Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy weighed in on NFL broadcasting Monday, giving FOX analyst Greg Olsen a vote of confidence while criticizing CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo.
On FS1’s Wake Up Barstool, Portnoy told Olsen, “Your stock keeps going up. There’s a guy on the other network, he looks like he’s on drugs or something when he’s calling games. Your stock is going up. Congrats for that.”
Portnoy’s comments followed his criticism of Romo’s opening segment during Sunday’s Buffalo Bills–Jacksonville Jaguars game, which he described as “the most nonsensical rant I’ve ever heard.”
Romo began the broadcast by attempting to set the stage for the matchup but left viewers, and apparently Portnoy, scratching their heads.
Romo said, “It is wide open. I don’t think we’ve ever seen it where you’re like, who’s going to win? I don’t know. I’m pretty good at football knowledge, and I’m like, I don’t know. Today’s going to be very telling. Jacksonville is a complete football team. They can surprise a lot of people. Carolina did that yesterday. They earned the respect. Almost winning that game,” said Romo. “Jacksonville is in that same situation. They can do it. This could be a major upset, even though it’s really not an upset. It’s the Bills that are actually underdogs, but they’re the overdog.”
While Romo’s reputation as a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS analyst is built on in-depth breakdowns and high-energy calls, Portnoy argues the opening commentary seemed disjointed and confusing. In contrast, Portnoy praised Olsen, drawing a sharp comparison to what he viewed as Romo’s rambling delivery.
Portnoy’s critique underscores an ongoing conversation about NFL broadcast expectations. In addition, as audiences become more discerning, analysts are judged not just on knowledge but also on how effectively they communicate it.
Social media has amplified these discussions, with high-profile voices like Portnoy influencing public perception in real time.
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