NFL or the media surrounding it: which is worse

[BeeR]

Are you freaking kidding me

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81bb...le=HP_headlines

 

#### you, media. As if they haven't done enough damage to the game w/their hype and goofball circus antics and general idiocy. I'm hardly a Moss fan, but this is one of the if not the most asinine fines I've ever heard of given to a player. Maybe he should moon them for real this time.

[rai]

gotta love Randy

 

Straight Cash Homey

 

Here's how the exchange went:

 

Thiede: "Write the check yet, Randy?"

 

Moss: "When you're rich, you don't write checks."

 

Thiede: "If you don't write checks, how do you pay these guys?"

 

Moss: "Straight cash, homey."

 

Thiede: "Randy, are you upset about the fine?"

 

Moss: "No, cause it ain't s---. Ain't nothing but 10 grand. What's 10 grand to me? Next time I might shake my ----."

[BeeR]

I realize idiots like this can afford to use $20 bills as toilet paper etc. It's not so much that he does or doesn't feel the pinch; it's just a completely asinine rule.

[historymike]

I realize idiots like this can afford to use $20 bills as toilet paper etc. It's not so much that he does or doesn't feel the pinch; it's just a completely asinine rule.

BeeR:

 

So are you saying that a guy who will make a $6.4 million base salary for 2010 should not have to honor the terms of his contract that specify he must be available to the media for a few minutes per week? His contract does not say he has to be nice to the media, or that he has to say anything of substance, just that he shows up and allows a few microphones to get stuck in his face. He could probably sit there and stare with a glum look on his face if he didn't want to talk, or even read names out of a phone book if he didn't like the questions. To my mind, requiring a couple minutes of media time is hardly a burden on a guy making that kind of dough.

 

Now, if you would like to argue that the fine of $25K is too high, especially in comparison with lesser fines for violent on-field behavior that could potentially injure/paralyze/kill a fellow player, I am all ears. However, Moss has been repeatedly warned of his contractual media obligations, and he knew full well the outcomes if he continued to skip media sessions.

[BeeR]

BeeR:

 

So are you saying that a guy who will make a $6.4 million base salary for 2010 should not have to honor the terms of his contract

No, I'm saying it's a completely asinine rule. Or clause or whatever. You also seem to think this is something unique to his contact; it isn't.

[satelliteoflovegm]

It's a fan and viewer driven league. "We" "NEED" access to the stars.

[historymike]

No, I'm saying it's a completely asinine rule. Or clause or whatever. You also seem to think this is something unique to his contact; it isn't.

At no point did I claim this to be unique to Moss: it is in every contract. So by this reasoning, BeeR, am I correct to assume that you believe the players should owe nothing to their fans, employers, and media beyond their on-field performance? Just work out, study the playbook, practice, play the game, and go home?

[Chief Dick]

At no point did I claim this to be unique to Moss: it is in every contract. So by this reasoning, BeeR, am I correct to assume that you believe the players should owe nothing to their fans, employers, and media beyond their on-field performance? Just work out, study the playbook, practice, play the game, and go home?

 

Just to help you out, since you are new and all, BeeR thinks puppies, winning lottery numbers, and a good piece of apple pie are offensive.

Edited October 31, 2010 by Chief Dick

[WaterMan]

You can't buy back time. That's a good $25k used by Moss. The media was just going to try and fish up some anger between him and the Patriots.

[BeeR]

At no point did I claim this to be unique to Moss:

You gave that impression by going on about Moss and his millions....

 

So by this reasoning, BeeR, am I correct to assume that you believe the players should owe nothing to their fans, employers, and media beyond their on-field performance? Just work out, study the playbook, practice, play the game, and go home?

Pretty much. Well that and keep their nose clean. I believe the players should not "owe" it to the media to be made available for pre/post-game chatter. Same for the coaches, for that matter.

[slambo]

am I correct to assume that you believe the players should owe nothing to their fans, employers, and media beyond their on-field performance? Just work out, study the playbook, practice, play the game, and go home?

 

I don't know about beer, but thats all I care about from the players. I especially despise those gametime reporters, usually female, that ask the stupidest questions that even a moron already knows the answer to. shuddup and let them play

[slambo]

Pretty much. Well that and keep their nose clean. I believe the players should not "owe" it to the media to be made available for pre/post-game chatter. Same for the coaches, for that matter.

 

+1

[WaterMan]

I don't know about beer, but thats all I care about from the players. I especially despise those gametime reporters, usually female, that ask the stupidest questions that even a moron already knows the answer to. shuddup and let them play

 

Especially halftime questions to a coach who is losing.

[historymike]

OK, just to play devil's advocate and side with the media here (full disclosure: I have worked in journalism as a freelance reporter for most of this decade, so I admittedly have something of a bias): would all of you anti-media folks then be perfectly happy not getting any information about the teams and players each week, since players (and by extension, other team employees) would not have to talk to the media? Upon what information would you then base your Sunday morning FF lineups, Pick 'Em winners, and football pool bets? No media access, less information to do your prognosticating. Would you also argue that NFL teams should not have to report injuries, depth charts, or rosters, since the media is (as BeeR put it) little more than "hype and goofball circus antics and general idiocy"?

 

Again, I think $25K is an excessive fine for simply skipping required media events (especially in comparison to lesser fines levied on violent cheap shots) but I do not think it is unreasonable for NFL players to be required to show up for media briefings. I think fans shelling out over $200 a game on average in the bigger markets certainly deserve some consideration in the form of a few minutes of time by the players they financially support, and every schmuck who buys a licensed NFL product also indirectly pays the way for these grown men to get paid millions of dollars to play football.

 

Personally, while there are indeed occasional media idiots who ask stupid questions, I would not want to engage in any form of sports betting without as much transparency as I can get, and while the media may be annoying, you rely on them every day in your FF and other sports interests. Heck, the original basis for this very thread would not be possible without some media hack posting the copy so BeeR could link to it.

[BeeR]

I don't know about beer, but thats all I care about from the players. I especially despise those gametime reporters, usually female, that ask the stupidest questions that even a moron already knows the answer to. shuddup and let them play

Exactly, thx. If I want to see mindless hotties I'll watch porn. Either dress scantily and grab a pom-pom or get off the field

[Chavez]

I don't know about beer, but thats all I care about from the players. I especially despise those gametime reporters, usually female, that ask the stupidest questions that even a moron already knows the answer to. shuddup and let them play

The gametime reporters are just doing what they're told.

 

I don't know ANYONE who feels they're essential. It's such a junk position.

[montster]

I believe the players should not "owe" it to the media to be made available for pre/post-game chatter. Same for the coaches, for that matter.

 

Click on the link that says "News" under The Huddle logo. Where do you think that comes from?

[BeeR]

OK, just to play devil's advocate and side with the media here (full disclosure: I have worked in journalism as a freelance reporter for most of this decade, so I admittedly have something of a bias):

You clearly have a severe bias, but understanably so, and appreciate your honesty.

 

would all of you anti-media folks then be perfectly happy not getting any information about the teams and players each week, since players (and by extension, other team employees) would not have to talk to the media?

I would be perfectly happy not getting all that pre-game/post-game/sideline chatter to say the least, yes. I don't see how you think that means "any information about the teams and players" though.

 

Upon what information would you then base your Sunday morning FF lineups, Pick 'Em winners, and football pool bets?

?? Stuff like the games I watched, stats from others, injury reports, etc. That "media availability" BS where players and coaches are forced to chatter w/the media morons and talk a lot and say precious little has nothing to do with any of that. It's stupid IMO and I never listen to it anyway.

 

Would you also argue that NFL teams should not have to report injuries, depth charts, or rosters, since the media is (as BeeR put it) little more than "hype and goofball circus antics and general idiocy"? I do not think it is unreasonable for NFL players to be required to show up for media briefings.

I think it's pretty obvious that that's a weak analogy/extrapolation; in fact I'm sure you realize that if you can maintain at least a modest amount of objectivity. Anyway, re. the last part, agree to disagree. No big.

 

I think fans shelling out over $200 a game on average in the bigger markets certainly deserve some consideration in the form of a few minutes of time by the players they financially support,

? They aren't being interviewed by fans so no idea why you assume they want/care about that. I'm thinking most pay those absurd prices to go watch the game and could give a flip about the interview BS.

 

Personally, while there are indeed occasional media idiots who ask stupid questions, I would not want to engage in any form of sports betting without as much transparency as I can get, and while the media may be annoying, you rely on them every day in your FF and other sports interests. Heck, the original basis for this very thread would not be possible without some media hack posting the copy so BeeR could link to it.

And again, you a're taking a generalization and trying to imply it as an absolute, which I was not. ALL media isn't ALWAYS stupid, etc etc. Obviously. But most of what I see NFL-wise is IMO mostly lame as hell, eg the token sideline reporter wench, the network pre/post game clowns, etc.

Edited October 31, 2010 by BeeR