Mike was a Boston College safety drafted by the Steelers late (10th) where he didn't stick. But he then played for two seasons for the Giants in the early 80's, right after their young DC Parcells got promoted to HC with a young LB/ST position coach on staff named Belichick. He's gotten some really good interviews with Bill for NFLN. Still calls them both coach when they talk.
He actually got his broadcasting start with ESPN back in their infancy, but quickly moved on covering the CFL and then college football for ABC and some of the other networks. NFLN smartly tapped him in 2005 to be their draft/college guy. He's not just a good college talent evaluator, he gets the pro game and what the transition demands, he gets the big picture on teambuilding and team needs and divisional matchups, and he grasps the value concept as more than BPA or even best talent available. And he seems to be building some solid contacts/access, which ESPN might want to note is no longer best achieved by alternately ass kissing and kicking ass, name dropping, scoop driven, arrogant mediots who never took a snap or made a decision their career rested on at this level.
There are two ways to cultivate access - fear and humility. Around here fear doesn't fly 'cause mediot spin doesn't scare the hoodie while among the Boston/national football media humility is in short supply. If a guy is genuinely interested in learning about the game and how and why this organization does what they do, Bill can be a wealth of knowledge and information. Choose to be confrontational and ignorant or use him or any access indiscriminately for short term gain at the teams expense and he won't waste his time on you any more (see Felger, Mike). He's not looking for toadies or ass kissers either, he can take criticism when it's rational and reasonable. Holley didn't exactlyembrace him when he arrived - took his lead from his peers at the Globe. But Holley was willing to admit he was mislead, and smart/humble enough to ask for a do over. Landed him a couple of book deals and long term access based on trust and discretion in the process.
When media don't/can't get along with Bill it says a lot more about them than him.
