Shaun King Blasts Media For McKenzie Hype
August 16th, 2011
Eager to weigh in on Tyrone McKenzie telling The Tampa Tribune that he’s not been competing for the starting middle linebacker job since very early in training camp — and Raheem Morris saying the opposite — former Bucs quarterback Shaun King pointed a finger of blame at the media today.
Speaking on The King David Show on WQYK-AM 1010, King blasted PewterReport.com chief Scott Reynolds for hyping McKenzie needlessly for a long time and mainstream media outlets for raising McKenzie’s profile simply because he helped Josh Freeman coordinate offseason practices.
King said the current Bucs regime always hype a young player they like and McKenzie has never drawn that kind of praise from Raheem or Mark Dominik.
“Name one thing McKenzie has done at linebacker,” King said. “If he’s good enough, it’ll show up on tape. … The media can’t write you into a starting job.”
King also wagged a finger of suspicion at McKenzie saying he asked to leave the Patriots and now he’s speaking publicly about not getting an honest shot in Tampa.
Joe really couldn’t care too much about all this, but it’s turning into a fun sideshow as Joe prepares for a heavenly day of NFL Radio on location at Bucs camp.
August 16th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
All I can say is this. McKenzie is a talented young man. While it could be true he never was a part of fair competition, McKenzie must just realize his place and where he came from (Practice squad of Pats). He must consider himself lucky to be the backup MLB in our defense and show his frustration through HIS PLAY. Not with his mouth.
With those kind of comments with the media, he might be helping himself get demoted to practice squad again and all that hard work he has done since he has been with the Bucs goes down the drain.
August 16th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
What is wrong with (correctly) pointing out when a young player takes a leadership role? Furthermore, early in camp, McKenzie looked very solid (and was getting more reps than Foster). I will go listen to the recording form the show but the ole “What’s on the back of his football card?” argument, while funny, is not a silver bullet. Especially when neither have a back of the card filled in.
McKenzie’s comments to the Tribune were foolish regardless of whether or not they were true. If you recall, the first day in camp he was with the 1’s, performed well and then the spots inverted. Many of us thought they were just trying to get a look at each running with the ones. At the end of the day, either you trust the club or you don’t. If you believe the best guy plays, go be the best guy. If not, ride out. Either way, shut up about it. It sucks because we always want to see behind the veil and yet when we do, we get fired up about it.
August 16th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Every position should be a battle.. Enuff said!
August 16th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
TMac: please don’t turn into another Sabby by complaining you didn’t get a “fair” shot when in fact it’s just that you got outplayed. Be a man and work as hard as you can to unseat Foster. The best player always wins in the end. You’re not endearing yourself to coaches, players or fans by complaining.
Raheem is interested in winning and he’s going to put the best players out there, even if it means creating schemes that gets his best guys on the field. He’s said it more times than I can count and he’s always kept his word.
If you were the best MLB in camp you’d be the starter. Simple as that.
August 16th, 2011 at 2:37 pm
“King also wagged a finger of suspicion at McKenzie saying he asked to leave the Patriots and now he’s speaking publicly about not getting an honest shot in Tampa.”
That is the part that raises a flag for me.
Basically, shut up and play the best you can in every game, meaningless or not and some coach will see it on tape, good or bad.
August 16th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
@Derek
There is nothing wrong with it, but it is in fact why Mckenzie has been so hyped. I think Mckenzie is talented (or he would not be on this team), but I wouldn’t want anyone winning a position by default and we all know competition is great for the team. Foster is proving to be the superior talent though.
I think King is right on point with his assessment. Not just from Mckenzie’s contributions to the workouts in Bradenton, but as well, his rendezvous with Ruud at a hotel lobby in Nebraska. But what really has Mckenzie done to date that proves his worth more than Fosters’? He supposedly asked for his release from a championship caliber team. He was injured for a whole year and now these recent charades. His only experience on the field at the pro level over Foster, is a couple of games last year. mostly on special teams, and 3 career tackles. Foster was drafted in the same round as Mckenzie, albeit a much deeper draft class. Now we all know success in college doesn’t always translate over to the pro level, but the guy was 2nd in the nation in tackles at “U-Dub”. And clearly in the Chiefs games, he looked faster, more explosive and just as physical as his counterpart. I think Mckenzie should be thankful the coaches gave him the opportunity to run with the 1’s for the first practices of training camp. That showed him they were appreciative of the work he did in the off-season. They gave him a chance, but now Foster’s talent, potential and raw ability are separating the two, not a sham. If Mckenzie doesn’t get his head right, and quick, he better watch out for D. Smith, who has gotten lots of praise from his head coach.
August 16th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
“King also wagged a finger of suspicion at McKenzie saying he asked to leave the Patriots and now he’s speaking publicly about not getting an honest shot in Tampa.”
This concerns me as well, running to the media about not getting a fair shot is basically throwing your head coach and GM under the bus and in retrospect maybe now we are seeing why the Patriots were so willing to release their 3rd Rd pick.
Bottom line you shut up and and when your number is called you give 100%. This is the NFL, you never know when you will become a starter
August 16th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Come to think of it, wasn’t King the person who predicted the Bucs success last year with actual insight as to why? The guy is willing to put his face in the fan and not be afraid to be wrong, I’m starting to enjoy listening to what King has to say, whether it’s right or wrong.
August 16th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
Shaun King has been pretty spot on with the majority of his football takes
I typically enjoy his commentary as well
August 16th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
I read Peter Report too … They didnt really hype him. But some of the players compared his attitude to Hardy Nickerson or Derrick Brooks.. PR just played off of what the players gave him in quotes.
This is blown out of proportion. The guy is frustrated and wants to be on the field.
But this team has put players on the field due to draft status ..
Example: Sabby the Goat, Kyle Moore last season over any other DE,
Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown seemed set from the brginning.
But Mason Foster seems decent and understand an even comp going to the 3rd round pick
August 16th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Oh crap .. Pewter Report .. Peter Report just doesnt sound right lol
August 16th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Hey Ian! How do you like my name?
August 16th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
I’m sure 2.2 reads the Peter Report. Especially the 2.2 inches edition.
August 16th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
Well Mckenzie is right in that the competition was over early in camp. Being a guy claimed of a practice squad vs. a current 3rd round pick of the team meant he had to blow coaches away from the moment camp started to fend off Foster. I have no doubt that when he failed to immediately look significantly better than Foster, that the competition was quickly over in the coaches minds. So Mckenzie is right in one sense. But he should have known better than to open his mouth about it publicly.
August 16th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
Yeah, McKenzie can quiet down and let the play on the field and the film do the talking.
Let the cream rise to the top. Spend less time griping about playing time and put that attitude towards practice/preparation.
i like the competition and may the best man win.
August 17th, 2011 at 1:08 am
Imagine if this was playing out on Hard Knocks this year…
August 17th, 2011 at 3:42 am
He only asked to leave in hopes the Bucs would pick him up. which he was right about! This team is his child hood team and wanted to be a Buc. If that was me in his shoes and i didn’t get a second shot to prove my worth. I would be a tad upset about it to. Foster has worked his butt off, no doubt. But even in Preseason McKenzie looked to know the Defense better and play up to par also. So to me ( who fully supports Morris and Dominks way of life here at Tampa) i believe they just “handed” Foster the job.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:34 am
SRQBucFan- Guess what dude? You don’t ask the New England Patriots to get rid of you. The only people that want off that team are malcontents. The dude was a 3rd round pick and then after one year where he was injured(not like he played and sucked or something) he was demoted all the way to practice squad. Then he asked to be released and apparently Belijerk was like , sure what was your name again? are you the janitor here? have a nice life. Something is definitely fishy about Tyrone Mckenzie and I think with these comments by him we are starting to smell it.
August 17th, 2011 at 10:40 am
My guess is that when the Patriots drafted Spikes after Mckenzie’s injury he immediately started whining about how he would never get a fair shake to play now and Belijerk doesn’t play that noise and stuffed him on the practice squad to get his attitude right. Instead of doing so he decided to ask Belijerk if he could take his ball and go home. This is all pure conjecture of course but it sounds plausible considering the strangeness of the Patriots handling of a 3rd round pick and the comments he just made here.
August 17th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
I don’t see him being a Diva style whiner. I live right down the road from Riverview in Sarasota. I have many friends who were friends of his also. He has never been that kind of person. I’ve watched him through High school, and College. That’s just not his attitude to act like that.
I agree he shouldn’t have spoken to the media like that, and i am sure he knows it was a mistake. All the kid wants is a fair opportunity to be on the field. In school it’s all about performance. Nothing more nothing less. In the NFL it’s a business. Draft Picks first FA’s next etc etc.
As i stated before. He asked to leave because he didn’t WANT to be a Patriot. He dreamed of being a Buc. He didn’t get drafted and took his gamble of asking to leave and being claimed by the Bucs. Knowing the Bucs scout practice squads more then big names, and the fact we were weak at LB.