Media beginning to show frustration with McDaniels' information lockdown.

by John Bena on Aug 1, 2009 1:51 PM MDT in Strictly My Opinion Comment 28 comments

More photos » David Zalubowski - AP

Daniel Graham had a few words of encouragement for Brandon Marshall before the Broncos took the field July 31st, 2009.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Browse more photos »

What would training camp be without controversy? I mean, if you are covering a football team, and that team is coached by a guy that would just as soon do away with the media, then you HAVE to talk about something, right?

I'm not criticizing, not at all. I am seeing the closed-up shop first hand alongside them. This is not my day job and I freely admit that, so I appreciate how hard it is to get story lines when no one is talking. In the end, you simply become what many of us are - people who deliver opinion to the masses.

Take Champ Bailey, for instance. He is on the PUP list, and no one knows why. Ask McDaniels, and he gives the status quo line, "...as soon as they are ready to practice physically, they will be out here...". Not much to go on there.

Ask Bailey, and he'll tell you he's not allowed to divulge any information.

"What we have here is, failure to communicate..."

That leads to speculation. We've seen it in the links on Horse Tracks all week. Is Champ unhappy? Is Josh McDaniels punishing Bailey for being critical, at times, of McDaniels actions. Is Champ hurt?

McDaniels has made it clear that injury status, whether it be today, in September, or January, will not be discussed. Period. That is a slight change from the Shanahan-era in which the coach was rather blunt with injury updates. Other than the information above, all we know about Bailey - and Renaldo Hill and Marcus Thomas for that matter - is they are out before and after practice running 50-yard sprints before heading into the weight room.

Much the same type of information is swirling around Brandon Marshall. For those of you that were out here yesterday morning, you saw the positive influence teammates can have on an "unhappy" camper.

Just prior to practice, Daniel Graham grabbed Marshall and said a few things to him, probably along the lines of "It's time to help us win football games, everything else will work itself out.." Marshall listened. He was upbeat, dancing with the music, and most importantly, making plays.

After 14 years of knowing the ins and outs, of having a relationship with Mike Shanahan who seemed to enjoy the interaction with the media throng each day, Josh McDaniels is bringing in a new philosophy, one the that believes coaches and players should be seen and not heard. The Belichick-philosophy that is slowly taking the League over.

Along with many of the other issues surrounding the Broncos complex right now is this one. A tug-of-war so to speak between the coach and the media that is tasked with covering him. Add another log to the fire.

3 recs | Comment 28 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Wow, John, with the absence

of real news, the pressure to preform,
fill in the blank—type reporting…
I am truly glad your there. Atleast here
at MHR, we’ll get a fair and honest assessment,
even if its a picture and a paragraph in length.
Go Broncos

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Aug 1, 2009 2:04 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Too Bad

When the MSM disses McD and the Broncos incessantly, is it any wonder they’re shut out? What goes round comes round. Gee. You think Pork Chop would get a warm reception? You think Woody is invited to cocktails?

What is too bad is that the fans who don’t know about MHR are subjected to the MSM’s tripe and because the MSM won’t be getting the access then the fans won’t get as much news as they would like.

John —-THANK YOU!

by Endzone on Aug 1, 2009 2:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen to that.

I bet guys like Paige were downright pissed at first because they weren’t getting the same insider info and treatment that they got with Mike. It’s nice to see that even Woody Paige has begun to warm up to McDaniels, if nothing else it’s because he wants in on his loop. I love that McD just flat out WILL NOT share certain info and he’s keeping hush about everything. That is going to build quite a bit of curiosity, naturally. Eventually, other teams will start to wonder, even fear what we have going on up here in Dove Valley.

Peyton Hillis is also referred to in early Greek mythology by his other names such as Zeus or Poseidon.

by Joe Medina on Aug 1, 2009 2:31 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Guru

Any word on Ayers or Knowshon?

Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Little, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, Davis, and Sharpe...
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.

by Mike Clark on Aug 1, 2009 2:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

     With what went on during the off season and the media’s inability to restrain itself to just the facts or to even seperate fact from conjecture it’s hard to feel too bad about the lockdown. MHR is watching and reporting on what they see. The MSM could do that too, but they prefer (easier and cheaper) to get the quote in a 10 min. interview to spending a day doing field reporting.
     We are in an age of such league parity that information control is an important part of keeping an edge. It is unfortunate for the fan looking for all the information they can get, but its a reallity of the highly competitive nature of the sport.
      Plus, so many of the experts seem to prefer speculating to reporting anyhow.

"My job description is to win football games. I'm a hard worker. I'm not flashy by any means, but my job is to play football and win and I plan to do that." Kyle Orton

by odarol on Aug 1, 2009 2:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

One more thing John,

have you and First Fan and others,
been able to get together. I only ask
because I’m jealous. Its got to be great
to be around the Broncos and true, devoted
Fans…

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Aug 1, 2009 2:40 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Tonight....

-TSG

SBNation's Denver Broncos Blogger
MileHighReport

Questions, Comments...E-Mail Me!
milehighreport@gmail.com
or
Call Me! (303)731-5605

Follow MHR on Twitter!
Follow MHR on Facebook!

by John Bena on Aug 1, 2009 5:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great-- a toast to MHR & especially to You ( JOHN ),

The Founder and original “The SportsGuru”…
I’m still jealous…
Go Broncos

Real Power, comes with the realization that One cannot change the Moment;
only ones perception of it: Atitude! JQM

by UB3 on Aug 1, 2009 5:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm ok with this approach.

As a writer, it makes things harder. But we can still observe and report. If the coach feels ths is the way to improve the team (and not to let opposing teams in on what we’re doing), then it is the coach’s call. Frustrating for the media (and even MHR), but if it is good for the team, then so be it.

Its kind of like the military or intelligence work, in a way. It can be frustrating not to get details in the news, but if it helps our guys keep the bad guys from knowing what we’re doing, then I’m for it.

Let’s focus on getting better as a team, not on impressing the media types. Shanahan’s practices were very player friendly and media friendly. But they didn’t help us win many playoff games either.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Aug 1, 2009 3:28 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

This is what we wanted...
Hey, look what we got!

by pubkeeper on Aug 1, 2009 5:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

John (guru), keep it real

Please please please do not speculate. We get enough of that from MSM and GHE fans. I know there will be some that say ‘who does he think he is’ or ‘he owes it to us to tell all’ etc. IMO no he does not.

There is no problem with Coach McD’s remark ‘when they are ready’. This gets them ready for the season so NO information get out.

I love when you, FF, and posts report the facts. We GHF fans can interpret for ourself what may be happing and keep it to ourself. Rumors are the worst tool to be used in ruining a partnership so it is not needed around a football camp.

by DLMyers on Aug 1, 2009 3:35 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You misunderstood the post...

I am not the media…I was just posting on the feeling around here. I like the approach, to be honest…

-TSG

SBNation's Denver Broncos Blogger
MileHighReport

Questions, Comments...E-Mail Me!
milehighreport@gmail.com
or
Call Me! (303)731-5605

Follow MHR on Twitter!
Follow MHR on Facebook!

by John Bena on Aug 1, 2009 5:41 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like your take Guru

Those that cant coach, compete!
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
All I want is 53 Rod Smiths. Is that asking too much????
"Peyton Hillis didn’t rip the sleeves off his jersey, they flew off out of fear."
Calijoefornia.

by boydy2669 on Aug 1, 2009 6:00 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a man with focus.

Josh McDaniels will do every little thing that creates an advantage and increases the chance of the team winning.

You win in pro sports, not by doing 1 thing 100% better, but by doing 100 things 1% better. Excellence come from squeezing out performance from every player and process, including the process of communications inside and outside the organization.

by MichaelCushman on Aug 1, 2009 3:38 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

McDaniels

is doing what belichek has been doing. Keeping things from the media.

by Skotty on Aug 1, 2009 3:40 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm all for him keeping quiet

I hate it but I get it
We don’t matter
winning matters!
Go Broncs!

by Whidbey Bronco on Aug 1, 2009 4:16 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I am all for it and dont give 2 spits about the MSM....This is a new ship at Dove Valley and I am liking it.

by boydy2669 on Aug 1, 2009 4:16 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

This is a football team... not a news organization...

I understand why the media types are pressing hard for information, but information is a valuable asset, and as an organization, it is important that it is harnessed and controled in a way that is beneficial to the team.

Keep your cards close to the chest, until it’s time to lay em down…

Personally, I think Champ was on the PUP list simply because it opened another spot on the roster for them to evaluate another player… a smart move on McD’s part.

by RevrendBronco on Aug 1, 2009 4:19 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

and also a good diversion for the MSM.

Get them talking about stuff that doesn’t even matter (like Bailey being out of shape, failing conditioning tests, etc).

Peyton Hillis is also referred to in early Greek mythology by his other names such as Zeus or Poseidon.

by Joe Medina on Aug 1, 2009 4:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

+! Rev...awesome point...

Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan were saying how Belichick is brilliant at this…puts 5 or 6 on PUP who they know they will keep lets them evaluate 5 or 6 other players that could be great for the team.

by boydy2669 on Aug 1, 2009 4:56 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

The MSM is bummed

that McD doesn’t divulge a lot of info like Shanny. Cool, they are on a need to know basis and keeping things inhouse is the way I like it.

GO BRONCOS IN 2009 AND BEYOND!!

2009 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant

by weazel on Aug 1, 2009 7:24 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

wwwaaaaa!

I love it when the media cries about lack of communication. As though somehow they are entitled to have every drop of information. Then they go out and do what the media does best and speculate on things anyway. Give as informed an opinion as you can go with it. Like somehow it is so important to their jobs to be told everything just because they ask. Also JoshMcd is from New England so what exactly did they expect them to do. As a fan I could care less about the info the Broncos give out. Fantasy footballwise it suck but it makes it part of that game. So I say gt over it already!

by postalmoose1 on Aug 1, 2009 8:14 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

At this point, Josh is making his way through the head coaching world. Now, will the NE way take over the league? Probably not because at this juncture only Belichick has been successful and not everyone needs it inorder to be successful. Sometimes the best way is to work under someone and then develop your own method. Don’t try to copy everything word for word-learn how to change it to suit your own personality and how you want to run things. The only thing that matters is winning, but you don’t have to use someone else’s vision in order to accomplish it-make your own vision. There are no guarantees on head coaches, all we know is at the moment they’re employed by the owner. Seems more of them are getting fired as of late and what we have right now is not what we may have in the future. It’s subject to the next “big thing” hiring and more franchises have been set back that way. Forget the trend and find what works best for your team-not what works for someone else.

Needagoodtime!

by Loveforjoy! on Aug 1, 2009 11:21 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You want pressure, you got it Coach. If The Coach doesn’t win right away, the local media is going to kill this guy.

If we don’t win in 2009, the local media will do everything in its power to turn Bronco Nation support against the Coach.

Love the Broncos, don't like their Coach.

by McGeorge on Aug 1, 2009 11:23 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

You know...

a complete change in team culture can take more than one season. Don’t be surprised if the Denver media doesn’t tear him apart in the even Denver goes less than 8-8. He’s already made fans out of some of the most critical guys this offseason. Not only does McDaniels have a plan, he intends for this team to win and win now. Would it be a failure if we went 8-8 and busted tail to get there? I don’t think so.

As you and I witnessed last year, our team could have gone 11-5 at the worst, if only they would have kept pounding away at teams. Instead, what we saw was a team that really put out in the first half and then rode the lead until we lost the game. Not only that, but last years coaching across the board did not plan on 2 halves of football, they played the exact same way the second half as they did in the first half and that was our biggest downfall. Period.

Don’t expect Josh McDaniels to be chased out of Denver if he doesn’t win us the division this year.

Peyton Hillis is also referred to in early Greek mythology by his other names such as Zeus or Poseidon.

by Joe Medina on Aug 1, 2009 11:40 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs