Tony Romo Reportedly Being Considered by CBS as Phil Simms Replacement

CBS Sports is pursuing Tony Romo as a potential replacement for color analyst Phil Simms should the quarterback decide to retire and consider a broadcasting career, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Simms has been working with CBS since 1998 and is currently partnered with Jim Nantz. The pair handles both Thursday Night Football and CBS' headline game on Sundays.

With Romo's future still up in the air, a number of networks have begun pursuing him should he choose to retire. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported last week that both Fox and CBS were interested in adding Romo to their NFL coverage.

Romo, 36, remains with the Dallas Cowboys but is currently the team's backup quarterback after Dak Prescott emerged as a viable starter in 2016. Romo, a decorated veteran, wants to be a starter, and the Cowboys can't afford to pay him $14 million to watch from the sidelines. 

Earlier on Wednesday, owner Jerry Jones said the deadline for making a decision on Romo would be the start of training camp, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today, as the team continues to seek a trade for the veteran quarterback. With any potential suitors likely believing Romo's release from the team inevitable, however—and therefore unlikely to give up assets to acquire him—the Cowboys are still most likely to cut him at some point.

Of course, that all depends on Romo making the decision he wants to continue playing. Given the interest he reportedly is drawing from Fox and CBS Sports, he certainly has options apart from staying in the NFL.