A Lawyer Has The Texts
July 28th, 2021
Evidence.
This is getting good.
First, let Joe be clear: Joe has zero issue with Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians going drunken sailor in a press conference. In fact, Joe applauds such a demonstration.
Joe thinks it is cool and Joe celebrates when a coach drops f-bombs, especially if Joe isn’t the target. It livens things up. Often when a coach is dropping f-bombs, you can rest assured whatever he is saying is coming from the heart, though at times it could be misdirected or misguided.
Now Joe isn’t sure of the target of Arians’ profane rant to open his press conference yesterday.
For background, some Bucs players are wearing wristbands. Some red, some yellow. Joe isn’t sure who first wrote suggesting the colored wristbands identify players who either have been vaccinated against The Sickness or not.
However, the creator, curator and overall guru of Pro Football Talk, the great Mike Florio, was one of the first to write about this. In his original story, Florio clearly wrote the Bucs gave him this information.
Arians began his press conference yesterday upset, stating the wristbands are used for player assignments “indoors.” Arians didn’t offer any more intel about the wristbands. But he was particularly steamed because, allegedly, someone wrote about the wristbands claiming the Bucs should be fined for their use.
Florio never wrote that. Joe does not know who did.
“Alright, one thing before we get started,” Arians began. “If I give you some information, at least know the f@cking rules before you put it in the press. Red and yellow bands. They don’t [have to] wear them in practice. That’s indoors. I got to read sh!t we should be fined for red and yellow bands because they ain’t got ’em on at practice. That’s bullsh!t. If you are going to report sh!t, make sure it’s f@cking right.”
Florio believes he is the target of Arians’ words (though, again, he never wrote Arians or the Bucs should be fined for the wristbands). And Florio, a lawyer by trade before he began his pro football writing career, states he possesses texts from someone within the Bucs organization informing him the wristbands are to identify who is or is not vaccinated.
Uh, oh.
So who was Arians referring to? Again, Florio never suggested the Bucs should be fined.
And very clearly, Arians said “If I give you some information… ” Was Arians Florio’s source?
Florio did not name a source, other than saying it is someone with the Bucs. Reading Florio’s explanation, it seems he is about ready to unmask his source by releasing the texts, i.e. evidence.
So who fed Florio inaccurate or misleading intel? Or did someone from the Bucs deliberately try to hang Florio out to dry with a setup? That’s not a nice thing to do to the face of a network that is dropping over $18 billion into the NFL’s lap over the next decade.
Frankly, someone with the Bucs trying to con Florio seems unlikely. That would be a stunt Bruce Almighty would pull and he’s been long gone.
Joe is pretty sure Florio texts with several Bucs officials. This specific source could be an executive. Could be Arians. It could be a member of the media relations staff, whose very jobs include answering media queries.
This could get very interesting. It seems Florio would like either an apology from Arians or he wants Arians to name the author who suggested Arians and/or the Bucs should be fined (the latter is likely Florio’s angle, which is smart).
If Arians doesn’t apologize or finger who really peeved him, Florio just may out one of Arians’ co-workers.
Let’s just say Florio holds all the cards here.
July 28th, 2021 at 5:11 am
Good on Arians for dumping on the press, no matter who it is. Florio is a big whining loser if he expects an apology from anyone. He’s a stinkin’ media guy and needs to wear big boy pants. If someone on the Bucs DID give Florio the info, they were probably trying to show the Bucs are being “responsible” as some would think, and didn’t expect it would be some big issue. All that said, I’d hope the Bucs position is if you aren’t fully vaccinated, wear a mask for anything other than the practice field (yes, even Tom Brady), because you are still more susceptible to spreading COVID. I’m a rightie, and also dude that got the vax. I support anyone’s right not to get it. But mask up if you don’t. This isn’t hard, and it’s not like we don’t know anything about the COVID now. If nothing else, protect your team’s health so they can win another SB.
July 28th, 2021 at 5:40 am
This is what happens when a health issue is politicized. There is no doubt in my mind that this would be a non-issue if not for hyper-partisan BS. It’s the ONLY reason that it is a story.
Somehow, Florio makes himself out to be a victim. Boo-freakin-hoo! “They didn’t clarify”!
You’re a reporter Florio. ASK the question if you’re not sure.
This is a prime example of the why the vitriol for the media exists in the first place. Stop racing to “scoop” the story before getting all the facts. SIMPLE!
July 28th, 2021 at 6:08 am
I’m shocked….shocked to find out the press screwed up!
July 28th, 2021 at 6:16 am
I share Joe’s COVID fatigue (apropo as having recovered from it) so I’ll acknowledge having read next to no facts. However, in reading what I’ve read I don’t think BA is flat out denying yellow and red. What he chose to get hot about is that the bands are clearly not being used for outdoor activities. That could possible explain the irritation about comments on fines. I’m guessing that the media doesn’t have access to indoor assignments and BA is really just saying that “you don’t know sh*t” about what goes on inside closed doors so let’s not have any of that f*cking crap about fines.
Just my thought and can’t wait for camp to break and we get away from all the sniping, evangelizing and guessing.
July 28th, 2021 at 6:31 am
I just read PFT’s rebuttal. Florio really needs some thicker skin. BA is ranting about outdoor practices and fines. Florio says he never said anything about fines although stating that the Bucs should be fined for other violations. Okay, Mikie, so maybe BA is not referring directly to you but to whatever “reporter” that said they should be fined.
Stop trying to be the story. This isn’t Watergate. It’s training camp football and we’re still talking about COVID (sigh).
July 28th, 2021 at 6:39 am
I just lost some respect for Florio. There’s no reason to be such a baby about a vague rant. He doesn’t even know for sure if he was the target or not. His source should dump him and so should the rest of sources. There’s no less than 40 other media members that source can contact. He is now a credible threat to out any source at any time. IMO that’s a big faux pas.
July 28th, 2021 at 6:49 am
Nobody loves Mike Florio more than Mike Florio. He’s a complete dooosh. I could be mistaken but I seem to remember The BiG Dog quit having him on his show back in the day because Florio was caught doing something.
July 28th, 2021 at 6:55 am
18 billion – stop the crying, Florio, you elitist hack.
July 28th, 2021 at 6:56 am
This is why I frequent JBF. You hear Joe on the Ira podcast? Even when he’s telling the most innocent of stories from 10 years ago, he wont name names. Journalistic integrity still means something these days even if it is getting rarer.
July 28th, 2021 at 7:04 am
Florio is a d bag. Always has been. He’s a twister/drama queen.
July 28th, 2021 at 7:15 am
Been telling ya’ll Bucco Bruce shoots his mouth off too much. The media cannot WAIT to use your own words against you.
July 28th, 2021 at 7:18 am
Only have myself to blame. I saw that the story involved Florio but I stupidly clicked on it anyway. The less lawyers involved in ones life the happier ones life will be.
July 28th, 2021 at 7:24 am
Let BA rant, whatever, the Bucs will be fine and the team will stay together. GO BUCS!!!!
July 28th, 2021 at 7:30 am
Keep at it Joe. Inquiring minds want to know!!!
July 28th, 2021 at 7:34 am
I finally quit reading that site, deleted the shortcut from my NFL stuff–while I like that they allow comments, it’s obvious that they pick and choose WHICH comments go in, depending on the pov of the comment
July 28th, 2021 at 7:50 am
Look…Im as serious as anyone about the need for the vaccine to combat this rapidly spreading virus. But frankly, the whole armband thing is a bunch of BS. The teams you know who is and isn’t vaccinated. If someone breaks the rules…and you know the NFL rules… punish them. If not, play ball.
July 28th, 2021 at 7:50 am
Florio is at his best when he sticks to football and he is one of the very few national guys that I read/watch. When he goes off the rails and attempts to become his readers moral compass, he starts to lose me. He’s gotten off of his high horse as late and I think that this is much to do about nothing. I mean, don’t sports reporters almost “expect” to be yelled at every now and then? 🤭
July 28th, 2021 at 7:56 am
Great story JBF. It is the perfect nonsense topic to fill the endless and tedious training camp void, and it will be forgotten as soon as the bullets start flying.
July 28th, 2021 at 7:57 am
soap opera crap, trying to break up the World Champions in all their dominating glory about to come…eat it haters, 28-0 !
July 28th, 2021 at 7:57 am
I like Mike and I like Bruce…
July 28th, 2021 at 8:19 am
Florio wrote a article that implied the Bucs were being lax cause players weren’t wearing their wrist bands at practice. He didn’t realize it was for indoor events only. BA got pissed end of story. I don’t get why it’s a two day story.
July 28th, 2021 at 8:24 am
I like Mike and he is doing his job as a journalist.
Remember back in 1933 Germany when a certain tyrant sought to divide the country by making part of the populace wear yellow stars on their outer garments?
The majority of the world and media was fine with it.
Remember democracy is two wolves and one lamb voting on what’s for dinner.
July 28th, 2021 at 8:37 am
Red Mirage, Florio and Big Dog parted ways because Florio was about to become a bigger deal. He used to do those Friday spots for free and Steve was the last guy who got his service gratis when Florio wanted to be paid Big Dog and him parted although I belive they remained friendly. Your thinking of the college football guy Chris ( I can’t remember his last name) who was accused of shady reporting, he later blew up on JP Peterson when he was Steve”s fill in and basically quit working with the station.
July 28th, 2021 at 9:55 am
A player could have told him that
July 28th, 2021 at 10:22 am
Florio is a hardo
July 28th, 2021 at 11:13 am
Sorta correct.
Florio works for NBC. NBC at the time launched NBC Sports Radio Network. Florio was a big part of that. NBC sold the outfit and the new owner eventually pulled the plug on the operation.
620 was affiliated with Premier Radio Networks (FOX Sports Radio) and BSPN. So with Florio tied to NBC he could no longer do spots on non-affiliated stations.
Florio and Duemig remained friends to Duemig’s death.
July 28th, 2021 at 11:18 am
Franklin, Adams, Jefferson were never found in any of their writings to have said democracy is two wolves and one lamb voting on what’s for dinner. But what Franklin did say is ““There is Truth in the Old Saying, That if you make yourself a Sheep, the Wolves will eat you.” Maybe that is what you are thinking about, though I think it has a different connotation.
July 28th, 2021 at 11:24 am
Florio is a far left s-bag that has always shat on the NFL and the source of his income. He’s not a football guy, never was, and he rose to relevance because he simply linked articles Tom across the league onto one site.
July 28th, 2021 at 11:29 am
The hypocrite that Florio is when he began his site he used to run a Turd Watch ticker to track arrests made on NFL players and now that the left views criminals as victims and police are the criminals, he stopped using it.
July 28th, 2021 at 1:19 pm
Brandon…I think they view Jan. 6th insurrectionists as criminals and the capital police as victims. But I guess it depends on which leftists you mean.
July 28th, 2021 at 2:10 pm
Mark2001 didnt you hear? Jan 6 were god fearing patriots and the cops that testified yesterday are cowards.
July 28th, 2021 at 2:50 pm
He stopped using it because he was catching hell from the NFL for it *and* more importantly, so was his employer.
July 28th, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Brandon
Magats don’t seem to be respecting police.
July 28th, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Chris Landry is the guy Steve Duemig used to have on his show. He was accused of basically plagiarizing someone else’s work, but I’m pretty sure he was exonerated of that.
July 28th, 2021 at 5:36 pm
You’re kidding, right? Florio reported on incomplete or inaccurate information, and is weirdly clinging to it. It never made sense to essentially shame players by making them wear the bracelet out of the building. As for cards, I somehow think the entity Florio makes his living off will be ok.
July 28th, 2021 at 7:07 pm
The Red Mirage says: “Nobody loves Mike Florio more than Mike Florio. He’s a complete dooosh.”
Could not agree more. Him and Chris Simms are so annoying and wrong. And Florio has to insert politics into everything. Their site is stale.