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WEEI fires Kevin Winter from morning show

Kevin Winter was told that the chemistry between him and hosts John Dennis (left) and Gerry Callahan wasn’t working.Frank O’Brien/Globe Staff/File

Kevin Winter was fired as the sports update anchor on WEEI’s “Dennis and Callahan” morning show Monday, just six weeks after replacing Jon Meterparel.

According to industry sources, Winter was called into program director Jason Wolfe’s office following Monday’s program and told that the chemistry between him and hosts John Dennis and Gerry Callahan wasn’t working.

Winter’s energetic style seemed an odd fit with the more cynical Dennis and Callahan from the beginning. But he was hired after a prolonged search to replace Meterparel, who held the job for more than a decade before leaving in mid-October when his contract expired to pursue a career in play-by-play. There is no indication that a return by Meterparel is a possibility.

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Here is what Wolfe said upon Winter’s hiring:

“I’m thrilled to be adding Kevin’s outstanding talent to WEEI. He’s got tremendous passion, energy and wit, and will provide the perfect blend of personality and knowledge that will add a ton to D&C’s show.”

Winter, a Norfolk native, also has worked at ESPN Radio since 2004, including “Mike and Mike in the Morning.” He also has been the pregame and postgame host for ESPN’s coverage of college football and basketball.

In a press release Monday afternoon, a WEEI spokesman said Winter had “stepped down” from his position, quoting him as saying his “time commitments at ESPN Radio were just too consuming for me to continue in both roles.’’

Winter’s ESPN Radio position is not a full-time job.


Chad Finn can be reached at finn@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeChadFinn.