Whether you love it or hate it, almost all NFL fans know Tony Romo. He made a name for himself as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys; retired, Romo established himself as one of the rising stars of sports media. This success, however, does not mean that he is resting on his laurels.
During his time in the broadcast booth, Tony Romo showed a special talent for predicting what will happen in a given play. While this was a striking part of his skill set, the color commentator really made an effort to slow things down during the 2020 campaign.
Tony Romo was successful in the NFL both as a player and as an announcer
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A very specific skill set is required to play as a quarterback at the NFL level; the same can be said about calling a live football game on TV. Tony Romo, however, did very well in both disparate roles.
Romo played college football at Eastern Illinois University and recorded huge numbers during his three seasons as a center. Despite posting some big numbers with the Panthers, the quarterback didn’t get much attention from the NFL; he was not selected in the 2003 draft and eventually joined the Dallas Cowboys as a non-hired free agent.
Despite starting at the bottom of the depth chart, Romo eventually took control of the Cowboys’ attack and established himself as the franchise’s quarterback. Although he was unable to get the team from America to overcome the obstacle, he still played very well, throwing for 34,183 yards and 248 touchdowns in 156 NFL appearances.
Although Dak Prescott’s injuries and emergence ended Romo’s playing career, his work in football was far from over. He joined CBS shortly after retiring and has since become one of the most popular – not to mention the highest paid – football announcers.
Predict the move before it happens
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While calling an NFL game may seem easy, it can be a very difficult job; filling three hours of air time without saying something stupid is easier said than done. Tony Romo, however, had no trouble adjusting to life in the transmission cabin.
Although everyone has their own preferences – some prefer passionate broadcasters, while others want a more objective view – Romo manages to follow the limits very well. He has no problem getting excited and audibly excited, but he is also able to use his years of experience as a defender to break defensive covers or nuances in a receiver’s route.
Romo also showed an incredible talent for making pre-instant predictions, telling viewers exactly what will happen in a given move. Although there have been some notable mistakes, such as the Kansas City Chiefs going up in their fourth defeat against the Cleveland Browns, the color commentator generally has a very good success rate.
Tony Romo intentionally tried to make fewer predictions in 2020
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During his time in the broadcast booth, making pre-instant predictions became Tony Romo’s signature move. Despite this reality, however, he intentionally tried to slow things down in 2020.
“Yes, I think I probably did it a little less on purpose,” Romo told Richard Deitsch of The Athletic. “I don’t consciously try to do it or I don’t do it. I like being able to do a lot of things, and that goes back to what I think people at home want to feel or hear about their team. I’m telling them the truth about everything I see, and you’re not always going to say the right thing or do the right thing. But I feel like I care and I want them to enjoy the game ”.
In the former defender’s mind, it all comes down to finding a balance. Although he doesn’t want to exaggerate, we’ll still hear a pre-snap prediction from Romo when the situation calls for it.
“I take into account everything I do when something can be too much or too little,” he continued. “It is just a sensation. It’s just instinctive. You can be sure that I probably suppressed that a little bit. But there is always a time when I will introduce you, especially if it is fun. “
Statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference