EmailPrintTony Romo has had his driving privileges revoked for six months after he pleaded no contest Tuesday to charges that he was driving while intoxicated.Police arrested the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS Sports football analyst after a traffic stop in Milwaukee on July 23. Court records show that one of the arresting officers said he detected a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage" on Romo's breath. Romo performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was taken into custody and later released.Romo was initially cited for refusing to take a test for intoxication after an arrest. Wisconsin court records showed he was later issued three additional citations: unsafe passing on the right, first offense OWI and possessing open intoxicants.Following his plea, a Milwaukee County court found Romo guilty and, in addition to suspending his driving privileges, ordered an ignition interlock device to be installed on any vehicle owned, registered or operated by him. Romo is also required to attend and complete an alcohol assessment program and pay a $784 fine.In a statement he posted to social media, Romo noted that multiple back surgeries ended his career and left him in "constant, debilitating pain" that eventually led him to resorting to medication and alcohol dependence."My efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol," Romo stated. "As I have taught my three young sons: when you fall short, you stand up and take full responsibility. That is an important first step. The harder and more important step is examining the path that brought you here and making the changes necessary to move forward ..."He went on to say, "None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them ... I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes."Romo, 46, made four Pro Bowl appearances during an NFL career from 2004 to 2016 that was spent entirely with the Cowboys.He remains on leave at CBS Sports, where he had been the lead NFL game analyst since 2017. CBS Sports president David Berson said in August that Romo's future with the network is an "evolving situation [that] we are still assessing."JJ Watt will fill in for Romo on CBS' lead NFL broadcast team.
