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Former Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Tony Romo was widely criticized for his performance as a commentator during the Buffalo Bills’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Romo, 45, revealed he was battling an unspecified illness during the game.
“We had a bunch of guys sick, we just rode through it. You’re not going to miss a playoff game,” Romo said during an appearance on “Schein on Sports.” “It’s too much fun.”
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Tony Romo performs before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game was played at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma on November 23, 2024. Oklahoma won 24-3. (IMAGIN)
Romo began the broadcast inauspiciously by bizarrely calling the Bills an “overdog” and “underdog.”
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen it where it’s who wins? Ummmm, I don’t know!” Romo said during the CBS Sports broadcast open. “I’m pretty good at football knowledge, and I don’t know. Today will be very telling, though, because Jacksonville is a complete football team. Carolina did it yesterday. They deserved the respect, almost won, but they didn’t.”
“Jacksonville is in the same situation. They could do it, it could be a big upset. Although it’s really not an upset because the Bills are actually the underdog. But they’re the overdog. We’ll see today.”
EX-NFL STAR TONY ROMO GETS HOT DURING HIS CALL OF BILLS-JAGUARS PLAYOFF GAME
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) plays during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The game was played at Lincoln Financial Field on January 1, 2017. (Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)
Asked if he had heard the criticism, Romo said he is “just trying to get everybody to enjoy the show.”
“I think anytime you’re in a position like we’re in, we’re on the air for three and a half hours. You always try to do the best you can and everything,” Romo said. “There’s always going to be moments where all these great things, and then other things. It’s just part of being in your position. You just go back to work and you do a great job. I mean, that’s the fun of it. It’s sports, and that makes it fun. You just try to get everybody to enjoy the show and learn a little bit and have fun.”
“To me, that’s what makes sports great. It’s fun.”
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Tony Romo at Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, February 11, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Mary Kouw/CBS via Getty Images)
Romo looked like the NFL’s next great game analyst upon his debut as he dazzled fans with his ability to predict plays. But over the past few seasons, fans have become critical of him.
Romo will have a chance to redeem himself on Saturday when he will be on call for the Bills-Denver Broncos AFC Divisional Round matchup at 4:30 p.m. ET. The former Cowboys big man signed a 10-year, $180 million contract with CBS in 2020, a contract that could age badly if his performance doesn’t improve.
