Tony Romo was arrested for driving drunk in Milwaukee back in July. I’m still not going to go for any of the low hanging fruit like, “Man, how drunk do you have to be to get a DUI in Wisconsin?”

“CBS Sports and Tony Romo have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank Tony for his contributions over the past nine years and wish him the best moving forward.” — CBS Sports

CBS placed him on leave a week after the arrest, and he pleaded no contest in September. J.J. Watt will stay alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on the lead team for the rest of the season.

I’m not here to kick a man when he’s down. Something this did bring to mind is what I call the Player-to-Announcer Paradox.

I couldn’t stand Tony Romo as a player. When he fumbled the snap on the game-winning field goal attempt in the playoff game against Seattle, I was as happy as anyone else in the world. We watched the replay again and again.

Then he retired, went into the booth for CBS and became one of my all-time favorite color commentary guys.

He exhibited a wealth of knowledge on X’s and O’s, situational football, what the coach and quarterback were thinking, and he was predicting things with mystical precision. Then the normies watching got upset. They felt he was “ruining” the surprise of seeing what was to come. I felt like I was sitting next to a football oracle and loving it.

Then Tony Romo was paid $17 million a year not to do the thing he was uniquely capable of doing. He was neutered, and then people complained that his commentary was too vanilla, boring and corny. They were never going to be happy either way.

But Romo isn’t the only example of the Player-to-Announcer Paradox. This seems to be more the rule than a rarity.

I loved watching LaDainian Tomlinson play, but I’m not much of a fan of him on the mic. Also, how ridiculous was it that he went by L.T.? There is only one L.T. Pick a different nickname.

I hated J.J. Watt. I got tired of the annual injuries, the “look how hard I’m working” offseason videos, and then ring chasing by going to the Cardinals of all teams. And in the top booth? J.J. has been milquetoast so far this year. Very underwhelming. He doesn’t have the charisma or showmanship to elevate the big moments. Perhaps he’ll acquire it, but personality-wise I think he was much better suited for the B-team at the network.

Tom Brady was one of my favorite players ever. As an announcer, I think he’s become decent, but he still doesn’t seem truly comfortable. The cringe-core energy he’s giving out in the rest of his endeavors probably isn’t helping matters either. But nobody is getting pulled over for driving-while-alkalized.

I never saw Cris Collinsworth play, but I can confidently tell you I can’t stand him in the booth. The concept has caught on, and the “Patrick Mahomes” shoehorned references by him have become their own meme.

I’d probably still take ol’ Collinsworth over Kirk Herbstreit though. Being forced into a double-dose of Herbie on Thursday Night Football, and then Saturday night’s biggest college football game on ABC usually has me opting for TNF highlights on YouTube Friday morning instead of the Amazon broadcast.

It’s a weird phenomenon. Some of the guys I loved as players I don’t enjoy listening to. Some of the guys I couldn’t stand on Sundays become some of my favorite voices once they retire.

They’re two completely different roles.

The greatest color commentator alive is blackballed from the league and currently working for Barstool Sports. Mr. Jon Gruden. A Gruden comeback is a statistical impossibility due to his ongoing lawsuit against the NFL that he refuses to settle. I’d love to see him burn Goodell’s reign of terror to the ground, but that’s a fight for another day.

Because when Tony Romo was allowed to just be himself, there was nobody better. The excitement, the predictions, the way he made you feel like you were in the huddle. He made Sunday afternoons fun. That’s the Tony Romo I’ll remember.

Wherever he lands next, let Romo Romo.