Tag: John Murphy

Bills name new full-time play-by-play announcer

#Bills name new full-time play-by-play announcer:

The Buffalo Bills have officially named the team’s new full-time play-by-play announcer.

Chris Brown has had the “interim” tag removed from his title and is now the full-time guy. The Bills announced the decision on social media on Tuesday:

Brown had previously already been replacing John Murphy in the position in the radio booth. Murphy suffered a stroke in December 2022 and has seen improvements in his health but he decided to retire following the 2023 NFL season.

Brown is only the third full-time PxP broadcaster hired by the team (Van Miller, Murphy) in their history.

Brown is a co-host of the weekday talk show One Bills Live on WGR-550 radio. He has worked in various capacities with the team since 2006.

Former Bills center Eric Wood will continue to join Brown in the booth on game days providing color commentary.

Brown released this statement following the announcement via the team’s website:

“I’d like to thank the Pegula family, Pete Guelli, the Bills organization, and then over at Audacy Buffalo Tim Wenger and Allan Davis. I was fortunate enough to know Van Miller and John Murphy. I worked with them, learned from them. I’m grateful to be trusted with this responsibility going forward.”

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John Murphy makes appearance at Bills training camp amid recovery

John Murphy makes appearance at #Bills training camp amid recovery:

One of the most positive notes from Buffalo Bills training camp practice on Wednesday came from the sidelines.

According to reports including the Batavia Daily News, play-by-play voice of the Bills, John Murphy, was in attendance taking in the sights and scenes.

Murphy, 68, suffered a stroke last December prior to the Bills’ matchup at the Cincinnati Bengals. An update in July stated that Murphy would not resume his broadcasting duties when the 2023 season begins, but the Buffalo News reported at that time Murphy’s recovery was “going well.”

A cameo at practice hopefully indicates things are still going in a positive direction.

Without Murphy, team reporter Chris Brown took over the play-by-play duties with the team’s radio partner, WGR-550, alongside Eric Wood. Brown, a host on the team’s radio show “One Bills Live,” will continue as the interim replacement for Murphy.

Murphy has been the “voice of the Bills” since 2003 following the retirement of Van Miller. Murphy is a member of the Buffalo Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame.

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Voice of the Bills, John Murphy, recovering from stroke

Voice of the #Bills, John Murphy, recovering from stroke the team announced:

Play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Bills, John Murphy, suffered a stroke last weekend the team has announced on Friday.

According to a statement from the team, Murphy, 67,  was taken to Buffalo General Medical Center where he was treated. He is now recovering at home.

Here’s a statement via the Bills from the Murphy family:

Prior to the eventually canceled Bills-Bengals game on Monday, the Rochester D&C reported that Murphy was “under the weather” and would not take on his broadcasting duties for that game.

Without Murphy, team reporter Chris Brown took over the play-by-play position on the airwaves with the team’s radio partner, WGR-550, alongside Eric Wood. Brown is the host of the team’s daily radio program, “One Bills Live,” which Murphy previously hosted.

Jeff Matthews, vice president of media and content for the Bills said they “hope to have John back in the booth as soon as possible.”

Murphy has been the “voice of the Bills” since 2003 after the retirement of Van Miller. Murphy is also a member of the Buffalo Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame and has held various broadcasting position throughout western New York during his career.

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Argos exec on way out after being suspended by CFL for fan altercation

The CFL has suspended an Argos exec, who will likely be fired by Toronto

The Toronto Argonauts’ VP of player personnel John Murphy has been fired after a suspension by the CFL following an ugly incident with a fan.

The Toronto Sun reported Saturday Murphy is out and his exit will be made official by the team on Monday.

Murphy was captured on a cell phone issuing a fighting a fan and allegedly issuing a homophobic slur at a fan following the Argonauts’ loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in a CFL East final.

Some NSFW language:

The incident led to the league suspending Murphy during Grey Cup week. The CFL championship will be played in Hamilton on Sunday.

The CFL statement:

The Canadian Football League has suspended indefinitely John Murphy, Toronto Argonaut Vice-President Player Personnel, following an investigation into his physical and verbal altercation with fans following last Sunday’s Eastern Final.

Toronto Sun columnist Frank Zicarelli weighed in this week:

When came the ugliness caught on video featuring Argos linebacker Chris Edwards, a pending free agent, rookie receiver Dejon Brissett and fans of the Ticats. Police had to get involved and later laid trespassing charges against the fans in question. That incident is also under review by the league and MLSE.

A bad week made even worse by a bad look and suddenly the Argos have once again become a laughing stock.

 

Report: Steve Tasker to replace Eric Wood on Bills radio broadcast

Update to the Buffalo Bills’ radio broadcast team ahead of the 2020 regular season.

The NFL is going to attempt to play a regular season in 2020 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in place. While the Bills will be part of that routine, the color analyst for the team’s radio broadcast will not.

Former player Eric Wood currently wears a few hats in the broadcast world, from his podcast, What’s Next with Eric Wood, to his college football duties covering the ACC for ESPN. But the Buffalo News reports that all of these duties don’t mix well with COVID-19.

Steve Tasker is evidently replacing Wood on the team’s radio broadcast for next season. That’s because Wood, who lives in his hometown of Louisville, won’t be allowed to travel due to coronavirus travel restrictions in place. Tasker will join play-by-play broadcaster John Murphy during game broadcasts.

When, and perhaps a much bigger word… if… COVID-19 travel restrictions allow it, Wood would re-join the team’s broadcast during the season.

Tasker previously worked as a national analyst for CBS Sports for 21 years because that came to an end after last season, which led to his current role: the full-time host on the team’s weekday radio and television show,One Bills Live.

Because of the strong COVID-19 protocols put in place by the NFL, such as daily testing of players among other precautions being taken, players and coaches are allowed to travel from state-to-state for games. Broadcasters do not fall under this category, however, they’re not scheduled to travel with the team early in the season, either.

It was reported earlier this offseason that the Bills’ radio broadcast would do their jobs from the team’s facility in Orchard Park, even when the team travels. Even so, Wood wouldn’t be in a position to travel back-and-forth consistently to do so because of current New York State restrictions. Keeping broadcasters doing their jobs at home is a tactic that Major League Baseball first put in place during their regular season.

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Report: Bills’ broadcast won’t travel to road games

Buffalo Bills broadcasters may not travel to road games in 2020.

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The Buffalo Bills’ broadcast team might follow suit with the way MLB games have been broadcast this summer.

According to the Buffalo News, the Bills’ radio broadcast team, play-by-play man John Murphy and color analyst Eric Wood, will be working from the team’s facility in Orchard Park during the 2020 season when the road travels to games. The report states the plan is “being discussed now” and indicates things can change before opening day, so nothing is set in stone.

But doing so would make plenty of sense. Many baseball teams are doing the same measure, and even nationally shown MLB games, such as ones on ESPN, have a broadcast crew working remotely and not at stadiums. It would remain to be seen what the television broadcasts on game day would do in the NFL, but all of these distancing measures are being conducted across sports as a safety precaution in regard to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

The NFL and MLB are the two similar leagues in this regard, as opposed to the NHL and NBA. The latter two leagues are playing games in a “bubble” or host cities so all players from all teams are in a regulated area. Football is planning to go the way of baseball teams in 2020, meaning stadiums might be empty, but teams would still travel between cities to play games.

The Bills are currently slated to play games in several “hot spots” for the coronavirus pandemic, such as Florida, Arizona and California.

 

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Finalists announced for 2020 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf

Three finalists have been announced for the 2020 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf.

The majority of the spring portion of the college golf season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but awards are still being handed out.

On Tuesday, the GCAA has announced the finalists for the 2020 Byron Nelson Award presented by Srixon/Cleveland Golf: Baylor’s Colin Kober, Louisville’s John Murphy and Georgia Tech’s Tyler Strafaci.

“It is with great pride that we at Srixon/Cleveland Golf once again have the honor of recognizing the finalists for the Byron Nelson Award,” said Rodney McDonald of Srixon/Cleveland Golf. “The three young men who are our finalists this year exemplify what Byron stood for on the golf course, in the classroom and most importantly in his community”

Nelson Award candidates must be a graduating senior. The selection committee takes into consideration the player’s entire collegiate academic and golf career, as well as his character and integrity.

Over a four-year career at Baylor, Kober earned a 72.99 career scoring average, 11th-best in school history. A 2019 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar, 2019 Big-12 Men’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the year and the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Elite 90 Award winner, Kober served in the community at the Waco Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children.

Hailing from Kinsale, Ireland, Murphy boasts a career scoring average of 71.98 and earned two individual wins this season for Louisville. A Ping All-Region selection in 2019 and 2020, 2020 Ping Honorable Mention All-American and ACC-All Academic Team selection, Murphy helped in the community at the Franciscan Kitchen of Louisville, the Open Adult Wheelchair Basketball event for the Metro Parks Adaptive and Inclusive Recreation division, as well as the local Salvation Army.

Strafaci’s 71.60 career scoring average is good enough for sixth all-time in Georgia Tech history. A three-time Ping All-Region selection and Ping Honorable Mention All-American in 2020, Strafaci regularly serves with the EXCEL Program at Georgia Tech, a four-year program offered to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He also mentors junior golfers in the summer and participates in the Michael Isenhour Toy Drive each fall.

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