Chicago Radio: Patrick Mannelly Leaving WSCR Show

Patrick Mannelly

UPDATE 2/2/15 11:30 AM:  Patrick Mannelly came to the realization there’s only one sport he wants to talk about: football.
Mannelly told listeners this morning he is walking away from his duties as co-host of the “The Spiegel and Mannelly Show” on WSCR 670 AM because his passion wasn’t there to do the work required to be able to chat about other sports besides football, according to The Chicago Tribune.

After ending a 16-year career with the Bears, Mannelly joined WSCR in August as a replacement for Dan McNeil, who failed to come to terms on a new contract with the station. He thought it would be a long-term endeavor.

“I enjoyed talking about the Cubs, Sox, Blackhawks,” Mannelly said. “But I know for me, football is my passion. That’s what I’m going to stick with. ... I’m best suited for breaking down football.”

Mannelly is going to remain at WSCR, serving as a co-host of the Bears’ pregame shows and a contributor on football. He also will be a fill-in host from time to time.

Earlier Posting...

Former Chicago Bear Patrick Mannelly is stepping down after five months as Matt Speigel’s midday co-host at CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR 670 AM /The Score, Chicago Media write Robert Feder first reported Friday.

Mannelly is expected to announce Monday that he plans to drop his full-time duties at the Score but will continue as a Bears pre-game host and contributor during football season.

Mitch Rosen, operations director of the Score, declined to comment on changes to the midday lineup. But insiders tell Feder  the move raises several intriguing possibilities for the station in revamping the show, which airs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

One option could be the return of Spiegel’s longtime former partner, Dan McNeil, who chose not to renew his contract last year and has been off the air since then. Mannelly, who retired last June after 16 seasons with the Bears, was named McNeil’s successor in September.

Also considered a strong possibility is the hiring of David Kaplan and David Haugh for middays. Sources said Tribune Media would be willing to release Kaplan from the remaining 11 months of his contract with WGN AM, where he has been a fixture for 20 years. Haugh, veteran sports columnist for the Chicago Tribune, is a free agent in radio.

Any overture to Kaplan and Haugh would come five weeks after Tribune Media pulled the plug on its short-lived FM sports/talk venture on WGWG LP 87.7, known as The Game 87.7 FM.