Craig Carton Predicts Radio War With Boomer & Gio
"Carton uses radio wars as fuel for content, he always has and everyone at WFAN knows it, with many of them previously getting a front row seat to watch it."
The current camaraderie within WFAN's new weekday lineup is unprecedented for the New York sports radio station.
Since Craig Carton slid into WFAN's afternoon show last week, his colleagues have been exceedingly welcoming. The morning and midday shows are openly rooting for him, they share laughs and jokes and poke fun at each other in jest.
But two weeks ago, when Boomer Esiason expressed envy over Carton's big desk, I predicted it was only a matter of time before the morning and afternoon shows good-natured ribbing turns serious. And on Friday, Carton admitted the obvious. There will eventually be a radio war between his new afternoon show and his former partners in mornings.
"Here's the reality, there's going to be a war," Carton told his afternoon co-host Evan Roberts. "There's going to be a war, I just don't know when it's gonna happen."
It's almost Survivor Series – so who ya got: @WFANMornings vs. @CartonRoberts? DOES AL TURN HEEL AND JOIN CRAIGGY??? pic.twitter.com/0DlBL6xHom
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) November 13, 2020
"They're going to say something," Carton said of WFAN's morning show hosted by Esiason and Gregg Giannotti. "They're not going to mean anything by it, but something will be said that I will overreact to. And I will then respond the way I respond to things – with a blow torch."
Carton added that he doesn't expect the attack to be personal, instead the firestarter will more likely feature a snide comment about credibility or performance.
During his ten years as the point guard of WFAN's morning show, Carton regularly clashed with station icon and afternoon host Mike Francesa. That uneasiness between WFAN's morning and afternoon shows continued even after Carton left, thanks to Gio's tendency to make fun of the Sports Pope.
Carton uses radio wars as fuel for content, he always has and everyone at WFAN knows it, with many of them previously getting a front row seat to watch it. For now, Peter Rosenberg and the rest of ESPN New York's The Michael Kay Show might be enough of a battle for Carton. But it's only a matter of time before Carton goes after one of his own.
Related Topics:Barrett Sports MediaBoomer and GioBSMCarton and RobertsCraig CartonJason Barrettsports radio
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"Edwards has been on the radio in Denver since 2009. He spent eight years with 104.3 The Fan. He also did a short stint at Mile High Sports Radio."
Ryan Edwards is staying with KOA, but his hours are about to change. The Denver sports radio staple is moving off of Broncos Country Tonight to join Alfred Williams and Dave Logan on The Sports Zoo in afternoon drive.
"I am thrilled to join radio and football legends Dave Logan and Alfred Williams on The KOA Sports Zoo," Edwards said in a press release. "I look forward to bringing a fans' perspective to the Denver Broncos and all things Denver sports."
He joined iHeart Denver in 2017. He was on Orange & Blue 760 before the company replaced the station with a conservative talk format. He moved to KOA in 2019, where he has worked on Broncos Country Tonight with Benjamin Albright.
"There is no way Trevor Lawrence is the eighth-best quarterback out of eight left in the playoffs after doing what he did after the first quarter of that last game."
When he was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, Trevor Lawrence was heralded as a once-in-a-lifetime type of prospect. While his career had a bit of a rocky start, he has shown a lot in year two, including leading one of the largest come-from-behind victories in playoff history Saturday night against the Chargers. Jason Fitz cannot believe that isn't enough to impress Keyshawn Johnson.
The ESPN Radio morning man ranked the eight remaining starting quarterbacks in the NFL playoffs and put Lawrence dead last.
"Trevor Lawrence at eight? I know Keyshawn Johnson is out there in California, but I want to party with Key because obviously, he was doing a little partying before this show, Harry," Jason Fitz told his partner on Tuesday's edition of Fitz & Harry. "There is no way Trevor Lawrence is the eighth-best quarterback out of eight left in the playoffs after doing what he did after the first quarter of that last game."
Fitz noted that during the season people started calling Lawrence "Trevor Tangerines" for the daringness he continued to show even after things looked bad for him and the Jaguars. He said that on Saturday night, he should have been called "Trevor Watermelons".
Jason Fitz acknowledged that it would be hard to rank anyone ahead of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Jalen Hurts, which made up Keyshawn Johnson's top four. But Fitz doesn't think this is a matter of Lawrence being disrespected for being number eight, behind Brock Purdy, who began the season as the 49ers' third-string quarterback, instead of number seven.
"Considering the whole body of work and the way that Trevor Lawrence has played since week nine, you wouldn't have to press hard to put Daniel Jones below Trevor Lawrence."
He added that Keyshawn Johnson is also being influenced by the uniform Trevor Lawrence wears.
"I think there's a little element that speaks to the fact that we have a perception on certain organizations. I'm just saying — four interceptions or not — this is the analogy I keep making this week: If Trevor Lawrence had the bounceback game with the star in his helmet as the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, today the conversation would be like 'Well, you can't hold him down the whole game'."
"He's got no patience whatsoever."
Don't expect to see Peyton Manning on an NFL sideline. He may be one of the best quarterbacks the league has ever seen, but Manning isn't cut out to be a coach according to Boomer Esiason.
On Tuesday morning, Esiason and the rest of the Boomer & Gio cast listened to highlights of the previous night's ManningCast. They enjoyed the audio of Peyton Manning losing his temper after Cowboys kicker Brent Maher missed his third extra-point attempt of the night.
The clip, which has since gone viral, includes Manning asking if a kicker can be cut at halftime of a playoff game.
"This is why Peyton can't coach," Esiason said in response to the audio. "He's got no patience whatsoever."
The chemistry and authenticity of Peyton and Eli is often cited as the appeal of the ManningCast. Esiason noted that was what is on display in moments the brothers cannot control.
Boomer Esiason was a guest on the week eight ManningCast, which featured his former team, — the Cincinnati Bengals — playing Cleveland Browns. Esiason said at the time that while it was a distracting way to try and follow a game, being a part of the show is a lot of fun. He echoed that praise Tuesday morning.
"Those things are really unbelievably done. I mean, they are funny."