JJ Watt solidified in CBS No. 1 booth after Tony Romo exit

CBS and Tony Romo have officially parted ways, ending the former Cowboys quarterback’s nine-year run as the network’s lead NFL analyst following the QB’s leave over an OWI arrest this summer.Things in the CBS booths will maintain the status quo, for now.“JJ Watt will continue to partner with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on our lead NFL announce team for the rest of the season,” CBS said in a statement.“All other teams remain the same, including Ian Eagle, Ross Tucker and Evan Washburn.”There is no indication of what will happen beyond this season.Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million extension with CBS in 2020.He had four years and $72 million remaining on the deal, though no financial terms of the split have been announced.The former Cowboys star will “probably received a good portion” of the money left on his deal, per The Athletic.The news comes amid multiple massive contracts in the NFL broadcasting landscape in recent weeks.Amazon Prime Video’s Kirk Herbstreit agreed to a new deal this week, which comes with a possible exit plan if Rams coach Sean McVay joins up on a reported offer worth nearly $20 million per year.ESPN agreed to a whopping six-year, $108 million extension with “Monday Night Football” voice Joe Buck in September.It’s unclear who will be working alongside Nantz next season.

CBS could choose to promote one of its own analysts, or look elsewhere.Buck’s deal brought up questions for his partner, Troy Aikman, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season.Should Aikman not be re-signed by ESPN, and Watt not continue on CBS’ lead team, CBS could be a potential destination for Aikman — though it would indicate the end of Buck and Aikman’s historic 25-year booth partnership, the longest in NFL history.Whenever he might choose to take off the headset and move away from coaching, McVay will likely be a popular candidate.

Amazon tried to recruit McVay in 2022 before hiring Herbstreit during the same offseason tha...