Longtime Bills radio voice accuses team of petty move

John Murphy spent 34 years calling Buffalo Bills games as a radio analyst and play-by-play announcer before a stroke ended his time in the booth. This season, the long-time local voice cannot get a press box credential at the team’s new Highmark Stadium.

Murphy believes the denial is connected to an August column he wrote for WIVB, the Bills’ official television station. He argued that first-year head coach Joe Brady’s lack of experience was the one thing that could keep Buffalo from reaching the Super Bowl, writing that it was too soon for Brady and noting how rarely first-year coaches win titles.

Two days after the piece was published, WIVB sports director Josh Reed told Murphy the station could not obtain credentials for him or photographer James P. McCoy, citing a policy against issuing them to part-time contributors.

The timing raised questions.

In mid-July, Bills vice president of marketing Chris Jenkins had assured Murphy that a season credential was secure and showed him where he would sit.

A follow-up column predicting a 10-win season never ran. A digital producer told Murphy the site had been instructed to hold it under pressure from the team. Asked whether the Brady column cost him the seat, Murphy said, “I think so, but I don’t know.”

The Bills declined comment to The Buffalo News.

Murphy said the station did not fight for him and that he is insulted, but he is not chasing an explanation and will watch the games from home.