Earlier this week, Bay Area football fans were stunned to learn that longtime Raiders radio announcer Greg Papa was not being brought back to call the team’s final season in Oakland. The organization signed Brent Musburger to a three year deal to become the team’s new radio voice. Brent will work the final season in the Bay Area, and the team’s first two seasons in Las Vegas.
But Papa wasn’t the only one to receive grim news.
As it turns out, Papa’s longtime color analyst and former Raiders head coach and Super Bowl champion Tom Flores has also been informed he won’t be retained. Flores told the Fresno Bee that he had hoped to stay on thru the first season in Las Vegas but the franchise has decided to explore a new direction.
“In 20 years, I usually sign a contract right about this time — at least a week or two before the first game,” Flores told the Bee. “It wasn’t new when I didn’t hear from them. When they let Papa go, I was: ‘We’ll see what happens. Maybe I’m next.’ And here I am.”
No word has been given yet about the status of Raiders sideline analyst Lincoln Kennedy. Given his talent, contributions to the broadcast, and proximity to Las Vegas (Lincoln resides in Arizona), it’d make sense for the franchise to move him upstairs to the analyst booth filling Flores’ seat. Time will tell if that’s the organization’s plan.
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
