CBS hasn’t shown Tony Romo the money yet, but they are allowing him to test the greens.
At the end of next week, CBS is allowing Romo to play in the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif. He was given a sponsor exemption. This is a reversal from last year when CBS executives declined to allow Romo a similar opportunity.
If Romo were to make the cut, then he would be unable to call CBS’ Vikings-Bears game in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 29.
Romo dreams of qualifying for the professional tour. Though he’s very good — he’s won the American Century Championship celebrity tournament in Lake Tahoe the past two years — it is unlikely he would make the cut in a PGA Tour event. He failed in his previous three attempts.
But if he does, what will CBS do? A CBS spokeswoman told The Post it has a contingency plan, but declined to name the analyst who would call the game with Jim Nantz.
If Romo is out after two rounds, he will hop on a private jet Friday night and be in place for regular game prep Saturday in Chicago.
A year ago, CBS, with less time to consider, did not allow Romo to participate in a PGA event because of the possibility he could miss a Sunday game. It was only his second season with the network.
Later in the year, at the request of Nantz, the duo were given a weekend off, though it was presented as to deal with the grind of a Super Bowl season. In years past, Nantz and his partners (Romo or Phil Simms) had previously had some Sundays off when they were doing “Thursday Night Football.”
Romo, 39, has become the new standard for NFL game analysts. His contract that pays him in the low $3 million range this season is up at the end of the year. Negotiations with CBS have not really begun and may be tabled until after the season.
At that point, CBS — which owns the right to match — could have competition. ESPN could consider Romo for its “Monday Night Football” booth, while Fox could get creative given they have “Thursday Night Football” and its Sunday afternoon package.
For now, though, Romo works for CBS. Network executives try to look at their group as a family. They know Romo’s golf aspirations, so they agreed to let him go for it.
Not standing Pat: If someone invited you into their home and then spent 15 minutes just berating you, would you go back? The Giants decided they would not have their coach, Pat Shurmur, go on Mike Francesa’s WFAN show for that very reason.
Francesa is a bully, and Shurmur — because of the Giants’ record with him as a coach — is an easy target right now. Francesa may be correct in his assessments of the organization, but that’s not the point.
Shurmur answers questions every day, so the idea he is dodging anything is silly. Francesa usually doesn’t ask questions anyway.
Clicker consulting: The NFL Network Thursday planned to have some new advertising called an “L Wrap,” according to Sports Business Journal. They will just be on for six seconds at a time on screen with the players still visible.
Anyway, here’s an old idea that should come back for creative advertisers and programmers. Do you remember the “Alcoa Fantastic Finishes” ads?
For those who don’t, at the two-minute warning of NFL games, Alcoa owned the spot and it would present a great finish from past NFL games. There was also “You make the call” ads with sponsors like IBM. These spots kept you glued to the TV.
In this day and age of trying to meld content with advertising, this is a proven winner.
Clicker books: As the new season for European soccer leagues starts up, Papa Clicker found “Red Card: How the U.S. Blew the Whistle on the World’s Biggest Sports Scandal” by Ken Bensinger. A well-written book, it details FIFA officials’ corruption that was uncovered by American investigators. “Red Card” receives 4.4 Clickers out 5.