CBS Sports made it official on Thursday, announcing a new multi-year agreement that crowns J.J. Watt Tony Romo’s full-time replacement. Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, had spent this season as the network’s lead NFL game analyst on an interim basis.
However, for Mike Florio, the next question is what the job pays. In a Pro Football Talk video about the signing, Florio explained what he’ll be watching for.
Why Mike Florio Is Waiting on the J.J. Watt CBS Salary Number
Watt spent 12 seasons with the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 2022 season. CBS brought him on in 2023 as a studio analyst, put him in the booth last season and, earlier this year, paired him with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson on its top crew after Romo’s July arrest for operating while intoxicated (OWI) and the personal leave that followed.
Dylan Byers of Puck reported on Wednesday that Troy Aikman had tried to renegotiate his ESPN contract early. Aikman is Joe Buck’s partner in ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” booth. The talks stalled after one of his representatives reportedly put his value at about $30 million a year, compared with the $18 million a year he makes now.
When Aikman signed his current deal, which is set to expire, Romo’s $17 million a year was a record. Then Tom Brady reset the market with his reported 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox.
“No one else is getting $37.5 million a year like Tom Brady,” Florio said.
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He then began his speculation with the business side.
“They get a guy that they’re comfortable with, who’s only six games into his stint as the number one NFL analyst in place of Tony Romo. But they wanted to move forward, and they did,” he said. “It would be foolish to think they didn’t explore other options. It would be foolish to think they didn’t negotiate. And it comes down to dollars.”
So where does Watt’s number land? Florio could only put it as a question. “Is it 20? Be interesting to know what JJ Watt got.”
The Pro Football Talk host said he will be paying close attention to whether the amount gets “leaked,” but isn’t very hopeful that will happen. “We’ll see if and when the amount paid to JJ Watt gets leaked. Usually in a situation like this, if it doesn’t get leaked, that tells you something.”
His reason for reading anything into silence comes down to who usually does the talking.
“Agents tend to want the world to know that their work has resulted in a massive deal if the deal is indeed massive. It’s a very common dynamic for NFL players, and I think it’s one of the reasons why we know what so many broadcasters make. Those without agents, like me, have no compulsion to let anyone know their business.”
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Florio added that knowing the figure for Watt’s CBS deal would provide a better understanding of the current market rate.
The signing also changes the offseason Florio had been laying out for the likes of Aikman and Greg Olsen. “It looked like we were going to have ESPN, CBS, and Prime Video with an asterisk available after the season. Now CBS is gone.”
Florio also discussed Aikman’s uncertain future at ESPN following Watt’s deal with CBS, which removes one potential opening from the broadcasting market. Olsen has consistently been linked to the Monday Night Football booth.
If Aikman leaves ESPN and does not land a role at Prime Video, Florio suggested he could become Fox’s No. 2 NFL analyst, although that position would pay considerably less than what Aikman currently earns or sought at ESPN.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.