Tony Romo's indefinite leave from CBS has opened the door for speculation about his permanent replacement, with industry insiders now pointing to Greg Olsen as the clear front-runner.
CBS has already elevated J.J. Watt to fill in alongside Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson while Romo remains on leave, but multiple insiders describe Watt and Olsen as the two names CBS is most seriously considering for the long-term role.
Greg Olsen has made no secret of his desire to be a lead analyst once again, and his Fox contract is coming up just when the NFL's other Sunday afternoon broadcaster is experiencing a crisis at their lead analyst spot, according to Awful Announcing's Matt Yoder. Olsen's name has already drawn comparisons as a stronger analyst than Romo from fans and media critics in recent years.
Olsen's potential move to CBS would reshape the network's top broadcast booth, with Romo remaining under contract through roughly 2030 on a deal worth $180 million, with $72 million still owed. The agreement reportedly includes a morals clause, though legal observers note first offense citations rarely trigger automatic termination in contracts like his.
The speculation gained fresh momentum through recent reporting from Pro Football Network breaking down the industry's leading candidate to take over the lead analyst chair at CBS. Olsen, for his part, has already drawn praise for his on-air presence and analysis, and his Fox contract is set to expire soon.
CBS is expected to make no decision on Romo's permanent replacement before his September 21 court date, which falls after the regular season has already begun in mid-September. Until then, both Watt and Olsen remain the two names most likely to define the next era of the network's NFL broadcast coverage.
The broadcasting shakeup isn't the only storyline drawing attention around the league this month, with several teams also fielding early praise for their offseason roster moves heading into training camp this summer. As camps wind down nationwide ahead of kickoff, Olsen's potential move to CBS would mark a significant change in the network's top broadcast booth.
Source: Yahoo Sports