Report: ESPN to make Tony Romo record contract offer
Tony Romo has distinguished himself as a TV analyst for CBS and is setting himself up to become the most desired color commentator in sports.
Romo will be a TV free agent after his 3-year deal with CBS expires following this season. ESPN is looking to improve its “Monday Night Football” broadcast and is prepared to offer Romo a monster deal. According to Front Office Sports’ Michael McCarthy, ESPN is going to offer Romo a multi-year deal worth between $10-$14 million annually.
Those figures would blow away what Romo has earned on his current CBS deal and make Romo the highest-paid sports analyst ever.
Romo is said to be making about $4 million currently through CBS. Troy Aikman makes reportedly $7.5 million from FOX, while Jon Gruden was making $6.5 million at ESPN before leaving for the Raiders. Before them, John Madden made around $8 million per season when he was with FOX.
Though ESPN covets Romo as an analyst, it’s no sure thing that he leaves for them. CBS reportedly has the right to match any contract offer. CBS was first to sign Romo, believe in him as a broadcaster, and they paired him with Jim Nantz and added him to their No. 1 team. In other words, they’ve done right by him, so he might feel like it’s best to continue where he has been successful.
This is the second report in the last week that has discussed the possibility of ESPN pursuing Romo.