Sad thing is BB liked him just fine up 'til maybe 2003 when he had morphed into this loudmouthed radio guest on WEEI looking to attract attention to himself as some sort of sports shock jock in waiting. He probably had the best access to the team in the early stages of the dynasty because he wasn't part of the old Boston guard.
I remember him when he was merely the occasional football guest on WEEI and he was always the voice of reason Pat's fans looked forward to. Used to defend Bill's choice to protect his players and his information against all the whining baseball scribes who wanted him to grovel for them like the Yawkey Way minions did. Used to tell them it's not his job to make our jobs easier, it's his job to win football games...Heck, he used to drive Tom places on occasion and see guys socially and get exclusive insight, until he started slipping on air and mentioning things he was told off the record to prove to the Tony Mazz's and the like that he knew things. Then his access started to dry up.
That remains his downfall, and why these players can't stand him personally. They know he is looking to ferret out something that if attributed to them will get them in trouble, and he thinks it's fine to single out their teamates for uninformed evisceration and then act like it's no big deal. He's building his media career at their expense.
BB is a pretty good judge of character. I guess that is why Holley got the nod when he wanted to do Patriots Reign. While he had been critical of BB's choice early on, listening to his cohorts at the Globe, he projected as someone with journalistic integrity and enough self confidence to be trustworthy. Felger didn't. That is why Holley now gets all the book deals while Felger lamely tries to make the case that if they like you you're a rump swab and if they dislike you it's proof you're objective...
When he had our former punter on as his first regular guest on WEEI, he got him in hot water too. One day he arranged for him to bring in the entire kicking team, and he was touting it on air. That day at lunch BB walked by their table and said you're not going anywhere this afternoon... That's why even though the Kraft's felt they had to play ball with the new ESPN Radio outlet in Boston, as they are with his latest gig on Comcast, they are selective about who he gets access to. Only guys like Vrabel or Light who can either be trusted not to succomb to his leading style of in your face questioning or who are savvy enough to spar with him mano a mano on air short of punching him in the face.
This team, due to their accomplishments and the national appeal of football, has elevated the profile of every writer and talking head in the Boston sports market. For that they should at least be treated with respect...you would think.
