Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS broadcast voice Tony Romo got himself into a situation no amount of pre-snap reads could have predicted. The 46 year old was arrested Thursday evening in Milwaukee County on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, which Wisconsin insists on calling "OWI" because apparently "DUI" was too mainstream for America's Dairyland.
The guy who built his second career on calling out what's about to happen before it happens apparently did not see flashing lights in his future. Authorities say Romo was heading southbound on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee around 8 p.m. when he got pulled over. Officers administered standard field sobriety tests, and according to reports, things did not go well. He was taken into custody, booked, and released later that same night. So at least his evening wasn't a total wash, unlike his postseason record.
As of Friday afternoon, officials had not revealed whether a breathalyzer or blood test was part of the proceedings. His representatives were keeping quiet too, offering zero public comment. CBS Sports and the NFL also declined to weigh in, which is the corporate equivalent of slowly backing out of a room while maintaining eye contact.
Here's where Wisconsin law gets interesting. A first time OWI offense in the state is generally classified as a civil matter rather than a criminal misdemeanor, as long as nobody got hurt and you don't have prior incidents on your record. Penalties typically involve fines, potential license consequences, and mandatory alcohol assessment programs. Reports suggest Romo's situation falls under that standard first offense category, though the legal process will ultimately sort out the details.
For those who need a refresher on why you know this man's name, Romo played 14 seasons with the Cowboys after joining as an undrafted free agent back in 2003. He accumulated over 34,000 passing yards, tossed 248 touchdowns, and earned four Pro Bowl nods. He never sniffed a Super Bowl, which Cowboys fans will happily remind you about at every opportunity. After hanging up the cleats following the 2016 season, he jumped straight into the broadcast booth alongside Jim Nantz at CBS and became famous for basically spoiling plays before they unfolded on screen.
So to recap, the man who could diagnose a cover two shell from the press box apparently could not diagnose that driving on a Wisconsin interstate after some beverages might end poorly. This is the first publicly known arrest of his entire career, playing or otherwise, which honestly is a pretty clean record for someone who spent over a decade in professional football.
No word yet on whether CBS plans any professional consequences, and formal legal proceedings will determine how things shake out. But one thing is certain, Romo's ability to read what's coming next apparently has its limits.
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