Rutgers University and Audacy have announced an agreement that will make WFAN and WCBS the flagship stations for the school’s football and men’s basketball teams.

The multi-year deal begins with the 2022-23 season.

“Rutgers athletics is on the rise under Greg Schiano and Steve Pikiell in the Big Ten, bringing excitement and anticipation to Tri-State area fans,” said Chris Oliviero, Market President, Audacy New York. “WFAN and WCBS 880 will provide listeners with unmatched coverage of the Scarlet Knights and we are honored to add Rutgers to Audacy’s market-leading play-by-play portfolio.”

A 30-minute pregame and postgame show will air on WFAN for all Rutgers football games, while basketball games on WCBS will get a 15-minute pregame and postgame show.

Games will be able to be streamed locally on the Audacy app, and the company said both stations will promote the partnership on-air and digitally, in addition to on-campus events throughout the school year.

BSM columnist Andy Masur turned some heads with his recent piece on Charles Barkley.

Masur wrote that Barkley’s personality, and his fit on the Inside the NBA set alongside Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, makes him such a magnet for attention and the most valuable broadcaster in sports.

Masur appeared on Papa & Lund on KNBR in San Francisco on Thursday and defended that stance about Barkley.

“He dishes it out and he can take it too, which is a quality that a lot of people don’t possess these days unfortunately in our business and out of our business,” Masur said. “I just think that if he says something completely outlandish and it doesn’t completely come through, he expects that he’s gonna get grief for it the next time they’re on the set together. And they usually deliver to give it to him.”

Hosts Greg Papa and John Lund both said you can’t deny Barkley’s personality is part of what makes him as popular as he is. Their issue lies in the fact that Barkley can be quick to say things that aren’t true.

Masur said it’s on Barkley’s TNT colleagues to correct him, which a lot of times they do.

“It’s a double-edged sword too because I think like you said, what we do as far as play-by-play and what Ernie has to do as a show guy, I don’t think that Ernie is in the same boat as we would be if our color commentator made a mistake,” he said. “But I think that Ernie has the ability to step in there, or Shaq, or even Kenny has the ability to step in there and say, ‘No man you’re wrong and here, look at the facts.’ I think that even is more entertaining sometimes too than just the fact that he’s throwing out things and trying to throw them against the wall and see what sticks.”

Jon Gruden’s lawsuit against the NFL, stemming from his high-profile firing last year, moved forward this week. The case is expected to proceed in open court, and unless the NFL appeals or settles with Gruden, things are about to get very interesting.

A settlement wouldn’t be such a bad thing to make all of this go away. Gruden became the focal point of ire from the football community after emails leaked in the league’s investigation into the Washington Commanders. Gruden was ultimately fired for using racist and homophobic language in those emails.

On FOX Sports Radio, co-host Brady Quinn says if a settlement is on the table, Gruden should command similar money to what Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and others have signed new TV contracts for.

“If I’m his attorney, I’m like, ‘$200 million for a settlement.’ Because in all seriousness, when you look at what people are getting paid in the TV industry, and what he would have done in coaching regardless of his age, sponsorships, it might be a little bit higher than that. It might be $300 million,” Quinn said.

Quinn added that with hindsight being 20/20, Gruden likely would’ve turned back up on TV at some point.

“If all this hadn’t happened, you’re trying to tell me he wouldn’t have been invited back to a TV booth and people wouldn’t have raved about it,” Quinn said. “Now you’re looking at Tom Brady getting $375 million.”

Gruden signed a 10-year, $100 million contract to become the Raiders head coach at the time. He was fired with just over half his contract remaining.