After buying out the contract of longtime midday host Neil Rogers last week, WQAM-560 is targeting Sid Rosenberg to replace him. And the interest is mutual.

Rosenberg cannot work locally until early September, because of a non-compete clause in his contract with his previous employer, 790 The Ticket.

Rosenberg and The Ticket parted ways March 13, because of what Rosenberg's agent, Mark Lepselter, called ''professional disagreements'' about his morning show. Industry sources have said it was 790's decision, but nobody has ever confirmed that on the record. The Ticket did say that he did not have a relapse of past issues with substance abuse or compulsive gambling.

WQAM isn't concerned about his disagreements with 790 and believes hiring him is worth the risk. Rosenberg, who still lives in South Florida, would host from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., likely beginning Sept. 7. For the next two months, Panthers television announcer Steve Goldstein will host WQAM's midday show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lepselter declined to address WQAM specifically but said this week, ``Sid is committed to the South Florida market, and we are very optimistic that sometime in the near future we will get something done.''

Rogers initiated buyout talks with WQAM last month, and the station was receptive, largely because his ratings dropped dramatically after Arbitron changed the technology used to gauge radio audiences, switching from diaries to more reliable ``portable people meters.''

As part of the buyout that included a confidentiality clause, Rogers and WQAM agreed not to disparage each other publicly.

Rogers, 66, does not plan to return to the air, attorney Norman Kent said.

WQAM general manager Joe Bell declined to discuss Rosenberg, but said he believes switching to an all-sports format makes sense.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

• NBC 6 has put its popular Sunday night sports show on indefinite hiatus because of staffing issues resulting from this week's layoffs of executive sports producer Jeff Tavss and part-time No. 3 sportscaster Andrea Brody. Ardyth Diercks, NBC 6's general manager, said it's too soon to know when or if the program will return.

NBC 6 will keep two on-air sportscasters: Joe Rose and Adam Kuperstein.

With Channel 10 dropping its Sunday night program earlier this year, that leaves only Channel 7 (11 p.m.) and Channel 4 (11:35 p.m.) with 30-minute Sunday night shows.

• FSN is canceling Best Damn Sports Show Period late this month but will keep airing Top 50 versions of the show, featuring memorable sports clips.

• TNT lead NASCAR announcer Bill Weber, who was suspended for last Sunday's race, will not be used on the network's final two races, including Saturday's Coke Zero 400.

TNT isn't saying what Weber did wrong, but the Charlotte Observer said he ''got into a loud, public confrontation'' last week at his hotel.

• Paul Maguire -- ESPN's original lead analyst on college football before becoming an NFL announcer on NBC and ESPN -- was removed from ABC's primary Saturday afternoon college football announcing team (with Brad Nessler and Bob Griese) and given a reduced role. Maguire's new assignments will include some studio work, a few games and radio assignments. ABC is shuffling some announcing teams after hiring Matt Millen.

• With Mark Jackson reportedly a candidate for the Minnesota Timberwolves coaching job, ESPN erred last week by having Jackson assess the team's draft (he praised it) and their future. Asked by Stuart Scott whether the Wolves can be a .500 team next season (which seems unlikely in a stacked Western Conference), Jackson offered this cop-out answer: ''Anything can happen if you're competing on a nightly basis.'' The question should have been directed to Jeff Van Gundy.

• For those who complained about the Tampa Bay announcers calling five of the six Marlins-Rays games, keep this in mind: Doing that allowed 155 Marlins games to be televised this year, instead of 150 otherwise.

• More interactive TV on the way: Beginning Monday, ESPN2 will air SportsNation at 4 p.m. weekdays, in which fans choose the topics and provide commentary through e-mails, text messages, Twitter and phone calls. ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle host.

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