ESPN has destroyed Mike Reiss' Patriots blog

[dburgwin]

Have you seen it lately, all Insider and ESPN radio posts. Reads like the rest of the ESPN site now. What a waste.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Have you seen it lately, all Insider and ESPN radio posts. Reads like the rest of the ESPN site now. What a waste.

Ummm.... no.

Of the 10 posts on the front page of the Patriots blog:

* 1 is an Insider post on a backup QB *cough cough*.
* 2 are ESPN radio posts that at least have some Patriots-related content (Schefter on GRONK, Brian Dawkins talking a backup QB)
* 7 are by Mike Rodak, Field Yates, or Mike Reiss

 

[mgteich]

No one is forcing you to read the blog. I suspect that most of us read it every day.

Have you seen it lately, all Insider and ESPN radio posts. Reads like the rest of the ESPN site now. What a waste.

 

[dales804]

I like the way it was before. All Patriots content front and center with links to other posts that include Patriots thoughts. Just more stuff to weed through to get information, though I get the majority of my Pats news right here on this forum.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I like the way it was before. All Patriots content front and center with links to other posts that include Patriots thoughts. Just more stuff to weed through to get information, though I get the majority of my Pats news right here on this forum.

About the only thing that's changed, as far as I can see, is that instead of having a Reiss/Yates/Rodak post linking to the content, the content itself is loaded directly onto the page.

 

[Uncle Rico]

About the only thing that's changed, as far as I can see, is that instead of having a Reiss/Yates/Rodak post linking to the content, the content itself is loaded directly onto the page.

Pretty much how I see it. Used to be that the local guys would write about an Insider item then link to it. Now it comes in much more heavily branded. They also got fancier with their labeling of things like live chats (like the one that starts with Reiss at 1).

Bit jarring at first sight, but the good stuff is still all there.

 

[dales804]

About the only thing that's changed, as far as I can see, is that instead of having a Reiss/Yates/Rodak post linking to the content, the content itself is loaded directly onto the page.

Correct. More branding for ESPN to market their "NFL Nation." Just annoying when you see things like a prediction on the Colts' record this year in the Patriots blog, though the post has since been taken down.

 

[Deus Irae]

https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/372765032578179072

 

[Ian]

https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/372765032578179072

Speaking of messes, Twitter is virtually unreadable right now until they fix the mess created by the hackers that hit both their site and the New York Times. Another recent development that's causing havoc considering it's shut down their external feeds as well...what a complete disaster

 

[Deus Irae]

Speaking of messes, Twitter is virtually unreadable right now until they fix the mess created by the hackers that hit both their site and the New York Times. Another recent development that's causing havoc considering it's shut down their external feeds as well...what a complete disaster

Hmmmm..... when I click the link, it works, but feel free to delete my post if you've got a concern. I don't want any blowback to affect your site.

 

[dales804]

https://twitter.com/MikeReiss/status/372765032578179072

That's an interesting tweet. Seems Mike's response does not address the question. What resolution would Reiss be looking for?

EDIT: I say the above because Reiss addressed the changes at the start of his chat today. Looking now, that tweet came out about 10 a.m. this morning, three hours before his chat. Putting two and two together it seems ESPN dumped this on the bloggers without letting them know ahead of time.

 

[borg]

Have you seen it lately, all Insider and ESPN radio posts. Reads like the rest of the ESPN site now. What a waste.

Just one big ESPN promo

 

[Ian]

Hmmmm..... when I click the link, it works, but feel free to delete my post if you've got a concern. I don't want any blowback to affect your site.

No worries, it's nothing like that - it's just not resolving on a lot of providers right now due to the recent attack they experienced, so many of you probably noticed that the feeds aren't loading here either. :ugh:

 

[Uncle Rico]

That's an interesting tweet. Seems Mike's response does not address the question. What resolution would Reiss be looking for?

EDIT: I say the above because Reiss addressed the changes at the start of his chat today. Looking now, that tweet came out about 10 a.m. this morning, three hours before his chat. Putting two and two together it seems ESPN dumped this on the bloggers without letting them know ahead of time.

What Reiss wrote:

Mike Reiss
For some of the longtime readers of my Patriots work on ESPNBoston.com, you might have noticed some changes over the last few days. This is part of the transition to ESPN's NFL Nation project. I am still covering the Patriots for ESPN, but there are going to be some differences from what you've noticed in the past. My personal goal is to keep the foundation of reporting the same.

My guess is Reiss is probably not too thrilled about these changes. And, just double checking — wow, interesting exchange on the chat just now:

George C.
Mike, it seems like you've lost control over the blog, is this permanent? It seems to go against your way of working, going back to Reiss's Pieces.

Mike Reiss
George, I will be honest with readers, as you know from reading over the years. Yes, I have lost control of the blog. I don't know if it's permanent. Lot of things fluid now.

 

[borg]

Reiss just posted this in his chat:

"George, I will be honest with readers, as you know from reading over the years. Yes, I have lost control of the blog. I don't know if it's permanent. Lot of things fluid now."

 

[Buchanty]

Seems that Mike Reiss is not comfortable with the changes either: He just posted this on his Live Chat in response to a question

Mike Reiss

George, I will be honest with readers, as you know from reading over the years. Yes, I have lost control of the blog. I don't know if it's permanent. Lot of things fluid now.


I am hoping this does not signify a parting of the ways

 

[Uncle Rico]

...
I am hoping this does not signify a parting of the ways

I wouldn't mind if he went somewhere else -- I always feel a little dirty visiting anything related to that network. I'll read Reiss wherever he goes. I just hope he doesn't get in hot water for being, you know, honest.

 

[dales804]

I wouldn't mind if he went somewhere else -- I always feel a little dirty visiting anything related to that network. I'll read Reiss wherever he goes. I just hope he doesn't get in hot water for being, you know, honest.

I will read him, too. So Rodak's move was to help ESPN get coverage of all 32 NFL teams. We'll see how long Reiss stays with ESPN.

 

[Deus Irae]

Seems that Mike Reiss is not comfortable with the changes either: He just posted this on his Live Chat in response to a question

Mike Reiss

George, I will be honest with readers, as you know from reading over the years. Yes, I have lost control of the blog. I don't know if it's permanent. Lot of things fluid now.


I am hoping this does not signify a parting of the ways

It sounds like Mike didn't read the contract well enough.

 

[Buchanty]

I just hope he doesn't get in hot water for being, you know, honest.

Me too - he always shoots straight and that is why, like you, I will follow him to whatever gig he gets. However he might not be able to get as much air time and access depending on where he lands. As much as I dislike ESPN I would prefer he stays and they allow him a bit more control (2 wishes that are bundled as one).