CBS NFL analyst Tony Romo has proven to be a somewhat divisive presence with NFL fans, with many believing he’s the best analyst in the business while others don’t prefer to listen to the former Cowboy. WFAN morning co-host Boomer Esiason believes Romo just has a different style from everyone else.
A caller into Boomer & Gio asked Esiason and Gregg Giannotti their thoughts on the differences between Romo and another former Cowboys quarterback, Troy Aikman, wondering if Romo was able to correctly predict plays because he’s more recently retired than Aikman or if it was simply a style preference.
“That’s a style issue,” Esiason said. “100% a style issue. Troy’s been doing it for a very long time. He’s got the same partner, they have a certain way about doing games. He’s not about doing what Tony’s doing — and Tony does predict plays — but it’s just a different style. Tony’s been doing it for what, five years now? Troy’s been doing it for 20. Troy and Joe have a really good relationship and it’s a very matter-of-fact broadcast. Cris (Collinsworth) has to break in a new guy in Mike Tirico and then you have Jim (Nantz) and Tony. Tony tends to be exuberant, especially when the game is big.”
“Yeah, the AFC Championship Game or when he has the opportunity to call a Super Bowl,” Giannotti agreed. “You love that enthusiasm, despite what Dick Ebersol says.”
The quip about Ebersol by Giannotti is a reference to an October interview the former NBC Sports chairman gave where he said Romo “doesn’t seem into” broadcasts any longer. He later walked back the comments, saying the reason he was critical of the CBS NFL analyst was he tired from doing too many interviews and should not have made the comments he did about Romo.
