A 98.5 fan favorite already saying he’s absolutely not interested in the “Toucher and Rich” opening has surprised morning host Fred Toucher, who “never thought someone would take their name out of the running” this early.

It has only been one week since Toucher announced that Rich Shertenlieb was leaving the top sports morning show in the region.

Jim Murray, the third chair on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Felger and Mazz,” was quickly floated as a possible replacement for Shertenlieb — but “Big Jim” Murray has shot down any chance of moving from afternoons to mornings.

Toucher on Friday morning reacted to Murray saying he’s “100% not interested” in the morning show job opening.

“So this was in the Boston Herald, because I get Google Alerts which are firing in because we’re big shot, big time right now,” Toucher said. “And Jim Murray has stated for the record, while asked during the ‘Felger and Mazz’ after show, if he was interested in taking the Rich chair, and he said no.”

“Interesting,” said 98.5’s Jon Wallach. “I thought he would be interested.”

“He doesn’t want to get up in the morning?” asked Sports Illustrated MMQB’s Albert Breer, who makes regular appearances on 98.5. MMQB stands for Monday Morning Quarterback.

Murray has worked on morning shows in the past, and said he’d be “miserable” going back to those wicked early hours.

“He’s done mornings before, and you would assume the opportunity would be so much for him that the last thing you’d want to do is take your name out of the running,” Toucher said. “I hope it wasn’t a matter of pride. I hope he doesn’t think that he had no chance of getting it, and that’s why he said it.”

Murray should have used this opportunity to at least try to get a raise, Breer said.

“It would be like, ‘I don’t really want this, but I’m going to string them along for a little bit and see what more I can get,’ ” Breer said. “Maybe to negotiate something new.”

Even if Beasley Media Group offered Murray double the money for him to fill the Shertenlieb role in the mornings, Big Jim on Wednesday said he would pass.

“It was quite rude. He didn’t even reach out to me first. I’m kidding. I don’t care,” Toucher said. “But if you’re playing at home, Jim Murray — off (the list). He does not want the Rich chair. I never thought someone would take their name out of the running… who would have thought this early in the game, one week.”

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Meanwhile, Beasley Media Group has posted the morning show job opening on its website.

“Beasley Media Group, LLC has a rare Full-Time On-Air opportunity to work at 98.5 The Sports Hub, one of the premier sports radio stations in the country and 4-time winner of the Marconi Award for Best Sports Station,” the job posting reads. “We are looking for an experienced personality to join our team to co-host a daily talk show.”

The host will report directly to 98.5’s program director, Rick Radzik.

Those vying for the role must have a minimum of five years of on-air experience. Audio editing and audio production experience is “highly preferred.”