Tony Romo pleads no contest to operating while intoxicated following July arrest 'I own this'
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has pleaded no contest to operating while intoxicated following his arrest in Milwaukee in July, court records show.
According to court records, an attorney representing Romo made the plea in court on behalf of the retired football star and CBS broadcaster.
The court found Romo guilty and revoked his driving privileges for six months, also ordering him to "attend and complete" an alcohol assessment program.
The court also ordered Romo to pay a $784 fine by Nov. 2. Failure to pay the fine by that date will result in a one-year license suspension, the court said.
Additionally, the court ordered Romo to install an ignition interlock device -- a device that measures a driver's breath alcohol content to confirm they are not under the influence -- " on any vehicle owned, operated or registered" in his name.
Romo was arrested near the Marquette Interchange in downtown Milwaukee on July 23 on suspicion of operating while under the influence, according to an arrest-detention report from the sheriff's office at the time. He was subsequently issued three citations in connection with the incident -- operating while under the influence, unsafe passing, and possession of an open container in a moving vehicle -- which were obtained by ABC News, pursuant to a public records request.
After the arrest, Romo was placed on leave at CBS Sports, the network confirmed in a statement at the time.
Romo shared a lengthy statement on social media Tuesday, following his no-contest plea.
"This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin," he wrote. "I own this completely."
"Multiple back surgeries ended my career earlier than I expected and left me with constant, debilitating pain," he continued. "That pain led to a dependence on pain medication, and my efforts to get off those medications led to an over-reliance on alcohol."
He added, "None of this is an excuse. These are my failures, and I take responsibility for them."
Romo asked for privacy moving forward to focus on his health, his family and his "return to CBS."
"I am working closely with a team of doctors to address my health and make the necessary changes," he wrote. "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."
Romo, a four-time Pro Bowler, was first signed to the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2003 and ended up spending the entirety of his 13-season NFL career with the team. He was named starting quarterback for the Cowboys in 2006.
In April 2017, Romo joined CBS Sports as the lead game analyst for "NFL on CBS" alongside announcers Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.
