You are setting up a false dichotomy. It isn't like only choices are "total homer!" and "spout out a bunch of negative ******** to rile people up because you either can't or don't want to engage in reasonable discourse." There is more than enough room in the middle to set up camp if you are so inclined.
Felger's act works because pissing in people's faces will always get a reaction, but it is lazy and embarrassing.
I agree that there is a middle ground. I guess where we differ is that I don't see Felger as being so far out of the middle when it comes to analysis of the Pats. I don't think he is such an extreme. He usually brings data to an argument and he is open to discussion or analysis that proves him wrong. "In Bill we trust" is not analysis. Tom is the 'GOAT' is not analysis. He certainly brings skewed conspiracy theories to some of it and that shtick gets tired, but I will take it over the incessant injokes and blowhards of the old Big Show.
Middle of the road and "everything is awesome" doesn't get people listen, it does not get people to talk. Sports fandom is about passion. Sports radio is about making money off of that fandom. If you don't bring out that passion, there's no money to be made. So we can talk about whether they should run more, or if Gray should be active, or if Chandler Jones is getting enough pressure, or act like we have a clue as to what Xs and Os would have won the game last week, but it won't fill an entire week of radio, (especially with every other show that day talking about the same stuff) and it won't get anyone to listen in a bye week. None of us are Mel Kiper so what good does it do to talk about 40 times and hand size on the radio leading up to a draft filled with players that 80% of the fans haven't watched play consistently or likely haven't even heard of. But talk about legacies and ranks and whether or not the Pats will trade up and wonder if they can actually draft a good WR for a change, then people will tune in with an opinion. That other stuff is great for the ESPN In articles, podcasts, draft specials and fan forums, but it doesn't make good radio.
I think Felger has two major beefs.
1 -Their spending and his belief that the Kraft's are in it to win enough, not win it all. I completely disagree with him, but I understand where he comes up with this stance. What do we care if they save money? Well, we care if it means they can sign more quality players. Ok, fine, but do they? If they have say $8million in space at the end of the year, so what? So they get some credit on next year's cap, so they can save money again? Next year is important, but how about worrying more about THIS year? That's how I interpret his stance. Again, I don't see it the same way, but it's not like his arguments completely lack merit.
2- Blind homerism - A large group of us Pats fans have a hard time when anyone criticizes our team to even the smallest degree. We're a prideful and overly-sensitive group. I am sure this is common with most pro-sports teams. Felger tweaks this group, it brings in ratings.
Aside from that I honestly don't think he's that extreme. I just think people get pissed enough over #2 that they don't see clearly through their rage.