MIAMI — While ESPN is the stalking horse in the Tony Romo free agent sweepstakes, CBS knows that Romo is set up to receive a “huge increase,” according to sources, and is prepared to compete very aggressively.
Romo made a little more than $3 million this season, but he could very well triple or quadruple his salary — and maybe even more than that.
The Post mentioned weeks ago that $10 million-plus is very possible.
With the Super Bowl on CBS next year and with the new NFL TV contracts soon to be negotiated, CBS may not have as big a Romo need as Disney does with its desire to enter the Super Bowl rotation with ABC/ESPN.
However, CBS wants to keep the Romo buzz as it looks to retain its package of games, and the prospect of pairing Jim Nantz with a new partner in a Super Bowl year is undesirable.
It understands that ESPN might offer a crazy salary, but is prepared to play the high-stakes game of chicken, knowing it has the final at-bat with its contractual right to match any Disney offer.
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Romo, Decision 2020, will kick off what could be an NFL TV free-agent bonanza that potentially could reshuffle how fans see and hear games in the future.
The Post has spoken with executives, agents and broadcasters to get a full view of NFL TV horizon.
Let’s run it all down by category what could happen, with Romo, Decision 2020, at the forefront.
Retiring players: The whole landscape of the offseason could change if Drew Brees and Philip Rivers join Eli Manning in retirement and want to work in TV. A lot of ifs, but if they do, Brees and Rivers will be positioned to land big jobs.
Meanwhile, Panthers tight end Greg Olsen has a desire to be a broadcaster. Olsen is a part of Fox’s NFL Super Bowl and XFL coverage. He has not decided to retire yet.
Wild card to watch: Luke Kuechly, the just-retired Panthers linebacker, is a name that could rise, like Dan Orlovsky and Joe Thomas did in offseasons past.
Monday Night Mayhem: As usual, ESPN is the epicenter of the sports media action. While it is the biggest brand in sports, it continues to struggle figuring out the booth in its most expensive property, MNF.
A year ago, we reported in this space that they would be lurking for Romo. Here they are, forcing CBS to pony up more money than it once imagined.
Will ESPN come up with a figure that CBS will just say is too much to match? Money is ESPN’s biggest weapon to win the Romo sweepstakes.
Even if it doesn’t get Romo, it would be shocking if ESPN retained Booger McFarland as its “Monday Night Football” analyst. ESPN put McFarland in a bad spot — he had barely any game-calling experience — and it owes him a nice landing spot.
Meanwhile, Romo or not, ESPN must decide if it thinks Joe Tessitore is the right man on MNF play-by-play.
Meanwhile, on “NFL Countdown,” it is decision time as Sam Ponder, Rex Ryan and Matt Hasselbeck all have multi-million-dollar contracts that are expiring.
CB$: CBS traditionally likes to stay under the radar as much as possible, but with Romo it is in the thick of everything. As we said a year ago, CBS is the favorite, especially if it is willing to look Mickey Mouse in the eye when it comes to Romo’s salary.
If it fails to sign Romo, CBS doesn’t have an obvious replacement, though it did recently ring up Brees to check in.
On its No. 2 team, Dan Fouts is unsigned for next year. CBS has options to pick up on Rich Gannon and James Lofton. Trent Green and Adam Archuleta are two analysts in CBS’ future plans.
Fox trot: Fox could have movement under its No. 1 team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Its No. 2 game analyst, Charles Davis, is a free agent. Fox likes him, but if it feels Olsen clicks with Kevin Burkhardt on the five XFL games they will do, it could make a change. Fox favors two-man booths.
Someone that could be on Fox’s play-by-play radar is Adam Amin, who also has an expiring contract. ESPN likes Amin as well. Fox may move play-by-player Joe Davis from college to the NFL soon.
Besides Davis, Daryl Johnston and Ronde Barber need new contracts.
Big-time wild card: What happens if the 49ers win Super Bowl 2020? Could its GM John Lynch be convinced to leave the rigors of the front office to do something like Monday Night Football?
It would be potentially more money for less work.
Oh, yeah: Peyton Manning, NFL TV’s white whale, will likely get the obligatory calls.
