In N.Y., Andrew Marchand reports CBS is allowing Tony Romo to "play in the Safeway Open in Napa" next week despite him being slated to call Vikings-Bears on Sunday. Romo was "given a sponsor exemption" for the PGA Tour event. This is a "reversal from last year." If Romo were to make the cut, he would be "unable to call" Vikings-Bears. A CBS spokesperson said that the net "has a contingency plan, but declined to name the analyst who would call the game with Jim Nantz." If Romo misses the cut, he will "hop on a private jet Friday night and be in place for regular game prep" (N.Y. POST, 9/20).
GETTING THE CALL: SI.com's Jacob Feldman noted former NFLer Aaron Murray on Saturday will call CBS' 3:30pm ET Auburn-Texas A&M game alongside Carter Blackburn and Rick Neuheisel. Murray has "long made clear his desire to work SEC broadcasts." CBS VP/Talent, Production Planning & Development Ross Molloy said that Murray "earned the opportunity through his hard work," and that Saturday's game is the "logical next step in Murray's progression" (SI.com, 9/19). Murray is getting the opportunity as CBS' top crew of Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson will be on the call Saturday night for Notre Dame-Georgia (THE DAILY).
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: In Dallas, David Moore noted ESPN and Westwood One play-by-play announcer Ted Emrich will fill in for KRLD-FM's Brad Sham and "be the voice of the Cowboys" for next week's Saints-Cowboys. Sham will "miss only his second broadcast in 41 years to observe Rosh Hashanah." Longtime broadcaster Verne Lundquist was "behind the mic when Sham missed his only other game to celebrate the Jewish holiday four years ago." Emrich is the son of late former Cowboys PA announcer Roger Emrich (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/19).
NOT GOING ANYWHERE: THE ATHLETIC's Steve Berman noted S.F.-based KNBR-AM announced a multiyear contract extension for host Tom Tolbert. A source said that the extension will keep Tolbert "under contract for four more years" beyond mid '20, the date his previous contract was originally set to expire. Berman noted the move "takes away rumor fodder from those who assumed" that the station's new "three-person format in the afternoon was one that might cause Tolbert to contemplate leaving" (THEATHLETIC.com, 9/16).
NOTES: Fox Sports anchor Sara Walsh's role "continues to expand" at the net. Walsh will be "part of Fox Sports' college football kickoff show for the second time in three weeks" on Saturday, before being "on the sidelines where she grew up" as part of the Giants-Buccaneers Fox broadcast on Sunday (THEATHLETIC.com, 9/19)....FS North named WFLA-NBC's Annie Sabo host of the "Wolves Live" pre-and postgame shows. Sabo replaces Tom Hanneman, who has been with the T'Wolves since '89 and had "generally hosted" the "Wolves Live" shows in recent years (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/18)....The Boston Herald named Springfield Republican Patriots reporter Andrew Callahan to "lead the Herald's Patriots beat," joining Karen Guregian on the beat. Meanwhile, Herald reporters Jason Mastrodonato and Steve Hewitt will "team up to lead coverage of the Red Sox" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/19).
