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Tony Romo and CBS Sports part ways following July OWI arrest

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 10 outlets, mostly right-leaning (60%).

17 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Tony Romo and CBS Sports announced Friday that they have “mutually agreed to part ways,” ending his nine-year run as the network’s top NFL analyst. The move follows Romo’s July 23 arrest in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, after which CBS placed him on indefinite leave. Romo pleaded no contest to the charge on September 1 and received a six-month driving ban, a fine, and an order to install an interlock device. In a statement, Romo said chronic pain from back surgeries contributed to a dependence on pain medication and alcohol, and that he plans to focus on his health and family. J.J. Watt, who filled in during Romo’s absence, will continue as CBS’s lead NFL analyst for the rest of the season.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Romo was arrested July 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. CBS placed Romo on indefinite leave following the arrest.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  3. CBS and Romo announced October 2 that they had mutually agreed to part ways.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  4. Romo pleaded no contest to the charge on September 1, receiving a six-month driving ban, a fine and an order for an interlock device.

    Reported byLeftRight

  5. Romo said chronic pain from back surgeries contributed to a dependence on pain medication and alcohol.

    Reported byLeftRight

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. J.J. Watt, who had filled in for Romo, will continue as lead NFL analyst for the rest of the season.

    Reported byLeftRight

  2. Romo signed a 10-year, $180 million contract with CBS in 2020.

    Reported byLeftRight

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    3 outlets

    Left-leaning outlets state plainly that Romo will not return to CBS, with one outlet (The Daily Beast) using more dramatic language describing the arrest as “embarrassing.”

    High-Profile CBS Host Departs After Loaded modifier“Embarrassing Arrest”Characterizes the arrest with a subjective judgment rather than stating the facts.More neutral: DUI ArrestDisagree with this highlight?
    The Daily BeastFar LeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    1 outlet

    The single center outlet reports the departure in brief, neutral terms without elaboration.

    Tony Romo, CBS part ways after DUI arrest
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    6 outlets

    Right-leaning outlets largely use straightforward “out” or “parts ways” headlines, with one New York Post piece instead covering Romo’s pre-announcement golf appearance and one Fox News piece speculating about a future broadcast comeback.

    Tony Romo Is Officially Out From CBS
    TownhallFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left2

    embarrassing drunk-driving arrestEmbarrassing Arrest

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right1

    latest twist

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    latest twistMore neutral: latest development

    Frames a routine business announcement as part of an ongoing dramatic narrative rather than a plain fact.

    Tony Romo out at CBS in latest twist to ex-QB’s OWI saga

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    embarrassing drunk-driving arrestMore neutral: drunk-driving arrest

    Adds a subjective characterization of the arrest beyond the factual description.

    …ways with the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback in the wake of his embarrassing drunk-driving arrest , which was captured by a Wisconsin officer’s body camera.

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

  • Loaded modifier

    Embarrassing ArrestMore neutral: DUI Arrest

    Characterizes the arrest with a subjective judgment rather than stating the facts.

    High-Profile CBS Host Departs After Embarrassing Arrest

    Used byThe Daily Beast (Far Left)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

3 outlets

Leads with

  • legal consequences of the arrest
  • body camera and sobriety test details
  • Romo’s statement on addiction and health
  • contract value

Leaves out

  • Romo’s earlier appearance at a golf qualifying event

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 3 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
  • The Daily BeastFar Left

    High-Profile CBS Host Departs After Loaded modifier“Embarrassing Arrest”Characterizes the arrest with a subjective judgment rather than stating the facts.More neutral: DUI ArrestDisagree with this highlight?

    Tony Romo will not be returning to the CBS booth this NFL season. The network announced Friday that it has mutually parted ways with the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback in the wake of his Loaded modifier“embarrassing drunk-driving arrest”Adds a subjective characterization of the arrest beyond the factual description.More neutral: drunk-driving arrestDisagree with this highlight? , which was captured by a Wisconsin officer’s body …

    Read at The Daily Beast (opens in a new tab)
  • The GuardianLeft

    Tony Romo will not return to CBS Sports in wake of drunk driving arrest

    NFL analyst and network mutually agree to part ways Ex-Dallas Cowboys star was on $180m contract Tony Romo will not return as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports, the network announced Friday, after his July arrest for operating a vehicle while under the influence. …

    Read at The Guardian (opens in a new tab)
  • NBC NewsLeft

    Tony Romo out as NFL analyst for CBS Sports following July DUI arrest

    Tony Romo is out as an NFL analyst for CBS Sports following his July arrest on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, the network said Friday.

    Read at NBC News (opens in a new tab)

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

  • the mutual parting
  • the DUI arrest as context

Leaves out

  • Romo’s personal statement on health and family
  • contract value
  • legal penalties

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    Tony Romo, CBS part ways after DUI arrest

    Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and television analyst Tony Romo and CBS have parted ways after the commentator was arrested on a drunken driving charge earlier this year. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)

From the right

6 outlets

Leads with

  • official statements from CBS and Romo
  • Romo’s career accomplishments and contract
  • speculation about his future
  • details of the arrest and plea

Leaves out

  • body camera footage of the arrest
  • specific sobriety test exchange reported by left-leaning outlets

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    1 day 2 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 2, 12:46 PM EDT

  • Center

    1 day 3 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 2, 1:25 PM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    New York Post, Oct 1, 10:25 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. New York PostRightOct 1, 10:25 AM EDT
  2. The Daily WireFar RightOct 2, 8:24 AM EDT
  3. Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 2, 12:42 PM EDT
  4. NBC NewsLeftOct 2, 12:46 PM EDT
  5. The GuardianLeftOct 2, 12:53 PM EDT
  6. The HillCenterOct 2, 1:25 PM EDT
  7. The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 2, 1:44 PM EDT
  8. Fox NewsFar RightOct 2, 2:02 PM EDT
  9. The Daily CallerFar RightOct 2, 3:37 PM EDT
  10. TownhallFar RightOct 3, 9:30 AM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

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