John Murphy Denied Bills Press-Box Credential After Critical Column

Overview

• Reporting published Monday and Tuesday says John Murphy was told he would not receive a press-box credential after publishing an August column critical of new coach Joe Brady.
• WIVB sports director Josh Reed reportedly told Murphy the station could not obtain credentials for him or his longtime photographer because a policy bars credentialing part-time contributors.
• Murphy says Bills vice president of marketing Chris Jenkins had assured him in mid-July that his seat was secure and that a follow-up column was held after a WIVB digital producer said the team had instructed the site to do so.
• The Buffalo Bills declined to comment to the reporting journalist and there is no public, independent evidence proving retaliation, leaving the matter a contested 'he said/they said' dispute.
• Murphy spent 34 years as the Bills' radio voice before retiring after a stroke, and his exclusion has raised local concern about the franchise's reputation and about editorial independence between teams and team-affiliated media.