Boomer Esiason is CBS’ backup quarterback for Tony Romo this Sunday, but you have to wonder if it could mean more in the future.

If Romo makes the cut at the Safeway Open later this week, then Esiason would move from the “NFL Today” studio to the booth to broadcast the Bears-Vikings game Sunday afternoon to team with Jim Nantz.

Romo’s chances of advancing to the final rounds are slim, but CBS has to plan for the possibility.

At the end of the season, Romo’s contract is up and he has positioned himself to potentially equal or surpass John Madden’s NFL TV analyst record of $8 million per year. CBS hopes to retain him, though ESPN is considered a real threat with Fox a possibility. NBC seems unlikely at this point.

Romo has leverage in almost every which way, including the fact that CBS does not have someone obvious to promote within its game analysts. Dan Fouts, on the No. 2 game team, would be an unlikely choice, while CBS would likely not go further down the depth chart.

On the SEC, CBS really likes Gary Danielson, who was an NFL quarterback for years.

CBS’ plan is to keep Romo, but if it does not, then seeing how Esiason and Nantz mesh would not be the worst thing.

Though CBS hit a home run with Romo as a rookie, that is more the exception than the rule. Nate Burleson is someone on the rise, but he has not done many games.

Esiason already was a No. 1 TV game analyst on ABC’s “Monday Night Football,” though things did not work out with he and Al Michaels.

For years, Esiason was the radio analyst on “Monday Night Football,” which also included doing the Super Bowl. He relinquished the role before last year.

Esiason, 58, hosts WFAN’s morning show, “Boomer & Gio.” He is also now a longtime analyst on the “NFL Today.” And he just started his own syndicated interview program.

Esiason will know his weekend schedule by Friday. Romo has failed to make the cut in three previous PGA events.

But keep this all tucked away, because sometimes things change.

Don’t get it: ESPN’s Monday Night Football has a musical act at halftime. It is a sponsored bit so maybe the money makes it worth it. The concept, though, is odd. Why would someone watching football necessarily be interested in Monday’s act, Blink 182?

Other sporting events, most notably the Super Bowl, have music in the middle of their game. While the Super Bowl, a cultural phenomenon with a hundred million people watching, gets a pass, it doesn’t really square up with other games. It is like going to a steak place and asking for the vegetarian meal.

Do get it: The Miked Up segments on Monday Night Football work. The Bears’ Akiem Hicks was particularly good this week.

Radio vs. TV voices: NFL TV voices usually make significantly more money than radio team broadcasters. However, there is something special and historic about the bond between a team’s play-by-player and the franchise’s fans.

During all the TV pieces on Eli Manning this weekend, Bob Papa’s radio calls were all over the place. The NFL owns the calls, but it pays each of the 30 radio play-by-players around a $2,000 a year fee. While most would rather do TV, there is a bond between radio play-by-play guys and fans that football fans don’t generally have with national TV broadcasters. Many times, the radio calls are the ones that are historic.

Franc’ talk: Jeff Francoeur has joined TBS as an MLB analyst. Francoeur will work with Ron Darling as co-analysts on the NL wild card game and then will be a lone analyst on one of the division series matchups.

Quiet please: After his first year on the No. 1 studio team, Todd Zeile needs to talk a little quieter on SNY. No need to yell at us.