Fox NFL analyst Tim Ryan will "take the unusual step of leaving network television for a radio booth," replacing Eric Davis as the 49ers' color analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Ted Robinson, according to Eric Branch of the S.F. CHRONICLE. Davis has "spent the past two seasons juggling jobs." He is co-host of NFL Network's "NFL AM" out of L.A., which starts at 3:00am PT "every weekday during the football season." Davis, who lives in L.A. and will "continue working with NFL Network, said the team wanted someone on-site and the parting was amicable." Ryan had "served as color analyst on the 49ers' preseason telecasts the past three years" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/23). 49ers Broadcast Partnerships Dir Bob Sargent said the color analyst position "really is going to require more than just calling 20 games." Sargent said that the team will "continue to bulk-up its in-house media this season, which will require its new radio team ... to be at the practice facility and next-door stadium during the week." In Sacramento, Matt Barrows noted Ryan, who lives in San Jose, is "more capable of fulfilling those obligations" than Davis (SACBEE.com, 1/22). Ryan said he has several years left on his deal at Fox, but noted it was "almost surreal just the opportunity to be with a crown jewel franchise in the National Football League." Ryan: "Not a lot of people leave network television, but to be part of the 49ers family … going into the new stadium with the quality people that run that organization and a quality football team, I am jacked" ("Murph and Mac," KNBR-AM, 1/22).
