Craig Carton is closing in on a new deal with WFAN that would see him return to drive time on America’s first all sports radio station. Andrew Marchand of The New York Post reports that WFAN would like to start a new afternoon show with Carton by as early as next month.
Marchand’s column describes Evan Roberts as “the leading candidate to be Carton’s partner.” He also notes that Roberts is the only current member of the WFAN staff being considered for the role.
If Carton does join the afternoon drive show, it would result in the retirement of Roberts’s current partner, Joe Benigno as a full-time host. It is something Benigno has opined about for years and likely is actually something he wants.
There are two other names that were kicked around as potential partners for Craig Carton. The first was former Jets lineman Willie Colon. Colon is not only well-versed in the NFL, he is also a huge baseball fan, which is a plus in New York. Unfortunately for WFAN, Colon is in the middle of a contract with Barstool.
Chris Christie was also an idea that was reportedly floated. The former New Jersey governor is a fan of sports radio and a good friend of Carton’s. Ultimately, Marchand reports, WFAN brass decided bringing in a former Republican governor, who has strong ties to President Trump would be viewed as too politically divisive.
It’s been three years since WFAN listeners have heard Craig Carton on the station. He resigned in 2017 after being arrested for fraud. While he was released early in his prison sentence, he is still on the hook to repay his creditors $5 million. It is no wonder he and WFAN are trying to move quickly to get a deal done and a new show off the ground.
