Nothing out there justifies a full post today so I will do some quick hitters for now.
If journalistic integrity were dollars, ESPN would be poor.
“Yesterday, FoxSports reported that Brett Favre spent 60 to 90 minutes before the Week Two game between the Lions and the Packers educating the Detroit coaching staff regarding the Packers’ offensive strategies. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY RELIABLE SOURCES THIS REPORT IS NOT TRUE. We did NOT report it yesterday. Today, the NFL responded to the report, saying even if Favre did this he did not break any league rules. We are NOT reporting it today, because that would mean airing the erroneous report. DO NOT REPORT IT.”
ESPN has every right in the world not to report a story if they believe that story is not true. It shows integrity to just not report something, just so you can say that you did. That being said, it is ironic that ESPN is so slow to report this story when they made such a huge deal about Brett Favre returning to play football. Combine that in with the fact they reported Les Miles was going to Michigan, which he did not, and they recently reported Pacman Jones had gone to rehab when he clearly had not at that point, and it seems they pick and choose which stories they are going to report. Let's face it there have been many stories ESPN had incorrectly reported and there will be more in the future. Clearly, ESPN is an entertainment network at this point rather than an actual sports reporting network, and this decision reflects this. I think there are two reasons ESPN is not reporting this story:
1. If the story is true, they will report it once the story has been proven to be true, to get the first interview with Favre. If the story does turn out to be true, I would not be shocked if ESPN never reported the story at all. Given the fact they have proven in the past they are up Favre's ass, they figure if they do not report the story, the story dies.
2. If the story is untrue, obviously ESPN made the right decision and Jay Glazer looks like an asshole.
I personally think the story is true, just from what some of his ex-teammates have said about the situation. Throw in the fact ESPN was so very quick to throw the Patriots under the bus when Spygate was originally reported and they reported incorrect facts in that situation as well. I think they are just wanting to stay on Favre's good side though and will not report the story for that reason.
Tex in Boston!
The Red Sox need a bat. And a big one. According to a team source, the Red Sox already have had some internal discussion about free-agent-to-be Mark Teixeira, the most desirable hitter available on the open market and a player for which the bidding will be fierce.
I mentioned it yesterday and I am pretty sure I could see this happening. He is the perfect fit for Boston. He needs to go to a team that does not mind overspending for the best "second best player on a team" in the major leagues and he also does not need the focus to be on him in the lineup because he is not a franchise changing player. Just ask the Rangers, Braves, and Angels.
Boston fits all of these criteria. He will make a great second banana to Ortiz and the rest of the Boston team will benefit from his ability to get on base and he won't have to carry the team for long stretches of time. He will get paid like he can carry the team though and Boston is more than willing to do that. He will get on base and play a great first base but he will be the second best player on the team but get paid like the first. That is all he is though...and all he ever will be. Again, I wonder if Bill Simmons will cry about how evil Scott Boras is after the Red Sox sign ANOTHER one of his clients.
King Peter gets his Matty Ice Version 1.0 fix.
I went back after the game and compared the young Brady to Cassel. These numbers -- for Brady's first six starts in 2001 and Cassel's first six games (he played the majority of the opener when Brady went down for the year) -- tell a remarkable story:
He then puts up a chart that looks like the two players were absolute equals the first year they started in the NFL. Peter King in his stupidity also fails to put up the talent that was around each of these players when they became starters. Though Tom Brady did have David Givens, David Patten and Troy Brown, Matt Cassel has a superior offensive line, Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to. Matt Cassel has played pretty well so far but comparing him to Tom Brady is a bit unnecessary...which means Bill Simmons is going to do it ASAP.
I smell a quarterback controversy next year! I wish CNNSI.com had a "Do not report" list and anything Peter King said was on it.
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