Mike Carey Will Not Return to CBS

CBS and Mike Carey have “mutually agreed to part ways” a network spokesperson confirms. The New York Daily News’ Bob Raissman was first to report. To say the former NFL referee has had a rocky two years in the position would be an understatement. His spotty accuracy made him the object of much online ridicule every time Phil Simms and Jim Nantz checked in with a controversial call.

Carey was brought in only once during CBS’ broadcast of Super Bowl XL, predicting Carolina would win a challenge of an incomplete catch, only to be proven wrong.

Raissman says it is “highly unlikely” the network would hire a retired official to fill Carey’s role. One reason for that is that the job requires both an encyclopedic knowledge of NFL rules and the ability to quickly explain them on live television — a rare combination. Carey and ESPN’s Gerry Austin have not been able to replicate the success of FOX’s Mike Pereia, who has been serving in a similar role since 2010.