One of the missed facets of Robert Saleh’s resolution to bench Zach Wilson in favor of Mike White is how effectively the Jets coach managed the media.
The controversy, which within the NFL world is taken into account a disaster, might have gotten uglier if Saleh elected to take a extra combative strategy, like he did in late October after a 24-9 loss to Baltimore. On that event Saleh stated he could be “taking receipts on all the people who continually mock and say that we aren’t going to do anything.” At the least, he planted the seeds of an adversarial relationship with the media.
The case of White-for-Wilson might’ve supplied a potent fertilizer.
Saleh didn’t let that occur. Mostly as a result of boss scribes and diverse Gasbags agreed the transfer needed to be made, particularly after Wilson refused to take any postgame press convention accountability for the Jets dreadful, sleep-inducing Nov. 20 loss to New England. What did rankle these students was Saleh insisting that Wilson’s days as a Jets quarterback are usually not over.
“I know that’s going to be the narrative. I know that’s what everyone is going to shout out,” Saleh advised reporters. “… The full intent is to make sure Zach gets back on the football field at some point this season.”
Saleh addressed this the identical manner whether or not he was being pressed throughout his “free” interviews or his paid appearances on ESPN-98.7′s “The Michael Kay Show.” The coach reacted to “well, what happens if Mike-does-this or Zach- does- that” questions with out getting feisty. Saleh merely stated: “I’m not dealing in hypotheticals” shutting that line of questioning down.
Saleh’s strategy was helped by one thing he couldn’t management. As quickly as Wilson refused to carry himself accountable, he turned Public Enemy No. 1 within the Valley of the Stupid and different media precincts, even after he apologized to his teammates. Gasbags and different social media pontificators received private, questioning Wilson’s work ethic whereas characterizing him as “spoiled.” They even introduced up his social life, as if had one thing to do together with his incapability to finish a brief cross.
The piling on received so petty that a wide range of Gasbags even ripped Wilson for not displaying sufficient sideline emotion as he watched White decide aside the Bears final Sunday. Did they count on Wilson to be thrilled about being benched? Did they count on him to wave pom-poms with The Jets Flight Crew? In that scenario solely a phony could be overjoyed.
The truth Wilson was overwhelmingly solid because the villain took loads of warmth off Saleh. He didn’t need to reply many questions on revisiting his, and GM Joe Douglas, state of Gaga once they drafted Wilson out of BYU. Did both envision ever getting up to now with Wilson? Still, when answering the questions, Saleh was not evasive.
Most importantly, at the least to the Jets group, he was convincing. That’s large. Especially to a franchise that lives on the precipice of dysfunction.
WHAT THE FLEX?
The groundbreaking NFL TV deal, which kicks in subsequent Fall, consists of ESPN getting “flex” Monday Night Football scheduling in weeks 12-17. The groans as followers scan the ultimate month of 2022 “MNF” video games reveal what a significant get flexing will probably be.
So, it’s alarming listening to seasoned media professionals speculate the flex wrinkle for ESPN subsequent yr (NBC’s “SNF” will proceed getting flex reduction) is basically a smokescreen. They contend the NFL gained’t be inclined to maneuver a Sunday afternoon contest to a Monday evening slot on 13 days’ discover. Perhaps it’ll occur as soon as a season.
The actuality is ESPN may have all winter to persuade the league that viewership numbers within the ultimate six weeks might be considerably enhanced with flex scheduling. They will little doubt additionally drop a point out their 35% annual rights charge improve to $2.7 billion is just not chopped liver.
So, right here’s one situation NFL TV fits might introduce: When making the schedule, they may earmark three video games per week for “MNF” in every of the weeks 12-17. That ensures whichever recreation is finally chosen for the primetime showcase, the hometown fan base can’t howl a couple of bait and swap. For since May, when the schedule was launched, it was one of many tilts ticketed for “MNF.”
The different two video games every week get shuttled again to Sunday afternoon, which merely means followers get a reset. And a extra affordable kickoff time within the chilly months of November and December.
WHO YOU WATCHING?
The NFL schedule makers, like many of the “experts,” underestimated the Jets and Giants.
That’s why, as soon as once more, the 2 groups will probably be going head-to-head Sunday within the 1 p.m. window on CBS (Jets-Vikings) and Fox (Commanders-Giants). The similar 1 p.m. battle is in play subsequent Sunday when the Jets play Buffalo and the Giants tackle Philly.
CBS will go together with Ian (The Bird) Eagle/Charles Davis in Minnesota on Sunday whereas Fox drops Kenny Albert/Jonathan Vilma into the Meadowlands broadcast sales space.
ESPN RADIO MOVES
Will the current “changes” made to ESPN-98.7′s lineup present a scores increase?
Or are the strikes extra like re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic?
After all, no personnel modifications had been made. The similar solid of Bloviators was left intact at a time when the station, nonetheless discovering itself respiratory WFAN’s exhaust fumes, might’ve used a recent new talkie or a brand new group to rattle the cage of complacency that has set in at 98.7.
Anyway, the large transfer is increasing the Rick DiPietro/David Rothenberg present to 4 hours (6-10 a.m.). The two voices had been working 5-8 a.m., aka The Witness Protection Program, aka the Toothpick Section of your grocery retailer.
Nonetheless, Rothenberg/DiPietro had been capable of produce consistency and extremely listenable reveals. Plus, they’re truly humorous.
AROUND THE DIAL
Slick Monday transfer by FANdroids airing Robert Saleh’s press convention dwell throughout “The Carton/Roberts Show.” By doing so, C/R “scooped” the Jets coach’s paid look on “The Michael Kay Show,” which came about a couple of minutes after Saleh’s presser. Adding to the situational irony of all of it, is the actual fact FAN is the Giants radio Flagship. … Lucky for Stephen A. Smith that he doesn’t punch a clock. SAS confirmed up almost a half-hour late for ESPN’s “First Take” Tuesday morning. He claimed his automobile was caught in West Side Highway site visitors. “FT” anchor Molly Qerim warned SAS: “You might not want to talk about anybody else’s clock-management issues.”… On his WABC radio soiree, Bill O’Reilly (sure, that Bill O’Reilly) caught his beak into the Zach Wilson story, throwing his assist behind the Jets beleaguered QB. BO’R particularly talked about New York’s “two sports [radio] stations” and claimed “the [sports] media is taking pleasure” in Wilson’s demise. O’Reilly stated relating to Wilson, the sports activities media is participating in “sadism.” Ouch! That hurts!
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: JIM HARBAUGH
For having his group greater than able to play throughout their thrashing of Ohio State on the highway. The Michigan coach has a lightning-rod persona, however he has his group on the verge of back-to-back CFB berths. He is the “The Comeback Kid” alright.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
For one other tasteless mistake. What was administration pondering when it offered a model with wire arms as a “statue” of the late Sean Taylor? As one critic identified, the tribute appeared extra like a Nike retailer show.
DOUBLE TALK
What Billy Eppler stated: “I’d like to keep what available resources we have as close to the vest as possible.”
What Billy Eppler meant to say: “It’s not my money. It’s Steve Cohen’s dough.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com