Tony Romo is in and Phil Simms is out.
But even though the former Cowboys quarterback will assume Simms' position on CBS lead NFL broadcast team alongside Jim Nantz, Simms was "absolutely not" fired," his longtime representative told The Record, and his future role with the network has not yet been decided.
Reached by phone Tuesday and asked if Simms has been fired, Steve Rosner of Rutherford-based 16W Marketing said adamantly, "Absolutely not. He has multiple years left on his contract. I've had a few brief discussions with CBS in regard to the future and we have decided at the moment that we will regroup within the next month or so and figure out what his future role will be."
This is what CBS said in its news release about Romo:
"Tony has been one of the NFL's biggest stars for the past decade, and we are thrilled to welcome him to CBS Sports," CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said. "He will bring the same passion, enthusiasm and knowledge that he displayed on the field to the broadcast booth. He brings a fresh and insightful perspective to our viewers having just stepped off the field. We know Tony will quickly develop into a terrific analyst, and alongside Jim Nantz, will become a must-listen for fans each week."
This is what they said about Simms:
"As we welcome Tony, we want to acknowledge Phil Simms who served as our lead NFL analyst for nearly 20 years. Phil has been a very important part of our coverage since the NFL returned to CBS in 1998. His strong opinions, coupled with his tremendous knowledge and passion for the National Football League, has created a unique broadcasting style making him one of the best analysts to ever call the game. We are discussing with Phil his future role with CBS Sports. We cannot thank him enough for the way he has represented himself and CBS Sports during his tenure as CBS's lead NFL analyst."
