It's been over a month since Tony Romo was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (drunk driving) and on Tuesday, the CBS color commentator finally broke his silence on the viral incident.
In late July, Romo was pulled over in Wisconsin while attending a golf tournament and failed a sobriety test before being taken in for booking. CBS announced a few weeks later that Romo was being placed on leave for the incident but the broadcaster was not in any danger of being fired for the OWI. Former Houston Texan and CBS colleague J.J. Watt is set to step in for Romo in the booth alongside Jim Nantz while he is on leave.
While things have been quiet in the weeks since the news broke, a spokesperson for Romo did release a statement to the Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel after three new citations were filed in late August. The statement read: “Tony accepts full responsibility for his actions and has taken proactive steps to ensure that this isolated civil matter is properly resolved. We are working with local authorities to bring this matter to a close and we are communicating with CBS about next steps.”
But on Tuesday, Romo himself finally issued a statement on the incident on his Instagram, breaking his month-plus long silence on the matter. In the statement, Romo explained that he has plead no contest to a civil offense and that he "own[s] this completely". Romo also elaborated on his personal health struggles after dealing with debilitating back pain that caused him to over-rely on alcohol to get by.
“Football has shaped nearly every meaningful part of my life. I played for more than 20 years, including 14 in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. After my retirement, CBS gave me the profound honor of staying close tot he game through broadcasting.
Playing taught me the power of relationships, the strength of a team, and the toughness to face failure head-on with honesty, resilience, and the determination to do better.
This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me.
This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely.
Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain. That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol.
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.
That path requires honesty.
None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them.
The past month has been difficult, but it has also been personally significant. It has required me to confront and own my mistakes fully – to the Lord, to myself, to my family, and now to the public.
I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes. I am deeply grateful for the support of my family, my friends, and the NFL community including players, coaches, and owners. Your encouragement has meant more to me than you know.
As I turn my attention to my health, my family and, in time, my return to CBS, I kindly ask for privacy during this period."
As of now, there is no official date for Romo's return to CBS.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Tony Romo breaks silence on OWI in lengthy statement: 'None of this is an excuse'
