CBS almost certainly would improve its NFL broadcaster roster by permanently sidelining Tony Romo
Fox’s Greg Olsen is arguably the best NFL color analyst in the game right now. (I prefer ESPN’s Troy Aikman, but Olsen is in the conversation). He was part of Fox’s No. 1 team in 2022 and ’23 before Tom Brady’s arrival bumped him to the No. 2 team.
Olsen has a clause in his contract with Fox that allows him to leave if a No. 1 job opens up elsewhere. He would be an upgrade on Romo, who was a phenomenon when he joined CBS and was paired with Nantz in 2017, but whose casual, often meandering approach in recent years has made him a difficult listen at times.
All sentiment and loyalty taken out of it, CBS should pursue Olsen. It’s possible that Watt, who excelled with Ian Eagle on the No. 2 team, proves an upgrade on Romo.
Nantz, who occasionally seems exasperated with Romo, is a team player, and he’s not going to criticize his partner publicly. But I’d love to know what he’s saying behind the scenes.
John Dennis had a long radio run on WEEI after his time as a sports anchor for Ch. 7.Rizer, George Globe Staff
Here’s something I probably wouldn’t have said in my early days as your friendly neighborhood sports media columnist: I genuinely enjoyed chatting with John Dennis recently.
The former Ch. 7 sports anchor and longtime WEEI morning show co-host known as “Dino” has kept a low profile in recent years, including disavowing social media.
“I’m so removed from all of that,” he said, “and I’m so grateful.”
Dennis lives with his wife in Venice, Fla., for half the year, and is building a place on Lake Maspenock in Upton that is supposed to be finished this month.
He said he feels a lot of gratitude these days. Part of that is for the career he had in Boston media.
“The ’80s in local TV were so damn fun,” he said.
The other reason for the gratitude? A frightening health scare.
“I was misdiagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025,” he said. “Four different tests said I had it. I actually made a video for my kids and grandkids and my wife Kathy to say goodbye and tell them to be positive.”
He went in for surgery in April 2025.
“They ripped, me open stem to stern, and it wasn’t cancer. I had a golf-ball-sized benign tumor right next to my pancreas, and they took it out, and I’m absolutely fine. It felt like a miracle.”
He chuckles.
“Let me tell you, going through that will alter your perspective on certain things,” he said.
Mainer Webb joins Patriots coverage
Patriots.com has a new host for its pregame and postgame coverage this season. Jack Webb will join holdovers Paul Perillo and Mike Dussault on the show, as well as a former Patriot to be announced later.
Webb, a 2023 graduate of the University of Maine, where he played on the offensive line for the football team, is the sports director and co-anchor on WVII and Fox 22 in Bangor. He said longtime NFL defensive lineman Mike DeVito, a Maine graduate and currently the football program’s director of player development, helped him make a connection a couple of years ago that led to an interview with the Patriots, and then the new gig.
“I’m truly living the dream where it’s high school football on a Friday night for my job up here in Bangor,” said Webb. “And then I’m also the analyst for Maine Black Bear home games for football. So that that will be Saturdays, and then Sundays will be the Patriots.
“I’m not quite sure it gets better than that.”
Wrapping up the BC radio call
Two last thoughts on the Boston College men’s basketball radio drama:
First, Kevin Collins, one of the two broadcasters whose contracts were not renewed, has said in interviews that he reached out to new coach Luke Murray through intermediaries to chat about the job. Just one of those requests actually made it to Murray. According to multiple sources, it happened to be on the day that Antonio Pemberton — a top-30 national prospect from Methuen and The Masters Academy — was making his official visit.
Also, Josh Maurer, the other broadcaster let go, has kept a low profile. A radio voice of the Brewers and another member of the storied PawSox/WooSox-to-MLB pipeline, he’s a rising star. It would be a shame if this unfortunate situation at all affects his chances for extra work outside of the baseball season.
Chad Finn can be reached at [email protected].
