Papa joins 49ers’ pre- and postgame TV broadcast team
Greg Papa didn’t have to wait long or travel far for his next football gig.
Papa, unceremoniously booted from the Raiders radio booth last month after 21 years as the voice of the team, has signed on to host 49ers pre- and postgame shows on NBC Sports Bay Area during the 2018 NFL season. The station announced the moves in a release on Friday.
Former 49ers Jeff Garcia, Donte Whitner and Ian Williams will round out the TV team.
Papa, 56, won’t have to break in a new audience. As a three-time California Sportscaster of the Year, his work is well known in the Bay Area where he has called Warriors games on radio, hosted a radio talk show and called A’s games on TV. He was most identified with his time with the Raiders. He was fired from that position as a result of bad blood between him and team owner Mark Davis.
Davis hired Brent Musburger as the new radio voice of the Raiders.
MADDEN SIGNS OFF FROM
KCBS SHOW >> John Madden, who coached the Raiders to a Super Bowl then became an iconic football broadcaster, announced Friday that he was retiring from his freeform, inevitably delightful twice-a-week call-ins to the KCBS morning show.
“There’s only two things every week I have to do,” said Madden, 82, referring to his Monday morning and Friday morning call-ins. “And I thought, if I could get rid of those, I wouldn’t have anything.
“I’m at a point in my life where I can do that. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not leaving. I just don’t want the schedule.”
From 1997 to 2015 Madden called in five days a week at 8:15 a.m. — sometimes from his Maddencruiser as he crisscrossed the country from one NFL broadcasting assignment to another. Previous to KCBS, Madden had shows on KYA, KSFO and KNBR.
In a Twitter post Friday morning, KCBS morning show co-anchor Stan Bunger joked that Madden was getting a new title from the radio station:
“ICYMI: John #Madden announced this AM on @ KCBSRadio he’s doing what every retiree dreams of: removing every last obligation from his weekly schedule. So: no more regular Mon/Fri visit with us. BUT: as ‘Senior Investigative At-Large Correspondent,’ he promises occasional visits.”
“At large?” repeated Madden, a long-time Pleasanton resident. “That means large guy. Senior is old and large is big — a big ol’ fat guy.”
It was almost a year ago that Madden announced he would be returning to KCBS after a two-year absence. Heart surgery and other health concerns forced him off the air around Thanksgiving 2015. MC CA FF REY SHIN ES FOR PANTHERS >> Former Stanford star Christian McCaffrey had 120 yards from scrimmage in the first half, including a 71yard touchdown run and the Carolina Panthers defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-20 in a preseason game.
McCaffrey had 92 yards rushing on five carries and caught four passes for 28 yards for Carolina.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera recently said he wants to get McCaffrey “25-30 touches” per game this season.
Cam Newton overcame an early interception and two sacks by Robert Quinn to finish 9 of 12 for 89 yards. BILLS’ MCCARRON INJURED >> Buffalo quarterback AJ McCarron sustained a potentially serious shoulder injury, throwing the Bills’ quarterback situation into total disarray, during a 19-17 win over the Cleveland Browns.
McCarron, who signed with Buffalo as a free agent for a chance to start after four years as a backup in Cincinnati, completed just 3 of 6 for 12 yards during four series.
The 27-year-old didn’t show any obvious signs of being hurt — he was hit hard from behind by Myles Garrett and sacked by Larry Ogunjobi — and the Bills didn’t disclose his injury until the fourth quarter.
McCarron is competing with Nathan Peterman and rookie Josh Allen for Buffalo’s starting job.
Allen, the No. 7 overall pick, out-performed McCarron and Peterman rallied the Bills with a late touchdown pass.
The Bills have wanted to take a slow approach with Allen, letting him watch and learn behind McCarron and Peterman. However, those plans may have to be scrapped.
Allen led the Bills on three scoring drives, completing 9 of 13 passes for 60 yards. Not only did he outshine McCarron, but he stole some of the spotlight from Baker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick making his home debut. Mayfield finished 7 of 13 for 75 yards.
NO DEAL FOR BRYANT WITH
BROWNS >> Dez Bryant and the Browns are in a holding pattern.
The free agent wide receiver concluded his visit with Cleveland on Friday without agreeing to a contract, but “conversations continue” between the sides, a person familiar with negotiations told The Associated Press.
A three-time Pro Bowler during eight seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Bryant and agent Kim Maile met with Browns officials at team headquarters Thursday. The discussions carried over to a second day, ending with a promise to stay in touch.
It’s not known if Bryant has left town. The Browns host the Buffalo Bills in an exhibition game Friday night.
If Bryant signs, the Browns would have three Pro Bowlers — Bryant, Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon — on their roster. Gordon is not with the team to deal with health issues, but the Browns are confident he’ll be back this season. K.C.’S ROBINSON A HALL FINALIST >> Former Kansas City Chiefs safety Johnny Robinson has been selected as the Seniors Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019.
Robinson was picked by the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee.
Robinson played 12 seasons for the Dallas-Kansas City franchise from 1960 to 1971. He was voted to seven Pro Bowls, received all-league recognition six straight years and was named to the AFL’s All-Time Team.
The Hall’s Selection Committee, at its annual meeting Feb. 2 in Atlanta, will consider 18 finalists, including Robinson, two contributors and 15 modern-era finalists.