Former NFL quarterback and current commentator Tony Romo has agreed to a contract extension with CBS Sports that will pay him around $17 million per season, according to multiple media reports (via Touchdown Wire).
Romo earned an average of just over $9 million per year during his 14 seasons with the Cowboys, according to Spotrac.com. Only 16 quarterbacks in the NFL currently earn an average of more than $17 million per year.
Romo would be the 17th-highest-paid QB in the NFL on that contract, just below Panthers QB Cam Newton ($20.76 million) and slightly above Bengals QB Andy Dalton ($16 million).
Romo just reset the market for former quarterbacks who now serve as commentators. Peyton Manning, who has been courted by ESPN in recent years, might be able to earn even more now that Romo has received an extension from CBS.
Manning has been hesitant to become a commentator, which gives him leverage. A network would have to convince him that calling NFL games is worth his time. Romo’s contract will now give Manning even more leverage — why would he call games for less than Romo?
There’s no guarantee that Manning will become a commentator. But if Manning is interested in calling games, Romo just did him a favor.
