415 Media Exclusive The Inside Story as to How and Why The Greg Papa Deal Went Down; Truth Emerges; 49ers' Broadcast Boss Sargent Yearns for Broadcast Nirvana

ALL OF YOU WHO READ ME KNOW MY FEELINGS ABOUT GREG PAPA REPLACING TED ROBINSON as 49ers radio play-by-play broadcaster.

I thought Robinson was blindsided.

He even said so.

This much is certain: the mystery continues --even after a year and a half removed from the transaction, which shocked the Bay Area Sports world and beyond, the entire machinations over the Papa hiring still lingers.

What really took place? What exactly went down? How many egos and friendships are still torn apart and forever compromised.

Now comes more information and exclusive content you want and deserve reading 415 Media and I hopefully deliver.

To be a hundred percent up front --not in any way an indication that I've been anything but--I'm still torn by this story. It involves having to navigate between two very good people; people I have known for some time; we're not great friends but friendly enough and more than just acquaintances.

I pursued this story and wanted the facts. The truth is something unique. It aces out falsities and rumors. It's a sensitive story but one that deserves clarity and total reality.

49ers' director of broadcasting, Bob Sargent, a former KNBR higher-up and veteran management guy and Bay Area native, wanted to go in another direction. He hired Robinson and both were friends and allies --but Sargent was a big Greg Papa fan. He marveled at Papa's style and personality and got to know him well --a true fan.

When Papa was let go by the Raiders, namely by owner, Mark Davis, Sargent was on a mission: somehow, someway, get Papa to the 49ers' perch in the radio broadcast booth. It would involve a series of personal moves and professional complications, a certifiable RISK with a capital "R", but one that Sargent chose to confront, even if it meant the possibility of a termination of friendship and bond with his friend, Robinson.

Sargent wanted to get Papa on board. He didn't pursue him as much as hunt him down. There would be roadblocks and tons of issues, some of which seemed to spell doom and gloom. It not only would hit Robinson, but Sarge as well. Robinson was well-liked, respected, admired by not only the team brass, but by the Faithful, the 49ers' fans, the Bay Area sports landscape. Sargent knew all that and then some but became adamant that it was time to move forward and begin his pursuit.

It wasn't an indictment of Robinson, as I learned first hand through examining this story as I did--it was more Sargent wanting Papa once he became a free agent. Sargent thought of Papa as the sports broadcast equivalent of Michael Jordan, with less complications --he loved Papa's passion and NFL football adulation and thought it would translate well in the radio booth. If he didn't move forward with his quest, a mission fraught with all kinds of potential chaos, Sargent thought, then he'd be doing himself and the organization a disservice, it was a moment of truth.

So Sargent made contact with Papa and thus the courtship began in earnest and was officially on a roadmap. As complex as it would take and close, the courtship was amazingly lucid in nature: what was supposed to be an hour-long coffee between Sarge and Papa turned into an almost eight-hour marathon. The transaction was closed. Well, sort of.

Here's what transpired: Sargent was committed. Although it would be months before anything was official, six months, to be exact, the deal was still in place if not the total structure. Many landmines still existed and were to be handled. Nothing was set in stone. A myriad of issues were yet to be determined. It was far from a done deal.

Bottom line: This was a YUGE seal and loads of stuff was on the table.

The financials were not worked out. The last-minute details and issues were to be eradicated and handled. They were, but the hard part was just beginning. Finalizing anything as complicated as this involved lots of work and energy.

Done.

Papa was on board. Robinson, who was just a few weeks earlier, given a two-year contract extension, was to be informed of the decision and close out the 2018-'19 season. It would be a shock, surely, but Sargent made sure that Robinson would receive all the money owed on his contract and that hopefully, Robinson would agree to be involved in the 49ers organization as a sort of good-will ambassador, a community liaison,. That position was left open --surely, Robinson would need time and plenty of thought process to consider such a role, given his dismissal and sudden departure. It was only normal.

Sargent's move would be both his personal and professional mark, good and bad. Maybe more great and awful: it would cause havoc and most certainly risk his own (Sargent) demise and consternation from the team's ownership and brain trust. Again, Ted Robinson was a popular and well-respected individual within the franchise hierarchy, from team president, Al Guido to principle owner, Jed York. Like York, Robinson, was a Notre Dame alum and Robinson admirer. Guido and York signed off on the deal. The Papa pursuit was done.

The '19-20 season began in Tampa with a new PBP man in place; Papa and analyst, Tim Ryan, working the game with vigor and energy. The 49ers beat an overmatched Tampa Bay team and a week later, the Bengals on the road. Papa began in earnest a signature touchdown call that I kind of hated but soon caught on and began to get traction

 The 49ers steamrolled the NFL with an unbelievable 13-3 season and trip to the playoffs and Super Bowl in Miami. They lost in  painful fashion to the KC Chiefs but a storied franchise was back on the radar.

Sargent's pursuit and personal goal was nearly a mission accomplished. It will be one still massively looked at and gazed upon. I'm still wondering. But I gotta give Sargent credit: man, this guy has brass you-know-what.

And then some.