The reason for the Witchhunt: BB's press conference a prime example

[NEPat]

That's exactly what I'm trying to get it. Thank you for seeing my point rather than misinterpreting this as some kind of attack on Belichick.

If BB had handled this situation in a similar way to Rodney, I think a lot of people would have been appeased. Instead he came off looking even more arrogant and unrepentant. I don't think hardly anybody was convinced by the written statement, especially after the way he handled the press conference. This is an issue that I believe CAN be fixed with simple coaching from a PR professional.

Why does Kraft have to clean up BB's PR messes. I think he's going to get tired of doing it one of these days and before you know it Myra has enough ammunition where she can whisper 'don't give the extension' and it happens.

The thing is, I'm not sure if we can assume that Kraft is pissed at the way Belichick handled things. If you read Kraft's comments before the punishment was handed down, to me they sounded somewhat defiant, along the lines of "if you're on top someone is always trying to take you down." From those comments I actually thought the Pats would get out of it, and that the evidence the NFL had was bogus. Now I think that Kraft completely bought whatever Belichick was selling. Maybe he sincerely feels BB got a bum rap, I can't tell for certain. So I have a feeling that Kraft is not upset with Belichick.

Don't misunderstand. I stand by BB as the Patriots head coach. However, his weakness, public relations, has become a real detriment and embarrassment to this team. And someday it might well cost him his job.

What happens when the next scandal hits? And you know the media will be eagerly looking to spring the trap when it happens. If BB's image is not fixed by then, Kraft might be so embarassed that he has no choice but to axe BB. These are cold, hard facts from the cold, hard world where draft picks are docked and fines are levied. I don't want to see it happen, but BB has got to work on his weaknesses, before his enemies can take advantage of them.

Since winning fixes everything, as long as the Pats continue to win, Belichick will be here and in ownership's good graces. As I said, I can't even tell if Kraft is upset with Belichick, so I don't think he's going anywhere based on Kraft's embarrassment or anger.

And I agree with you, Belichick made things worse for himself with the way he's been with the media. But this is never going to change. It just never ever will and we'll just have to hope that the Pats win the Chargers game and we and the media can go back to focusing on football.

Don't misunderstand. I stand by BB as the Patriots head coach. However, his weakness, public relations, has become a real detriment and embarrassment to this team. And someday it might well cost him his job.

This is such a chaotic time, that any critical comment of Belichick is branded as crazy and disloyal. Don't pay attention to it, say want you want, your comments are thoughtful and pertinent and in no way out of line.

 

[patsgo]

Well, not a pass, but it might not have been this horribly overblown.

I think that's a perfectly reasonable point to make.

It may have been better for BB if he announced he found Jesus while speaking from his heart. Sure worked for Mike Vick. No one talks about him anymore and his was supposed to be the biggest sports scandal this year. He owes us bigtime.

alert alert, this will go away as well, finding jesus would of made him look like a fool and a liar just like it did to vick, if yoy bought that jesus stuff, than i bet you still believe in santa?

 

[Bella*chick]

alert alert, this will go away as well, finding jesus would of made him look like a fool and a liar just like it did to vick, if yoy bought that jesus stuff, than i bet you still believe in santa?

Oh, I know. I was just kidding... Look up any of my Vick posts and you'll see my sarcasm cup runneth over when it comes to him.

 

[AtivanPatsFan]

Without reading the responses and only the original post: I tend to disagree.

BB has said exactly what he needed to say, exactly what he wanted to say, and that's all there is to it. He accepted fault for his interpretation of the rule, he has accepted the penalty the commish has given the team, and is now ready to move on with the season.

This could have gone farther had Mr. Kraft not backed him up. But (in paraphrase) Kraft has said that he has confidence in BB knowing that he was only trying to do what was best for his football team.

BB has no obligation to speak to the media. They ask guided questions which can only lead to mis-interpreted quotes and that whole mess.

I believe BB did a phenomenal job in his statement, which only lasted a few minutes. About the amount of time the whole ordeal about "videotaping" should have taken.

To quote www.despair.com

"It's lonely at the top, but it's comforting to look down at everyone at the bottom"

 

[patsgo]

the day bob kraft gets rid of bb because myra told him not to give him a extention, is the turning point in this franchise, bb is the reason we are good, kraft is the best owner because he lets bb run the organization, when bb leaves we become like the rest of the league searching for the next belichick

 

[Bill's Girl]

Oh, at the VERY beginning, it was not good from a media standpoint. But BB tried to approach it in a much different way than he did in Cleveland. It wasn't until the 2003 run that I think things got truly warm and fuzzy. I seem to remember a press conference where BB was asked what his New Year's wish was and he responded "To be as helpful as I can to the media, same as every year." and it got much warm laughter, including a great column the next day which called BB "our mentor." That's what I'm thinking of, not Borg-ass or the insanity at the very beginning of his hire...

You are right, he did try to do things differently than he had in Cleveland. I remember he even did a film session with members of the media and then brought them onto the field to practice what they had learned. Those days with the Boston media are long gone. I have always seen the media as a way for the coaches and players to talk to the fans, but these media guys have made their jobs all about themselves. If the NFL didn't require it, BB wouldn't talk to the media at all. I know sometimes on the Sox broadcasts they interview the pitching coach instead of the manager after games. I wish BB could do that and just turn things over to Dante or Dean Pees...

 

[Julius]

I think Belichick has done quite well in regards to the media pressure. If I had just lost 3/4 of a million dollars I would be ready to blow up. Look at Denny Green all he did was blow one game and he came unglued. Stay strong BB...

 

[AzPatsFan]

But that's exactly the problem. I have no qualms with BB the COACH, but from a public relations standpoint he makes the team look bad. And this compounds the issue when he takes that same cold unsympathetic approach on one of the most highly publicized scandals in recent franchise history.

I think the image of the franchise is important too. That image has taken a serious hit, and BB did little to improve that situation. I'm not saying he needs to do a 180, but he needs to handle himself better in these situations.
That press conference might have made things even worse. I'm just saying I can understand why BB is only making enemies and no friends with his current approach to the media.

The Patriots CAN survive losing a 1st round pick this year, but what happens in a future scandal? The PR debacles add up, and stack up against you as time goes on. Unless BB can repair his image, his damaged reputation affects the franchise too imo. I'm not speaking againt BB, I just think he needs to shore up his weaknesses. Because they will eventually bite him in the ass, and it has already bitten the franchise in the ass with the loss of that 1st round pick.



But I think Kraft DOES care. And that makes it an issue. What happens when the time to negotiate BB's extension comes up. Will Kraft think about 'cameragate' in the back of his mind? Will he think about how BB handled the press conference after the commissioner's ruling came down? How will Myra Kraft react? These kinds of things have the potential to build up and they could affect the owner's decisionmaking down the road, especially if he values how his franchise will be PERCEIVED.

VJCP,

You criticize Belichick for his press conference approach. I don't; I look at results.

Her has coached for 7 years in Boston, the hotbed of eating coaches alive, and is held in AWE by his opponents. He has created the image of, and is regarded as, running the best team in all professional sports. How can that be bad PR? He style is no nonsense, will talk about subjects that intrigue him and treat the media whores like a matador treats the bull.

Several of the Media Bulls have eaten the sword behind the cape. wRONg Bogus comes to mind, but there are others as well.

So I think he has been very successful in his PR. His style is just not your cup of tea. But it doesn't have to be to be successful. It is super effective as he does his own version of PR.

 

[mgteich]

This is nonsense. The Boston media are meek wimps next to those in NY and Philly.

VJCP,

You criticize Belichick for his press conference approach. I don't; I look at results.

Her has coached for 7 years in Boston, the hotbed of eating coaches alive, and is held in AWE by his opponents. He has created the image of, and is regarded as, running the best team in all professional sports. How can that be bad PR? He style is no nonsense, will talk about subjects that intrigue him and treat the media whores like a matador treats the bull.

Several of the Media Bulls have eaten the sword behind the cape. wRONg Bogus comes to mind, but there are others as well.

So I think he has been very successful in his PR. His style is just not your cup of tea. But it doesn't have to be to be successful. It is super effective as he does his own version of PR.

 

[mgteich]

To me this is the best thread in a week because the various positions are well-stated. We strongly disagree among each other.

I suggest to all that we go back to some of the media coverage after the third SB. I think you will find that the patriots and Belichick were NOT hated by the national media. Kraft, Belichick, Pioli and the team were considered by all to be one of the best franchise in sports ALL-TIME, and we were well on the way to becoming America's team. We were starting to sell more team stuff than the raiders and the cowboys. We have come a long way in two and half years. And we don't have to care.

To me, football is game, but more critically it is also a business. And the business is entertainment, and there are many, many who participate and benefit. Public Relations is critical to the success of the patriots and to the NFL. There is no one who understands this more than Robert and Jonathan Kraft. They strongly support the Commissioner in trying to cleanup the sport and those within it. There is no question that this week is not a good week for the NFL. Is it really Mangini's fault and the media's?

IMHO, Belichick owes the media nothing. However, he owes Kraft everything, certainly his tens of millions of dollars. Why is so hard for Belichick to understand that the requirements of his job include public statements, supporting the NFL in every way his boss wants him to. But Bill will be Bill. And Robert Kraft will have a long talk with him. The Krafts will not put up with another incident like this one. This type of incident costs more than any SB will gain him.

My BOTTOM LINE has been stated by others. If Belichick had immediately come out with a statement apologizing for breaking the rules, and pledging to meet with the COmmissioner's office to make sure that they were on the same page to prevent future events, this whole issue would have been behind us very quickly, as Harrison's will be.

Instead the entire country sees what many here are proud of: a coach who doesn't care what the media, the country or the Commissioner thinks; a coach who refuses to do even the very minimum requested by the Commissioner in cooperating with the press and the NFL. Belichick certainly has the right to chose the path he has chosen. I am just very sorry that he has chosen to do so.

People have asked me all week why I think Belichick's behavior is such an issue now. I have a theory, totally speculative, totally unsupported. Belichick used to be much more moderate. He used to listen to others a bit more. Then his father died, his rock, his conscience, his mentor, his best friend.

No, let's go beat the super chargers and their big-mouth MVP.

 

[patsfan13]

In turn Kraft owes BB a great deal.

How much has the value of his asset (the Pats) appreciated as a result of the success BB has brought on the field?

The investment in BB has had a great ROI.

 

[DarthICE]

I know this is a long thread, and I admit I may of skipped one or two replies heh but In response to the original poster, I do tend to disagree.

BB isn't paid to be friends with the media.. He's paid to coach the New England Patriots.

I think BB also recognizes that the media will nitpick and twist anything he says in their attempt to further fuel the flames of this scandal... They obviously had absolutely no interest in asking any actual football related questions, which is after all why BB was stood there at the podium to begin with.

This isn't a new problem either... Some of the most interesting BB conferences I have seen are the ones where the reporters decided to ask intelligent and relevant questions...

These days 90% of the time the media seem more interested in playing stupid games of re-wording the same few questions a hundred times trying to get him to break...BB must have the patience of a saint, and I'm glad we don't have a coach that comes apart at the seams every time the road becomes bumpy.

BB is also setting an excellent example for every member of the patriots organization... It's obvious that even the players understand his approach, which is why we don't see the stupid comments that other teams seem to make every other week.

We're moving on!

 

[mgteich]

Indeed, which is why Kraft wants him to continue as coach.

In turn Kraft owes BB a great deal.

How much has the value of his asset (the Pats) appreciated as a result of the success BB has brought on the field?

The investment in BB has had a great ROI.

 

[AzPatsFan]

To me this is the best thread in a week because the various positions are well-stated. We strongly disagree among each other.

I suggest to all that we go back to some of the media coverage after the third SB. I think you will find that the patriots and Belichick were NOT hated by the national media. Kraft, Belichick, Pioli and the team were considered by all to be one of the best franchise in sports ALL-TIME, and we were well on the way to becoming America's team. We were starting to sell more team stuff than the raiders and the cowboys. We have come a long way in two and half years. And we don't have to care.

To me, football is game, but more critically it is also a business. And the business is entertainment, and there are many, many who participate and benefit. Public Relations is critical to the success of the patriots and to the NFL. There is no one who understands this more than Robert and Jonathan Kraft. They strongly support the Commissioner in trying to cleanup the sport and those within it. There is no question that this week is not a good week for the NFL. Is it really Mangini's fault and the media's?

IMHO, Belichick owes the media nothing. However, he owes Kraft everything, certainly his tens of millions of dollars. Why is so hard for Belichick to understand that the requirements of his job include public statements, supporting the NFL in every way his boss wants him to. But Bill will be Bill. And Robert Kraft will have a long talk with him. The Krafts will not put up with another incident like this one. This type of incident costs more than any SB will gain him.

My BOTTOM LINE has been stated by others. If Belichick had immediately come out with a statement apologizing for breaking the rules, and pledging to meet with the COmmissioner's office to make sure that they were on the same page to prevent future events, this whole issue would have been behind us very quickly, as Harrison's will be.

Instead the entire country sees what many here are proud of: a coach who doesn't care what the media, the country or the Commissioner thinks; a coach who refuses to do even the very minimum requested by the Commissioner in cooperating with the press and the NFL. Belichick certainly has the right to chose the path he has chosen. I am just very sorry that he has chosen to do so.

People have asked me all week why I think Belichick's behavior is such an issue now. I have a theory, totally speculative, totally unsupported. Belichick used to be much more moderate. He used to listen to others a bit more. Then his father died, his rock, his conscience, his mentor, his best friend.

No, let's go beat the super chargers and their big-mouth MVP.

Respectfully mgteich, Baloney!

The New York media created the feeding frenzy and were writing for their Jests fans. Don't forget the national media is also located an in New York; if this happened in Cincinnati it wouldn't have lasted a day.

BB did think of the league and so did Kraft; If either of these gentlemen were Al Davis, they would go to court, sue and WIN.

The rule is clearly confused; it seeks one thing but says something different.

The Rule isn't even in the Rule book proper, but a companion document that is concerned with sponsoring football games. Things like security, access to the playing field, identification to be worn, locations for various camera teams from different organizations, et cetera. Hardly earth shaking stuff. ( Query: Would the Pats lose another first rounder if they had one too few, or one too many special security cops?)

BB is a sage PR man in his own right. Stories and attention are fed by controversy. Explaining, apologizing yada yada, only allows a creative writer an opportunity to detect insult where none was meant; mis-understanding where there was none; controversy manufactured by stringing together mis-located ideas and quotes. The stories of the fallen idol and his hypocrisy versus feigned moral outrage, writes itself; but then you need fresh meat.

Nothing kills a Feeding Frenzy quicker than no more food; NO NEW NEWs. BB will resolutely starve them and give them none.

How else do you think the Clintons survived. Cluck, have a few unctuous statements issued by non entities, and simply wait for next week's scandal. The press pack will soon be hot on the track of next week's fresh outrage...

This manufactured thing is already dieing in a mere 5 days.

 

[PatriotsReign]

Personally, I think the media are the idiots an not BB. If you listen to the questions, it sounded as if they wanted to embaress him. He owes the media NOTHING...the media is NOT part of the sports entertainment business. But, here's the catch, the media THINKS they are part of the sports entertainment scene and they are actually celebrities and have contributed to the success of the NFL....WRONG!!!

Belichick puts everything in the past behind him. Even if all this neve happened, and they were asking question after question about the Jets game, he would have done the same thing. He would have said that's in the past and our focus is with the next game.

Make no mistake, all the genius comments regarding BB's coaching abilities are true. And the reason he is successful is because he only deal with the next task...absolute focus on the next task and nothing else.

Just because an athlete or a coach hates the media and treats them poorly, that does not give the media an excuse to write negative stories about them. As a matter of fact, that is irresponsible reporting.

BB is done with this issue period. And I think that's great because I want him to lead our team to another SB.

P.S. Jerry Callahan is a perfect example of a guy who thinks he's part of the story. He's a jerk and a weasel...unlike BB, his job doesn't allow him to be a either.

 

[PatriotsReign]

Respectfully mgteich, Baloney!

The New York media created the feeding frenzy and were writing for their Jests fans. Don't forget the national media is also located an in New York; if this happened in Cincinnati it wouldn't have lasted a day.

BB did think of the league and so did Kraft; If either of these gentlemen were Al Davis, they would go to court, sue and WIN.

The rule is clearly confused; it seeks one thing but says something different.

The Rule isn't even in the Rule book proper, but a companion document that is concerned with sponsoring football games. Things like security, access to the playing field, identification to be worn, locations for various camera teams from different organizations, et cetera. Hardly earth shaking stuff. ( Query: Would the Pats lose another first rounder if they had one too few, or one too many special security cops?)

BB is a sage PR man in his own right. Stories and attention are fed by controversy. Explaining, apologizing yada yada, only allows a creative writer an opportunity to detect insult where none was meant; mis-understanding where there was none; controversy manufactured by stringing together mis-located ideas and quotes. The stories of the fallen idol and his hypocrisy versus feigned moral outrage, writes itself; but then you need fresh meat.

Nothing kills a Feeding Frenzy quicker than no more food; NO NEW NEWs. BB will resolutely starve them and give them none.

How else do you think the Clintons survived. Cluck, have a few unctuous statements issued by non entities, and simply wait for next week's scandal. The press pack will soon be hot on the track of next week's fresh outrage...

This manufactured thing is already dieing in a mere 5 days.

You slammed the nail right on the head here! I absolutely LOVE the way BB pisses off the media. Why do we even call these people media when they act more like paparazzi...and lets not forget what they did to princess Dianna!

 

[since67]

My take is that BB is very direct and to the point, and the media (as usual) wants every issue to be complicated and full of nasty sub-plots, etc.

BB said he wasn't talking any more about it...it had already happened, etc...and that's that...this type of direct focus is misinterpreted as stubbornness by those who want to see more in something than is there. What's sadly amazing is that it never ends...the media in all types of situations does it - sports, news, even the weather (how about the idiots who tell you to get the heck away from a hurricane while they just have to stand in the middle of the thing...thinking it's really great sensational broadcasting).

Like the Energizer Bunny, the media keeps going and going...trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. But, after all, they have to sell copy...who cares about truth...let's ask the same question in every conceivable way as an interrogator would and try to get the guy to crack...if that doesn't work...well let's just embellish...

 

[DarrylS]

BB intends not to be friendly with the press, and his intent is to protect his team.. they know it.. he has never thrown any of his players or opposing players under the bus so to speak.

The Media has been relentless this week, the Boston press who know him and his tendencies have bought into the hysteria and have all turned against him. What do they want him to say, he has accepted responsibility and it is time to move on.

I think Kraft appreciates it, as do the players.. the other coaches in the league who have complicity appreciate that he has not blown the whistle on them. Explayers and the national media have all piled on, he has accepted it all on his shoulders. He wants to move on to San Diego, the media does not.

I am not sure of what he should say at this point, ask him a question about San Diego or a pertinent football question that is what he does best.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

How will Myra Kraft react? These kinds of things have the potential to build up and they could affect the owner's decisionmaking down the road, especially if he values how his franchise will be PERCEIVED.

I know how this franchise was perceived before BB worked his magic and IIRC the "Patsies" was not an endearing term that we constantly heard.....
BB has been Nixonian in his approach to the media,essentially accepting the fact that they don't like him or fawn over him like some other coaches, so he will do it his way regardless. The only problem with that approach is that if this is a misstep, even one that others do as well, the press jumps on it.
In that vein, if Marilyn Monroe was sneaking into Nixon's White House as opposed to another president's. do you think the press would have ignored it? Of course not, they like some people and it colors their reporting and they dislike others. BB has no use for the media and they reciprocate. He views his job as to win games for the NEP and only speaks at press conferences because it is a necessary evil required by the NFL....