NFL analyst Jim Nantz defends CBS partner Tony Romo against criticism and 'cheap shots'

Jim Nantz is sticking up for his friend Tony Romo.

Nantz, CBS Sports' lead NFL play-by-play announcer, defended his broadcast booth partner against the "cheap shots" and criticism Romo faced last season during an appearance Thursday on the "SI Media with Jimmy Traina" podcast.

"It was very disappointing. It really got, to me, more steam after the AFC championship game, which was our last game. And for the life of me, I didn’t understand it," Nantz said. "Where was all this outcry during the season? It’s not like we were invisible."

Days after Nantz and Romo called the AFC championship in February, the New York Post reported that CBS Sports executives staged an intervention for Romo at his Dallas home to reportedly address his unpreparedness during the season and clashing with Nantz. CBS Sports president Sean McManus later called the report "inaccurate."

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On Thursday, Nantz said there's "misinformation" surrounding Romo: "I think there was a little bit of a misinformation attempt there to portray him in a not-so-favorable light."

Nantz praised Romo and said there's "nothing wrong with our chemistry."

"He’s also one of my best friends. I love the guy. And when somebody starts questioning our chemistry, there’s an agenda there," Nantz said. "I have never had better chemistry with anybody in my career than Tony. All you have to do is sit in the booth with us, which people that are covering our business, they’re always welcome to come in and take a look at how we interact between the two of us, on the air, off the air, between plays. It’s amazing."

Nantz said Romo has "his own way" of preparing for games and calling them.

"Tony is amazing. Don’t ask everybody to be the same, by the way. Tony does it his own way. I’m talking presentation and everything. Tony has his way of watching a game. It’s fun," he said. "There’s a magnetism with Tony. There’s an excitement. It’s real. Our friendship is real."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Nantz defends CBS partner Tony Romo against criticism, cheap shots