Great non-biased Pats reporting and otherwise

[spacecrime]

Hernandez disputes Globe report

Curran gives the facts as he knows them, and questions the assertations of both sides, including the Pats:

Could be that Hernandez and the Patriots are playing semantics and there really is/was an issue with marijuana that went past the one failed test.

But all is done in a JOURALISTIC way, with an eye to sorting out what is what. Questioning the Pats/Hernandez statement AND the reported abuses in an unbaised way.

Super job, Mr. Tom E.

His other article on Comcast SportsNet | CSNNE.com had a media-centric statement that was interesting (the tendency of the media to decide why the Pats (or any sports team) does something and then judge whether those reasons made sense or not.

in:

Patriots already looking to the 2011 draft

Curran says:

It could also make the masterstroke of setting themselves up with the Raiders' 2011 pick – one they thought would be post-wage scale – a miscalculation that costs them in the end.

Whoa, hold on, Tom. Is this what the Patriots thought? Or is this what the media and fans decided was what they thought? Along with everyone else, I agreed that if there were a rookie wage scale, this would be a tremendous coup, that does not mean it was the Patriots reason for doing it.

Also, (Truth in Posting Alert - I go into HOMER mode here), even if that WAS the Pats hope, why is it a mistake to trade the 2010 second for a 2011 first?

Ty Warren, Jerod Mayo, and Vince Wilfork came from going for next year's #1 rather than this year's #2.

The two main complaints I hear about the Pats in fandom and in the media are that:

1. The Pats trade down to amass more picks rather than trading up for an impact player, and

2. They keep trading third round picks for second round picks, and second round picks for first rounders.

It doesn't take too long to see that these two statements are mutally contradictory.

All this said, of all the writers covering the Pats, I like Curran and Reiss the best. Reiss has been often criticized as a house man whenever he writes something favorable, but he also hammers them when he sees it (he is still harping on the handing of Asante Samuel). Both lean more toward facts and substance than flash, sizzle and controversy.

Both can praise without fawning, and criticize without going on a witch hunt.

I liked Curran at ProJo and Reiss at MetroWest, I liked them at NBCsports and the Globe, and I like them at CSNNE.com and ESPNBoston.com

I don't like all their stuff, but I don't like anyone's everything (even my own), but I do think they are the best sports writers around.

 

[JSn]

Have to agree. Reiss' presence at the Globe seemed to set a benchmark for guys like Gasper. Now that he's gone, I can't read the guy.

I follow Reiss, Curran and Chris Price for enjoyable and generally factual/insightful Pats reporting.

I always thought SMY was solid, occasionally scooping the bigs, but some of the stuff lately has me not trying hard to read her work.

 

[BelichickFan]

Curran really lost it on the 2011 pick. Referring to the massive cost of two #1 picks is silly as our own #1 will very likely be in the 20s and those just don't cost that much. Then he's making the double argument that 1) the Raider pick may be lower than expected give the draft and Campbell and 2) it will cost a ton of money. But both can't happen, if it costs a ton then we're getting a great pick; if the Raiders improve and the pick is dissapointing then it doesn't cost that much.

Here's Clay Mathews' contract :

"7/29/2009: Signed a five-year, $9.925 million contract. The deal contains $7.105 million guaranteed, including an $800,000 signing bonus. Another $3.35 million is available through incentives. 2009: $310,000 (+ $750,000 reporting bonus), 2010: $395,000 (+ $3.72 million option bonus + $1.525 million roster bonus), 2011: $660,000, 2012: $800,000, 2013: $805,000, 2014: Free Agent. Cap charge: $1.22 million (2009)."

 

[MetalBleachers]

The whole drug test thing was obviously a conspiracy by Belichick: make sure Hernandez failed multiple tests, then don't tell anyone, only to have it uncovered by other NFL teams right before the draft - who will then relay it to the media after the draft.

See? Simple.

Look, if what's posted in the Gainesville Sun is true (Hernandez refutes Boston Globe story | Gatorsports.com), Hernandez got suspended once. That happens in Florida after the second positive test, unless Urban Meyer took it upon himself to suspend him after the first positive.

So, at most, two suspensions. If this wasn't a big deal before, I don't see how it's a bigger deal now after the draft.

 

[everlong]

The funny thing about the media and fans complaining about the Patriots trading down is that some of their bigger disappointments have been when they stood firm or traded up. Maroney, Watson and Wheatley were all picks where they stood firm and everybody would consider them at least disappointing. Graham, Chad Jackson and Bethal Johnson were all trade-ups and you have an undisputed bust, a guy who gave you a few years of great kick off returns and two key catches (Seattle and Tenn in the playoffs) and a solid starter. However even with Graham if you knew what you were getting and he was coming out in this last draft would you give up a first and third in a trade-up to get him? No.

In the end it wasn't trading up or down it was incorrectly evaluating the talent and\or desire to win and learn.

 

[DarrylS]

Really like Curran when he was the Pro Jo.. been lukewarm ever since, in his quest to be "edgy" he has lost a lot of my respect....

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Hernandez disputes Globe report

Curran gives the facts as he knows them, and questions the assertations of both sides, including the Pats:



But all is done in a JOURALISTIC way, with an eye to sorting out what is what. Questioning the Pats/Hernandez statement AND the reported abuses in an unbaised way.

Super job, Mr. Tom E.

His other article on Comcast SportsNet | CSNNE.com had a media-centric statement that was interesting (the tendency of the media to decide why the Pats (or any sports team) does something and then judge whether those reasons made sense or not.

in:

Patriots already looking to the 2011 draft

Curran says:



Whoa, hold on, Tom. Is this what the Patriots thought? Or is this what the media and fans decided was what they thought? Along with everyone else, I agreed that if there were a rookie wage scale, this would be a tremendous coup, that does not mean it was the Patriots reason for doing it.

Also, (Truth in Posting Alert - I go into HOMER mode here), even if that WAS the Pats hope, why is it a mistake to trade the 2010 second for a 2011 first?

Ty Warren, Jerod Mayo, and Vince Wilfork came from going for next year's #1 rather than this year's #2.

The two main complaints I hear about the Pats in fandom and in the media are that:

1. The Pats trade down to amass more picks rather than trading up for an impact player, and

2. They keep trading third round picks for second round picks, and second round picks for first rounders.

It doesn't take too long to see that these two statements are mutally contradictory.

All this said, of all the writers covering the Pats, I like Curran and Reiss the best. Reiss has been often criticized as a house man whenever he writes something favorable, but he also hammers them when he sees it (he is still harping on the handing of Asante Samuel). Both lean more toward facts and substance than flash, sizzle and controversy.

Both can praise without fawning, and criticize without going on a witch hunt.

I liked Curran at ProJo and Reiss at MetroWest, I liked them at NBCsports and the Globe, and I like them at CSNNE.com and ESPNBoston.com

I don't like all their stuff, but I don't like anyone's everything (even my own), but I do think they are the best sports writers around.

Curran is a lazy hack (that started back at the pro jo when he was being spoon fed and still coulnd't keep up with the young bloggers) with an ego. He now pens his tomes to enlighten his inferior peers and the fan base. He didn't even get a seat at the WEEI pre show table...that went to Price.

If he dug a little deeper he would realize that the CBA expires immediately after the draft and in it's absence the rules are whatever the owners dictate pending a new CBA which they will not agree to absent the rookie contract cap. Even if the Union opts to decertify because they cannot tolerate the best offer on the table but they don't want a lockout or strike, the rules become the last best offer on the table pending years of pitched battles in courts. Owners might prefer a lockout because they abhor the concept of courts setting terms, but if they don't the alternative isn't too shabby since it takes years for these things to get settled through appeals and in the interim the league would be run on their terms.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Really like Curran when he was the Pro Jo.. been lukewarm ever since, in his quest to be "edgy" he has lost a lot of my respect....

I think he may have gone out of his way originally to show he wasnt a patriot Homer or biased in any way towards them, to me it looks like he went a little overboard trying to accomplish that. Hopefully he settles in and just gets down to his good normal reporing and writing.

 

[Joker]

Tom Curran?...do you people mean that whackjob that wants people to refer to him as "the Dragon!"??? ...the "jurniliss" who wrote that Brady's knee was near amputation? the guy who's main "unnamed" source is Joey the Gimp, a dishwasher at Murphy's Deli on Union St. in Providence?

Curran's problem is he has Deus disease...he thinks he's never wrong.

 

[TruthSeeker]

The funny thing about the media and fans complaining about the Patriots trading down is that some of their bigger disappointments have been when they stood firm or traded up. Maroney, Watson and Wheatley were all picks where they stood firm and everybody would consider them at least disappointing. Graham, Chad Jackson and Bethal Johnson were all trade-ups and you have an undisputed bust, a guy who gave you a few years of great kick off returns and two key catches (Seattle and Tenn in the playoffs) and a solid starter. However even with Graham if you knew what you were getting and he was coming out in this last draft would you give up a first and third in a trade-up to get him? No.

In the end it wasn't trading up or down it was incorrectly evaluating the talent and\or desire to win and learn.

Wow, we traded UP to get Bethel "f*cking" Johnson, when we could have had Anquan Boldin, could be BB's worst pick ever. Yes, maybe we have different results if BFJ doesn't return kickoffs and catch two td passes, but then again, maybe Boldin scores a boatload of TD's for us. Still a terrible pick. Still bitter and angry about that one, lol

 

[Fencer]

Curran is a total hack when he dabbles in basketball. This makes me less inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt about football than I was.

The days when he was the only one asking BB smart football questions and hence was doing the best writing seem a long time ago ...

 

[Amnorix]

The funny thing about the media and fans complaining about the Patriots trading down is that some of their bigger disappointments have been when they stood firm or traded up. Maroney, Watson and Wheatley were all picks where they stood firm and everybody would consider them at least disappointing. Graham, Chad Jackson and Bethal Johnson were all trade-ups and you have an undisputed bust, a guy who gave you a few years of great kick off returns and two key catches (Seattle and Tenn in the playoffs) and a solid starter. However even with Graham if you knew what you were getting and he was coming out in this last draft would you give up a first and third in a trade-up to get him? No.

In the end it wasn't trading up or down it was incorrectly evaluating the talent and\or desire to win and learn.

VERY well stated.

 

[spacecrime]

For the record, I emailed Curran this morning and he replied almost immdediately. He said the cost to the Pats would be in money spent for the pick, which would be a better pick.

I misread his article. It could be that I am a hyper-sensitive homer looking everywhere for signs of disrespect.........Nah, but kudos to him for replying to a fan, and so promptly. Neither Felger nor Borges ever responded to questions about what they meant in an article.

 

[Ian]

For the record, I emailed Curran this morning and he replied almost immdediately. He said the cost to the Pats would be in money spent for the pick, which would be a better pick.

I misread his article. It could be that I am a hyper-sensitive homer looking everywhere for signs of disrespect.........Nah, but kudos to him for replying to a fan, and so promptly. Neither Felger nor Borges ever responded to questions about what they meant in an article.

If you e-mail him or talk to him on Twitter he's pretty good like that. Having met him and talked to him over the years he's pretty down to earth and a good guy. So while it's easy to sit here and rip him, it's probably better for some of you to voice your concerns directly in a more polite manner. Same thing with SMY & Gasper. E-mail them or throw out a comment toward them on Twitter and they'll answer. They both respect what the fans are interested and what they think, so don't be afraid to reach out and let them know.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I know many here still hate the Herald,but Rappaport is a pretty good columnist

 

[shmessy]

I know many here still hate the Herald,but Rappaport is a pretty good columnist

OT, It's fun to count how many times he refers to himself in every piece he writes. Rappaport must travel with five mirrors!

 

[MoLewisrocks]

For the record, I emailed Curran this morning and he replied almost immdediately. He said the cost to the Pats would be in money spent for the pick, which would be a better pick.

I misread his article. It could be that I am a hyper-sensitive homer looking everywhere for signs of disrespect.........Nah, but kudos to him for replying to a fan, and so promptly. Neither Felger nor Borges ever responded to questions about what they meant in an article.

Why would there be a cost for the pick that would be a better pick...if the contracts are capped?? His contention that there would have to be some sort of grandfathering in of a new CBA or we may have miscalculated is what is totally off the mark. The old CBA expires after the draft. Period. Any contracts signed thereafter will be subject to any new deal...or subject to no deal beyond the owners preferences in it's absence... No grandfathering required. Now if there were an extension to the present CBA to buy time, as was rumored just prior to the start of 2010 but it never transpired because owners didn't want one, then we might have miscalculated - but only as to the cost of a top 10 pick. Which of course we could then always trade out of...

But this idea that we may have miscalculated because a rookie cap may not come until 2012 after a new CBA is already enacted is wishful thinking from those hoping Bill has miscalculated. If you paid attention to the Commissioner last week, capping rookie contracts is job one and even the union realizes that because their rank and file support it. And absent a new CBA the players will be locked out so there will be no rush to get rookies signed and teams can just squat on their rights...until everyone decides to play football again on terms the owners are amenable to. So the overwhelming odds are there will be one.

This reminds me of Felger's recent repetitive contention that the Jerry Jones' of the league will never sign off on a new cap if it hurts them. (Ergo we should all spent wildly, no excuses about ****amamie CBA concerns...). That would explain why Jerry constructed his payroll as he did this year, to be flexible in a capped or uncapped season...what was he thinking... Felger doesn't want to grasp the fact that in a capped league franchise values are greater because of the certainty it provides where labor costs are concerned. Franchise values are what owners care most and are therefore most united about. And I'm sure it's only been explained to him 176 times in the last couple of years, mostly by Jonathan when he wasn't talking over him in an attempt to mute the lesson because it doesn't jive with his agenda.

Honestly, I listen to all these guys and marvel at how someone whose job is to cover one sport can't remotely learn basically everything there is to know about how it fundamentally operates or at least acknowledge they haven't bothered to. Instead they routinely misrepresent opinion as fact or ramble nonsensically and start throwing around hypotheticals instead of just saying I don't know...but I'll find out. To his credit that is something Reiss remains willing to do.