Opinion: Obsession over media coverage
Now that the world is based on a 24/7 news source that will update you at every second, every tidbit of news on twitter or any blog for that matter is taken as fact until otherwise proven wrong or just keeps living on as a false story.
Now I’m not calling into question blogs such as Buss Bissinger (although he has become nice with Big Daddy Balls or as some people know him Drew Magary (Big Daddy Drew)), I’m calling into questions peoples ability to figure out what news matter, what doesn’t and what is right and what is wrong.
Now obviously not everybody is perfect and can’t figure out whats right or wrong or whether it matters or not, but for most news you should have a general grasp of the context of the story. To input the Dolphins or football in this, I take this quote from rotoworld about Vontae Davis.
Dolphins first-round pick Vontae Davis was arrested in Champaign (IL) on June 9 for “unnecessary vehicular noise” and driving without a valid license, according to The Daily Illini.
The Daily Illini is the school paper at Illinois, where Davis played college ball. A police spokeswoman says the arrest happened during a routine traffic stop. Vernon’s little brother, Davis was red flagged by some teams entering the draft for behavior issues and two benchings by U of I coach Ron Zook. He’s been outplayed by second-round cornerback Sean Smith at offseason OTAs.
Now this is before it came out that this was a case of assumed identity. And hell even I believed he was arrested before the reports came out but thats besides the point…
The problem I have is the last sentence, saying he has been outplayed by Sean Smith OTA’s. While that might be true, it is out of context. Basically minicamps and OTA’s are glorified workouts and getting to know the playbooks, so how can anybody show their worth in that type of enviroment.
And thats the problem I have OTA’s are only available to the media on selected dates and the basis of this information was on one of the last dates of OTA’s Sean Smith was starting across from Will Allen one day. There was no explanation he just was, nobody knows if Vontae had started the day before in the non media open OTA, some media members just went with that Sean Smith had been playing better.
Now I assume things every now and then but I don’t believe I would ever assume things on OTA’s. Maybe speed off the line or other facets that include athletic attributes, not how they play but that would be it. But to assume a player is doing well because hes starting at OTA is ignorant.
Real football play doesn’t start till training camp when the pads are finally on and players are trying to earn a roster spot. In OTA’s players are getting the hang of the team and most of the rookies are yet to be signed so this is just a learning experience. So why judge a learning experience.
It just goes to show the media that is up to the minute, up to the second, up to the millisecond, might be a little bit too much information for us. Now fans and posters on message boards are going and assuming things because the media man is saying Sean Smith is starting. And well thats not true, people need to get smarter about football and what an OTA is.
I wish everybody would learn more about the intricate facets of the NFL offseason, but not everybody has the time. So there are going to be people who don’t know the facts, but please before making an opinion please get educated (edumacated /redneck)on the facts before even posting or writing. Talking about is another thing, I’ve heard so many people bullshit about things they have no clue about that I can’t count it.
So if you like to follow the news as it comes by the minute please learn about the whole process before making any type of opinion on it. What is interpreted by the reader is not always right.
Opinion: Violence and Football
Its the off offseason for the Dolphins, and I like to write somewhat intuitive pieces and not just breakdown breaking Dolphins news or post practice reports because people can just go to other blogs for that. So I’m going to start doing some opinion pieces on football. Not really Dolphins news per se but its something thats not dick jokes or news about Davonne Bess’ fake twitter account…
I was looking to buy a book today and well I’ve read most of the ones I saw there, Blindside, The Draft and some other there but it was between A Few Seconds of Panic, GM, and War Without Death. I’m more into the NFL as a whole in one working continuum so I went with War Without Death. I’ve only read pretty much the Prologue in this book but one thing that stuck out to me was about violence and football, Mark Maske wrote this in his book.
…But to ignore the attractiveness of the violence is to be in denial. Violence sells.
Now it maybe a small quote in the context I’m putting it but I can’t pull a full page from a book and say hey you know what I’m talking about, eh? Well in context Maske is saying that violence is the reason for the NFL’s popularity and that the facets that an NFL game is like a war that draws millions of viewers. Now Maske isn’t saying thats the only thing that draws people to the NFL, but he says its a part of the formula.
Well I’m going to have to disagree with that statement, violence has never been a reason I have turned into the NFL. I’m not sure if that is just me but its never happened.
The prime reason I tune into football is for the strategy. Basically say “Hey how the hell is Chad Pennington going to get a 1st down on 3rd and 20? A reverse maybe?”. I don’t think hey look at Joey Porter and he when he makes a tackle, I don’t say “YEAH THAT BITCH GOT HIT”. No I think of it as a game, as in “Good, He didn’t get the first down thank god they have to punt now.”.
Now I don’t about most of you but the only time I think about violence is when a really bad hit occurs and a player is hurt or something in those circumstances. And I think “Holy crap, that was bad. I hope hes ok”. I’m not saying “OH YEAH THAT MOTHERFUCKERS DOWN!”.
I think the whole violence aspect is portraying us as non-evolved fellows (while we still are a little bit), that still like the thrill of the hunt and love killing things. Now that may be true for some, but not my self. As said before I’m more into the strategy, now for people who like UFC and Boxing it may be the same although alot of violence is involved.
Again maybe I’m weird but I like the strategy of Boxing and trying to open up an opponent.
Now I don’t know if anyone agrees on the aspect of violence in football but I’d love a response on this and get other peoples opinion, because there may be some people who love the tackles and the big hits. And while I do occasionally like big hits, I don’t think its really apart of the reason I watch. I think its just apart of it that comes with the rest of the package.
The main draw of football in my opinion is the strategy of passing and running and seeing how the defense will stop it and vice versa… Now that may not be right to others, but thats what I feel is the draw.
Rex Ryan are you sure you are 46 years old?
Most Dolphins fans have heard of this dispute that errupted through quotes that started with saying the AFC East goes through New England, and Joey Porter responded with saying it should go through Miami implying that the Dolphins were AFC East champions so the battle for the AFC East should have to go through Miami if they want to be AFC East champs. And Crowder stated after Porter said that how hes overly confident and its only OTA’s.
Now comes where Ryan sounds like hes a testosterone stricken teenager.
“I don’t know this Channing Crowder, but all I know is that he’s all tatted up so I guess I need to be nervous about him,” Ryan said. “He’s right about one thing. I am a first-time head coach, but I’ve been around the game all my life. I’m no different now than I’ve ever been. It’s just that more people are listening. The other thing is, I think he’s wrong.
“I think you do win in June. You win with your preparation and all that kind of stuff. If I was younger, I would handle him myself (laughing). He’s a good player. It is fun to ruffle some feathers. I have no problem doing that. Again, I’m confident in my football team. I’m confident in myself. I’m confident in our players, coaches and this entire organization. That’s why I say the things that I say.”
So you want to fight a player because he is stating the obvious and saying you are the Super Bowl Champion of OTA’s. Very mature Mr. Ryan, I don’t know any coach that would have stooped to this level and seem not professional at all. I realize it was made jokingly but this is not something you joke about through quotes. Coaches should not be saying they could beat up a player even if it is jokingly.
Maybe this is a thing Tannebaum and Woody don’t care about but with a coach whos going to be exposed to the media alot and New York media at that. Thats going to give opposing teams alot of bulletin board material, from a coach nonetheless. Players are different animal, there are 53 of them and theres always going to be one that sounds off, the Dolphins have Porter, who is not always good and some Dolphins fans don’t like that, but its the nature of the beast and hes a vocal leadder. But coaches, there is one head coach, and how many coaches do you know that seemingly hate other players because they sounded off, as well say they have no idea who they are which is why I’m glad Crowder brought up this quote.
“Oh, Lord have mercy,” Crowder told the paper. “What’s wrong with him? Now he’s talking about preparation? We play them twice this year. If he wants to be prepared, shouldn’t he know the starting middle linebackers of his division rival?
“He says he’d take care of me if he was younger?” Crowder said. “I’d have beat the hell out of that big old joker. Or if he really wants to get retro, my daddy or my uncle could have handled him. Don’t get big. Win with preparation? Start watching some tape and learn who your rival is. Come on now.”
Which is great quote, he wants to be a great coach and he doesn’t even know who the starting MLB and the second leading tackler on the Dolphins is, preparation for your opponents starts in February and you should have watched some game film. The fighting comment was a little out of hand but hes the one who started it like the head coach he is. But again like the mature coach Ryan is he offers up this antidote to a great quote from who jets fans think is a retard.
“First off, Channing Crowder had a rebuttal (laughter),” Ryan said. “I love it. The only thing I can say is, let’s see if he can top this one: I’ve walked over tougher guys going to a fight than Channing Crowder. (laughter)
“What’s funny is, the dude’s gonna kill me. We’ll make that trade. Throw us both out, we’ll make the trade.
“I don’t think it would hurt that much anyway. … You can’t hit what you can’t see. I tell you that. But, it is fun, though.”
Ryan did caution against it becoming a distraction.
“I don’t want to take away from out players … because obviously they’re the guys we oughta be focused on,” Ryan said. “With that said, it is fun to get with it and spar with somebody else.”
So Mr. Ryan gives another oh you want to fight comment? Says nothing about preparation except oh we have to get ready so we can kick their asses.
So as a note to Mr. Ryan:
You are a 46 year old coach who is now currently on the center stage of the NFL being the coach of the Jets and being in the AFC East. Coaches are supposed to be professional not being sarcastic and saying you could beat up a player you supposedly have no clue who he is. Your job is to talk about opponents as you see them, if you don’t know a guy how do you know he is easy to beat up. And at that you play this team 3 times next year shouldn’t you know this question?
Now I realize that you are probably trying to get Jets fan riled up because you are the best coach ever and he called out a Dolphins player. Now I don’t know how you will be as a head coach, but the way you act is not how coaches act. Coaches are usually respectable, which you now have none of from me for this little incident.
As well you quote saying “they pull a knife, we’ll pull a gun”, well I’m pretty sure thats saying we’ll punch you harder if we punch you. Now I’m sure you’ll be happy having half your team suspended for that philosophy.
Thanks,
The Phins Report.
All quotes taken from the NYPost
Opinion: Football media and Opinions
I have a few writers which I don’t like but reddily get news from a daily basis, two of them are Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk and Armando Salugero of the Miami Herald. Now there is no doubt that Florio gets alot of news and most of the time its right but its the times where he interjects opinions into his pieces that gets me angry.
I have my opinions but I eventually let them go when I realize I have no clue what the hell I am talking about. Florio does not have that attitude, he’ll carry on through out the thick and thin. One includes his opinions on Bill Parcells.
In his stories Florio emphasizes that Parcells is a man who will turn his back on anybody and if somebody does any thing wrong to him he’ll turn around and forget them. There were events in the past where this happened such as when he called Terrell Owens “the player” but other than that, not many things he have done (crucify me if I missed any).
Florio tends to portray him as a character of sorts in his imagination of some type of novel, a stubborn man who thirsts for the blood of his enemies.
As well with his obsession with “King Carl” (Carl Peterson formerly of the Chiefs) and the Dolphins, he was at a Dolphins game once. And apparently to Florio that meant all the world and that he was going to take over the Dolphins and Parcells was out because Ross is a dictator. Even Peterson denied that he would do anything but that sentiment went all the way to when the Dolphins finally hired Michael Dee as CEO. He finally said that Carl Peterson will have no spot with the Dolphins
While this can be entertaining in sorts it gets tiring to fans who want news that is non opinionated. He does not take things and face value and reports on them he overly speculates on things and it gets tiring to people. Yes some people cannot be trusted with their quotes but for the most part people are truthful, so take things at face value if you are supposedly a football breaking news source.
That leads me to Armando Salugero who has somewhat of the same problem, at Phin Phanatic Brian Miller wrote an article on Salugero and the media which perfectly projects the point.
Salugero generally does not respect bloggers or any types because or opinions are basically a piece of crap and Brian wrote a perfect point on this
See what I find funny is this. The blogosphere does not have the access that guys like this do. We are not invited to weekly press conferences. We don’t get decent seats for training camp with access to the players. No, we actually have to research information, make phone calls, send out Emails, and in order to maintain even a modest following…take accountability for our actions and our opinions. Not to mention that what we post as being a fact. Sorry but “real journalism” doesn’t start with walking into a training center and sticking a recorder in some dudes face.
If you want more about his tendencies you can go ahead and read the article it is a good one.
But my point on Salugero is that he tends to keep the same opinion and think that nobody changes. Salugero has never trusted Bill Parcells and you can tell by most of his articles. He believes Parcells is pretty much a money grubbing person who just wants to retire, and go somewhere else. He has pretty much the same sentiments as Florio in that Parcells wants the enemies blood wheter that be the Dolphins or another team.
Opinions should be allowed in football media, I mean the only way I can survive on this blog is by opinion. But when sports writers that are so called journalists carry on an opinion no matter what even it has been denied whole heartedly or has no chances of coming true, let it go.
At some point writers need to make it clear that they were wrong. Hell I know I was wrong when I said I think the Dolphins value Darius Butler over Vontae Davis, I stated in my Draft grading piece that I was wrong. Hell even this tory isn’t that well written, its kind of just a rant piece that I got fired up over seeing a random blurb on Armando Salugero’s blog. So I know the rule of accountability and its what makes or break me, and I think some “journalists” need to learn this. I know some such journalists such as Omar Kelly and Edgar Thompson know about this.
Rookie Minicamp Day 1 Reports
We did this last year with minicamps so we’re doing it again. We’ll post videos and news stories about the Dolphins mini camp. The stories and videos come from the Palm Beach Post, Miami Herald and the Sun-Sentinel, We take no rights to these videos and stories.
Sun-Sentinel Mini Camp Report
Dolphins waive QB John Beck
Cam Cameron’s QB of the future has just been released after the Dolphins picked Pat White and brought in Nate Longshore for a tryout. Beck never got a fare shot at the starting QB job and was put into the starting job to save Cam Camerons job. But his time has come to an end.
Beck started only 4 games in his career and had 559 yards and a 62.0 passing rating. After Cam Cameron was out and a new regime came in it was no longer Becks time. The Dolphins drafted Chad Henne, signed Josh McCown and Chad Pennington so it was evident that Beck was not wanted here by Ireland and Parcells.
With Beck being 28 in August there was no way the Dolphins were going to trade him so the only way was to waive him. Beck has about 4 years to make a career and maybe he will do it, but more than likely he will be nothing more than a career backup.
My grades on the 2009 Dolphins Draft
You can say that the Dolphins draft was fairly interesting this year and was not as predictable as last year. Most fans came into this draft with the Parcells mentallity that a big OLB would be selected to replace Joey Porter, but the Dolphins are run by Jeff Ireland now and it won’t be the same. Last years draft was very predictable because of the glaring needs the Dolphins had, but people knew the secondary had to be addressed, and thats what happened this year.
Most Dolphins fan wanted a CB with the first pick and thats what they got in Vontae Davis
Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois
Grade: A
I for one had a hunch that the Dolphins liked Darius Butler over Vontae Davis mostly because of the work ethic. But logic defied me and Vontae Davis won out.
I still like the pick though… Vontae is a physical corner who can tackle, a very Parcells type player. Butler was less physical and thats probably why he was chosen, also Vontae maybe one of the best pure corners in this draft. I don’t think the problem with his work ethic will come to fruition because Sparano is just like Parcells and won’t take any crap from him or like on Illinois he will get benched and released if its goes overboard.
Pat White, QB, West Virginia
Grade: B+
At first for this pick, I said “Wow, We drafted for the wildcat…”. But after I got to thinking about the pick, I started to like it. Pat White brings alot of versatility to the Dolpins, who knows how many positions he could play and hell he actually may be a really good QB. We drafted him this early because the Cowboys were going to pick him with their 2nd rounder if we did not pick them.
White could bring some other unpredictable things in our offense that I will reference in a later post and could take the starting QB job from Henne if he performs well enough.
Sean Smith, CB, Utah
Grade: A
I didn’t expect the Dolphins to go with secondary that earlier, maybe Coye Francies in the 3rd or 4th. But Sean Smith is a great pick for the Dolphins, and is a big athlete in the Parcells prototype. Smith is a former WR turned CB, who is fast and big kind of like a Patriot WR.
I believe since one of his negatives is that hes overly cocky is that he was brought into compete with Vontae Davis, they are both cocky athletes so the competition will only help them, because every starting spot is open at the beginning of the season. Smith should want to compete and it’ll make him an even better CB.
Patrick Turner, WR, USC
Grade: C
The 3rd round saw a streak of WR selections and before the Dolphins could pick the other big name big WR Ramses Barden was selected by the Giants. So the Dolphins had to go with the other huge receiver in Patrick Turner. I feel it was a major reach, he is slower than most WRs and won’t get that much seperation and who knows if hes better than Brandon London.
Dolphins Undrafted Free Agent signings
I’ll keep an updated list here from other sites…
Jared Bronson, TE, Central Washington University
Mark Lewis, OG, Oregon
Update 10:23 PM
Ryan Baker, DE, Purdue
Update 11:05 PM
Orion Martin, LB, Virginia Tech
Update 9:39 AM
Chris Williams, WR, New Mexico State
Update 5:15 PM
Alex Derenthal, C, Temple
Update 5:57 PM
California QB Nate Longshore will tryout with the Dolphins despite reports he would try out with the Bengals
Update 11:09 PM
There might be one more signing since the supposed limit was 8 players, No info on the 8th player…
Update 11:32
SirVincent Rogers, OT, Houston
Seems to be the last signing, and what a great last signing the name SirVincent is awesome.
Dolphins Draft Day 1 Recap
To say the Dolphins draft today was interesting is an understatement. The draft fell exactly the way the Dolphins wanted it to be, with all the CB’s they expected to be there were there as well as the OLB’s. The only problem was that there were 7 WR’s taken in the first round and the 2 possible WR’s the Dolphins could take in the second were taken before the Dolphins could pick them. So after day 1 WR and OLB continues to be a need and the need for secondary doesn’t seem to be a need after selecting Sean Smith and Vontae Davis.
Vontae Davis can be considered to be a steal at his position currently, in some early mock drafts he was projected to go to the Saints at pick 14, But he lasted all the way to 25. This brings up the question of whether his brother Vernon Davis will be apart of the Dolphins anytime soon as they’ve said they want to play together. I doubt a trade will go down but something may happen soon.
At 25 Darius Butler also could of been taken but he was taken by the Patriots in the 2nd round. I had the hunch that the Dolphins like Butler over Davis, but I guess not.
The 1st 2nd round pick was a surprise to may Dolphins fans in Pat White, the combination QB/WR. I believe he was more than likely taking so early because the Cowboys would take him if avaiable. I honestly have been opposed to the idea of drafting for the wildcat but its something I have to live with apparently. It will be interesting to see what White will do in his odd Brad Smith type contraption in our offense.
The last pick many fans thought would be an OLB since it had been neglected to be addressed with the first 2nd round pick but the trifecta surprised us by trading the pick to the Colts for their 2nd and a 5th. A very good trade for a very good drafting team.
And with the colts pick the Dolphins selected CB/S Sean Smith from Utah. I had been very high on him since I saw his height and speed, Its a very deadly combination. He’ll be a very useful defensive back in the system, and I don’t know if it means Will Allen will be out after next season when his contract is up but it certainly looks like it.
Overall the Dolphins draft today was very interesting, and as for a grade I would give it a B-. The Dolphins solidified their secondary with the picking of Sean Smith and Vontae Davis. And they made the offense alot more interesting with the picking of Pat White. A Full recap will come on Monday of the whole draft.
The Phins Report Final Mock Draft
1.) Detroit Lions: Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia
Not much has changed since the first mock draft and the pick will still be Matt Stafford, I mean even a guy the Lions are negotiating with (Aaron Curry) feels they’re going to get picked. Although I still do not agree with the pick in that OT would be a much better pick, it brings a star player to hopefully a rejuvenated team.
2.) St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
Also the same pick as last time, Smith has the most potential of all the OT’s and can be the best of the class. The Rams will not be selecting a QB, as they have committed to Marc Bulger and I really couldn’t see them going with Curry at this point.
3.) Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest
I’m also going to keep this pick the same, someone today on Outside the Line had the Chiefs choosing an OT but I don’t think thats the right path with Albert starting at LT. Going defense is the best path for them and Curry is the best choice.
4.) Seattle Seahawks: Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
I wavered between Eugene Monroe, Mark Sanchez and Crabtree, and Crabtree is probably the best pick for them at this point. They won’t take a QB but will tempt teams into a trade by saying they will take a QB and I don’t think they’ll take an OT although Walter Jones is declining.
5.) Cleveland Browns: Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas
I’ll stick with my last pick, I think hes the perfect fit for their 3-4 scheme and I think its too high to take B.J. Raji at this point.
6.) Cincinnati Bengals: Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia
The Bengals are definitely going OT here with the loss of Stacey Andrews and they’ll go with the better OT in Eugene Monroe over my last pick for them Andre Smith. Its a good slip to them
7.) Oakland Raiders: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryalnd
I had them taking Crabtree but he went higher in this mock draft so they’ll go with the player they’ve been linked to today and that is Heyward-Bey. This is very risky pick but also the Raiders have been linked to a trade so maybe expect a trade here.
8.) Jacksonville Jaguars: Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri
I’m going to keep the same pick since the Jaguars need a WR really bad and their man just so happened to fall to them again after having 2 WR’s selected over him.
9.) Green Bay Packers: B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
The Packers will stay the same and its a great drop for them, he’ll be the center point of their 3-4 defense.
10.) San Francisco 49ers: Aaron Maybin, DE/OLB, Penn State
I’m changing this pick from Everette Brown to Aaron Maybin, I feel that Maybin fits the 49ers defense better than Brown so they go Maybin over Brown.
11.) Buffalo Bills: Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
Since my last mock draft the Bills traded away Jason Peters and with Andre Smith dangling in front of them, they will take him.
12.) Denver Broncos: Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
I had a hard time changin this pick, I had to convince my self into thinking the Broncos will not draft a QB and will be happy with Simms and Orton, which I kind of laughed at. But Tyson is a great DE in the 3-4 and will bring instant success
