Walking away from the sport as a player did not top Tony Romo's list three months ago.
But as time wore on and CBS and other networks pursued him with an intensity NFL teams didn't, it became his best choice.
Nearly 14 years after joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Illinois, Romo leaves to replace Phil Simms as the lead NFL game analyst for CBS Sports. He departs as the most prolific quarterback in the franchise's rich history, yet one who was unable to lead his team past the second round of the playoffs.