Shame On Local Media (Including Joe)!
June 23rd, 2010
It’s been more than a week since Bucs general manager Mark Dominik stated he would begin fining Donald Penn if the embattled Bucs left tackle didn’t show up for mandatory minicamp because of his contract dispute.
Joe smelled something fishy immediately. Not knowing the intimate details of CBA nuances, Joe thought it was inaccurate that a team could fine a player who isn’t even under contract.
How is that possible? Joe argued with a reader in the comments section that the Bucs could lower their salary offer to Penn but couldn’t “fine” him. But when no other media outlet disputed the fine aspect of the story, Joe just shrugged his shoulders figuring he was wrong or misguided.
In fact, Joe was on to something. But Joe made the mistake of not following the scent of a story. Joe has a strong dialogue with super agent Ralph Cindrich, and Joe could have easily texted him to get the right answer.
But Joe didn’t, partly because he likely got distracted by a nasty four-letter word called “work.” Still, that is no legitimate excuse. Joe should have made time to follow up.
The rest of the local media surely had no such excuse for not following up on this story — because it is their job. This has Steve White outraged.
The former Bucs defensive lineman who writes a weekly “Bull Rush” column for Joe, sounded off about the issue on his blog. In short, White wonders why the local fourth estate: print, radio and TV, swallowed Dominik’s explanation whole without checking the ingredients first?
Well it turns out the story was bulls[p]it. Absolute unequivocal bulls[p]it. And not one member of the local media fact checked the assertion before the deadline passed. Obviously if Penn’s agent had fallen for the ploy and urged him to sign a tender based on false information it would have been on him for falling for the okie dokie. But how sickening would it have been for him personally to sign the contract because of that threat only to subsequently find out he had been played? Better yet what kind of apology would any of those members of the media been able to offer for their role in perpetrating what could have been a VERY costly lie?
Its crazy because all of a sudden today all of the same media outlets are simultaneously reporting that they “discovered” that the assertion wasn’t true. As if they all at the same time decided to do some fact checking. I will leave it up to you to decide how they all came to this revelation at once but the question remains, why in the hell didn’t they fact check it to begin with when the assertion was made and before they “reported” it?
And that in a nutshell is the problem I have with members of the media and in this case specifically the sports media when it comes to reporting on NFL players. Instead of reporting nowadays they are instead doing more repeating than anything else. Hell if I was Dominik and I knew nobody would call me out for spreading false information I might do it too. What exactly is the downside for him if the media is willing to be his happy accomplice? People this is why I keep telling you to make up your own mind about these situations. I’m not saying you should back the players on every issue, but at least be open to the fact that you may not be getting the whole or correct story.
Joe raises his hand acknowledging his sins. Just like it is refreshing to hear players speak humbly if not honestly, it would also be refreshing if the Bucs media brigade also acknowledged they were at fault.
Joe knows at least one member of the fourth estate whose ego won’t allow him to do the right thing.
June 23rd, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I hate to say it but a Media Outlet DID report that the Bucs could NOT Fine Penn for failing to participate in the Mandatory Practices. I know this Online Publication is not on your Christmas Card List but Pewter Report DID issue a Correction to their Original Report back on Thursday, June 17th. You can read the article here…
http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/7098
June 23rd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
SantannasDot:
The Tampa Tribune also reported a correction. Like Reynolds, said correction ran after the Bucs told them they got conned.
The only outlet — to Joe’s knowledge — that claimed the Bucs were wrong all along was the guy at Bucstats.com. Sure, there were a lot of skeptics, Joe included.
Joe’s just as guilty. If anything, Joe’s really pissed he didn’t call an agent or two to get clarification when Joe’s antennae were raised.
Steve White is suggesting someone should have done their homework on their own, not have to find out because someone at the Bucs called them to tell them they got scammed.
Again, Joe’s just as guilty.
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:09 pm
As strange as it may sound; does anyone even consider the fact that the Bucs may not want Penn back? Are they just killing time until they can draft a franchise LT? Obviously they will have at least a top 10 pick in next years draft so are they making plans to replace him? Here is a list I found of the top 12 left tackles in the league. Sorry I couldn’t find a complete ranking although one site ranked him 24 out of 25 starting LT’s they had listed.
Here is the top 12 from this particular source:
1. Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns
2. Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos
3. Jake Long, Miami Dolphins
4. Jared Gaither, Baltimore Ravens
5. Michael Roos, Tennessee Titans
6. D’Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets
7. Jordan Gross, Carolina Panthers
8. Matt Light, New England Patriots
9. Jammal Brown, New Orleans Saints
10. Marcus McNeil, San Diego Chargers
11. Bryant McKinnie, Minnesota Vikings
12. Jason Peters, Philadelphia Eagles
Off the top of my head I could add about another 7 or eight before I’d even consider Donald Penn. As I’ve stated before he has been an excellent pass blocking tackle, but terrible in run blocking. If the Bucs are going to be a run first team then Penn may not be the one the Bucs consider to be their frachise guy. This is all just guess work, but I think there is more to it then just the CBA and weight issues.
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:19 pm
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucs find a new LT in Free agency next season. Marcus McNeil may be available next year. The Bucs may fill some other holes with free agents to make a run next season, based on what Dominick has said, but I don’t see them signing anyone over 27 or 28 years old, IMO.
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:25 pm
The bucs will pay Penn when he has to be paid. There is no way they let Freeman and all his progress get sidetracked because he can’t stand up straight.
I hope they just save face and give him a fair contract b/f TC. If he is still holding out then, we have a major problem.
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Joe,
The travesty in all this to me isn’t about shooting the messenger (i.e. the media) but about the Bucs GM not knowing the rules. I don’t believe for a second that it was a ploy to get Penn to sign, it was just ignorance on his part. The week after, then the Bucs say he was lying? Huh? So now the Bucs want me to believe them this week that he was lying last week? Weird.
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:39 pm
Listen, you dont give a guy the high first round tender if you dont like them. Secondly other than Long, Clady, Thomas, Ferguson and maybe McNeil id take Penn over the rest. If they didnt like Penn they could have drafted a tackle this year or at least brought someone in to push him in free agency. The truth is staring you right in the face, at some point you just haveto accept that the Bucs are unwilling to spend money. Nothing else makes any rational sense.
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:49 pm
lightningbuc:
Last week Joe received a phone call from a former Bucs starter (not Steve White) who explained this very same story to Joe: that Dominik didn’t know the rules and the “lying” element was just ploy conconcted by someone.
Wasn’t it yesterday that Florio wrote the same thing?
June 23rd, 2010 at 4:32 pm
@Joe, the bottom, bottom line is “How do any of you in Media ever trust what Dominik says again”? In fact, Doesn’t Dominik think that the rest of the players are seeing how Dominik lies about/to any Player/CO/DC? Do you remember the Bullspit lie Dominik spread about Antonio Bryant last year after letting him go? The one about Bryant being disruptive and complaining in the Media. Dominik did the same thing with Jagz & Bates too. So, to be honest, how can “anyone” believe anything Dominik says?
How about the “Penn was fat rumor Dominik apologized to Penn for!