the job out of Romo this season, however believes the state of affairs to be salvageable.
“I’d like to be his producer for about six months,” Ebersol stated. “I believe I may treatment this shortly.”
Requested what he’d say to get Romo to enhance, Ebersol stated he’d inform the broadcaster to “Get your head within the sport. I imply, you’ve actually set to work laborious to be ready. I’m positive I’ll get all types of telephone calls and notes and stuff like that. However that's how I really feel.”
Wallace, sensing the pickup these quotes would get, joked that Ebersol was welcome to select different individuals to say controversial issues about.
“No, however that is one which that is anyone who must be an announcer for the ages, however clearly has misplaced his ardour for it,” Ebersol stated. “And I might have him in my workplace typically to not kick his ass, however simply to maintain reminding him of what put him there within the first place.”
After publication of this story, Ebersol despatched a press release clarifying his remarks.
“Tony Romo is sort of a son to me,” Ebersol stated. “I'm really his greatest fan on and off the sector. As a fan, and a producer, I've all the time been recognized to supply up unsolicited notes. However this time, after an extended day of interviews, I went too far and admittedly stated issues that I don't consider and are merely not true.
“No announcer is extra passionate in regards to the NFL than Tony Romo, and I personally can not wait to listen to his name this and each Sunday. He's nearly as good because it will get.”
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