FF "Reporting" is sometimes deeply questionable. (1 Viewer)

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Just catching up on some player news, and stumbled on this wild series of Darnold updates. Check out the bolded.

4/29 - "Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Sam Darnold will take “over 90% of the snaps.”

“One of the reasons we hired [Klint Kubiak] was his ability to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well. Adding Jalen [Milroe] is a part of that,” Macdonald added. That’s a pretty revealing quote, and while we blurbed Macdonald talking about how Jalen Milroe isn’t an option in a Taysom Hill role, it sounds like Milroe will at least have some package of run-play installs. If those plays come near the goal line, it’s possible that Darnold will suffer reduced fantasy viability in superflex leagues this year. With the Seahawks not married to Darnold by contract in 2026, there’s already some inherent benching risks to consider as well. Darnold should still open the year as the starter, but he probably needs to perform well to stay on it all season.

Followed by this:
5/28 - "Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald said QB Jalen Milroe “will not be used in the same fashion as Taysom Hill.”

“Milroe is a quarterback, Macdonald said, and will be used accordingly,” The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar said. That doesn’t mean the Seahawks won’t find some way to get the ultra-athletic Milroe onto the field in some high-leverage circumstances, perhaps in short yardage or goal line situations. If Milroe and Darnold rotate snaps in 2025, neither will have much in the way of fantasy value. Seattle is fully expected to be among the NFL’s most run-heavy units under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Followed by this:
6/3 "Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said “This is a crazy question, Sam’s our starting quarterback” when asked if there’s a scenario where Sam Darnold wouldn’t start."

We don’t think it’s completely wild to imagine Jalen Milroe taking over if things go bad down the stretch, particularly with Darnold’s contract not having extensive guarantees into the second season. Still, this is something Macdonald had to say given where the team is at right now. It isn’t exactly comforting for Darnold’s superflex stock that reporters are already asking the question, but we expect Darnold to start and continue playing as long as things are going well for Seattle.

OK so the big take-away here is that despite being harangued repeatedly about Milroe by reporters and giving absolutely clear, concise answers that no, in fact Darnold is their starting QB and Milroe is not expected to have any packages designed for him, the reporters just keep asking that same question.

And then the coach finally says it's "a crazy question" - and NBC reports it as "not exactly comforting" that... reporters keep asking the same question over and over again? Why would that be a Sam Darnold issue? Sounds like a reporting issue. There's literally no story here.


I've never seen an outlet work harder to produce a framed narrative out of whole cloth. Like, what part of "no" are you not understanding here? Now, it's not the biggest deal, but it makes me wonder big picture what the possible motivation for this is? Most analysts I follow have described Milroe as a project who needs at least 1, if not 2 years of seasoning, and Lock is reportedly the clear QB2 on the Seahawks.

Just comes off as really bizarre.

 

[eighsse2]

Just catching up on some player news, and stumbled on this wild series of Darnold updates:

4/29 - "Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Sam Darnold will take “over 90% of the snaps.”

“One of the reasons we hired [Klint Kubiak] was his ability to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well. Adding Jalen [Milroe] is a part of that,” Macdonald added. That’s a pretty revealing quote, and while we blurbed Macdonald talking about how Jalen Milroe isn’t an option in a Taysom Hill role, it sounds like Milroe will at least have some package of run-play installs. If those plays come near the goal line, it’s possible that Darnold will suffer reduced fantasy viability in superflex leagues this year. With the Seahawks not married to Darnold by contract in 2026, there’s already some inherent benching risks to consider as well. Darnold should still open the year as the starter, but he probably needs to perform well to stay on it all season.

Followed by this:
5/28 - "Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald said QB Jalen Milroe “will not be used in the same fashion as Taysom Hill.”

“Milroe is a quarterback, Macdonald said, and will be used accordingly,” The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar said. That doesn’t mean the Seahawks won’t find some way to get the ultra-athletic Milroe onto the field in some high-leverage circumstances, perhaps in short yardage or goal line situations. If Milroe and Darnold rotate snaps in 2025, neither will have much in the way of fantasy value. Seattle is fully expected to be among the NFL’s most run-heavy units under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Followed by this:
6/3 "Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said “This is a crazy question, Sam’s our starting quarterback” when asked if there’s a scenario where Sam Darnold wouldn’t start."

We don’t think it’s completely wild to imagine Jalen Milroe taking over if things go bad down the stretch, particularly with Darnold’s contract not having extensive guarantees into the second season. Still, this is something Macdonald had to say given where the team is at right now. It isn’t exactly comforting for Darnold’s superflex stock that reporters are already asking the question, but we expect Darnold to start and continue playing as long as things are going well for Seattle.

OK so the big take-away here is that despite being harangued repeatedly about Milroe by reporters and giving absolutely clear, concise answers that no, in fact Darnold is their starting QB and Milroe is not expected to have any packages designed for him, the reporters just keep asking that same question.

And then the coach finally says it's "a crazy question" - and NBC reports it as "not exactly comforting" that... reporters keep asking the same question over and over again? Why would that be a Sam Darnold issue? Sounds like a reporting issue. There's literally no story here.


I've never seen an outlet work harder to produce a framed narrative out of whole cloth. Like, what part of "no" are you not understanding here? Now, it's not the biggest deal, but it makes me wonder big picture what the possible motivation for this is? Most analysts I follow have described Milroe as a project who needs at least 1, if not 2 years of seasoning, and Lock is reportedly the clear QB2 on the Seahawks.

Just comes off as really bizarre.

Were those write-ups all by the same guy, or different people?

 

[sushinsky4tsar]

Yeah, their "fantasy spin" on the news blurbs often makes my head explode. Whoever they are.

The "our view" on @Joe Bryant 's newsletter is probably the only one that routinely passes my smell test.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Yeah, their "fantasy spin" on the news blurbs often makes my head explode. Whoever they are.

The "our view" on @Joe Bryant 's newsletter is probably the only one that routinely passes my smell test.

Yeah, credit where due, FBG doesn’t engage in story-building speculation like this.

I mean, look at the bolded parts I quoted:

and while we blurbed Macdonald talking about how Jalen Milroe isn’t an option in a Taysom Hill role, it sounds like Milroe will at least have some package of run-play installs.

If Milroe and Darnold rotate snaps in 2025, neither will have much in the way of fantasy value.

It isn’t exactly comforting for Darnold’s superflex stock that reporters are already asking the question.

wtf?

Were those write-ups all by the same guy, or different people?

It’s NBC, formerly Rotowold. They don’t sign their updates so I have no idea. But that’s the last 3 blurbs over a ~5 week period.

Reading only the bolded, one would assume there’s some massive QB controversy building in Seattle.

The latest on Darnold is he had a couple passes tipped in OTAs, but is otherwise doing a good job picking up the offense & getting his receivers involved.

Incredible how much NBC wants this to be a Milroe story.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Yeah, their "fantasy spin" on the news blurbs often makes my head explode. Whoever they are.

The "our view" on @Joe Bryant 's newsletter is probably the only one that routinely passes my smell test.

Thank you. Were the blurbs in OP from NBC's Rotoworld?

I can say from 20+ years of doing this, getting the "our view" pieces on these is REALLY hard. It's difficult to be consistent and factual while still being interesting. You want to insert some opinion as by definition sometimes, the "our view" is very different from the story. But you still have to realize we're not in the locker room or front office and not overstep.

We have a very small number of people who do these for us. Now it's Cecil Lammey, Bob Harris and Sigmund Bloom. All with 20+ years experience and they know exactly what I'm looking for. And then I will edit each if needed but after so long, these guys know what I'm looking for.

It's a challenge.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Thank you. Were the blurbs in OP from NBC's Rotoworld?

Yes - the last 3 in a row, in fact.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Thank you. Were the blurbs in OP from NBC's Rotoworld?

Yes - the last 3 in a row, in fact.

Thanks. They cover a ton of players. I'm probably more sympathetic than most as I've just lived first hand how difficult it is to get these right.

A day's worth is easy. it's the day after day after day that gets tough.

 

[Joe Bryant]

But what you're describing with the "whip saw" thing with seeming them going from different perspectives is a real challenge when you have mulitple people contributing but it's not clear to the reader that it's multiple people.

It's one of our biggest challenges to try and have a consistent "FBG Voice".

We'll use our rankings for people to express their individual opinions. Or our Player Spotlights. But at the end of the day, people want a FBG Pick. So we do that too. But it's a big challenge for us to not be confusing to the reader.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

But what you're describing with the "whip saw" thing with seeming them going from different perspectives is a real challenge when you have mulitple people contributing but it's not clear to the reader that it's multiple people.

It's one of our biggest challenges to try and have a consistent "FBG Voice".

We'll use our rankings for people to express their individual opinions. Or our Player Spotlights. But at the end of the day, people want a FBG Pick. So we do that too. But it's a big challenge for us to not be confusing to the reader.

Sure, and I agree that’s a challenge.

What I don’t understand (or appreciate) is trying to create the narrative that clearly isn’t there.

Ok the 1st time I get it - they drafted Milroe, fair question if he’s gonna get some packages with his athleticism.

The 2nd is clearly framed as an “if/then” statement, concluding that “neither of them (the 2 QB) will have any FF value.” Ok, maybe a fair statement, but kinda out of left field, especially since the coach just told you it wasn’t going to be the case.

The last one is especially grating, as they’re essentially saying “it’s troubling that reporters keep asking these questions”.

lol, cmon. This isn’t reporting, it’s world building. It comes off as “wish-casting” written by someone who drafted Milroe and is trying to speak it into existence.

 

[Joe Bryant]

But what you're describing with the "whip saw" thing with seeming them going from different perspectives is a real challenge when you have mulitple people contributing but it's not clear to the reader that it's multiple people.

It's one of our biggest challenges to try and have a consistent "FBG Voice".

We'll use our rankings for people to express their individual opinions. Or our Player Spotlights. But at the end of the day, people want a FBG Pick. So we do that too. But it's a big challenge for us to not be confusing to the reader.

Sure, and I agree that’s a challenge.

What I don’t understand (or appreciate) is trying to create the narrative that clearly isn’t there.

Ok the 1st time I get it - they drafted Milroe, fair question if he’s gonna get some packages with his athleticism.

The 2nd is clearly framed as an “if/then” statement, concluding that “neither of them (the 2 QB) will have any FF value”
Ok, fair statement, but kinda out of left field, especially since the coach just told you it wasn’t going to be the case.

The last one is especially grating, as they’re essentially saying “it’s troubling that reporters keep asking these questions”.

lol, cmon. This isn’t reporting, it’s world building.

Understood.

We try to keep it fact focused and grounded in the "our view" sections.

They've clearly built a huge business tons more successful than Footballguys though so I have to tip the cap there.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

They've clearly built a huge business tons more successful than Footballguys though so I have to tip the cap there.

You’ve built more credible reporting, so cap tip to FBG. If the choice is to be wildly successful but click bait-y, or accurate and smaller, the latter is more to be proud of.

 

[cdclopper]

Why are the Seahawks fielding questions from fantasy football people in the first place?

 

[barackdhouse]

Incredible how much NBC wants this to be a Milroe story.

I hear everything you've been saying here but I think this is more about them being Darnold haters than anything else, coupled with the crappy habit of crappy "journalists" which is to tear people down and/or to look for controversy whether there is any or not. It's gross when it's about sports it's borderline criminal when it's politics social economic news etc. The creation of narratives is a huge problem in journalism. These sound like Seahawks fans that hate Darnold to me and just want to write about his downfall. They don't give a **** about Milroe one bit. Yet.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Why are the Seahawks fielding questions from a fantasy football people in the first place?

I don’t think they were necessarily FF questions - more likely they were questions about the Seahawks state of affairs, being interpreted/distilled by NBC for their FF site. In this case, somewhat creatively.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Incredible how much NBC wants this to be a Milroe story.

I hear everything you've been saying here but I think this is more about them being Darnold haters than anything else, coupled with the crappy habit of crappy "journalists" which is to tear people down and/or to look for controversy whether there is any or not. It's gross when it's about sports it's borderline criminal when it's politics social economic news etc. The creation of narratives is a huge problem in journalism. These sound like Seahawks fans that hate Darnold to me and just want to write about his downfall. They don't give a **** about Milroe one bit. Yet.

This might be a solid take here actually. Could also be Seattle beat writers keep asking because they want the shiny new toy the Seahawks drafted.

Either way it’s shoddy reporting.

Or it’s possible these were just routine questions being asked about their QB room and NBC taking creative license with their interpretation of it.

Any way you slice it it’s definitely a sign of the awful state of journalism.

 

[barackdhouse]

Yeah, their "fantasy spin" on the news blurbs often makes my head explode. Whoever they are.

The "our view" on @Joe Bryant 's newsletter is probably the only one that routinely passes my smell test.

Thank you. Were the blurbs in OP from NBC's Rotoworld?

I can say from 20+ years of doing this, getting the "our view" pieces on these is REALLY hard. It's difficult to be consistent and factual while still being interesting. You want to insert some opinion as by definition sometimes, the "our view" is very different from the story. But you still have to realize we're not in the locker room or front office and not overstep.

We have a very small number of people who do these for us. Now it's Cecil Lammey, Bob Harris and Sigmund Bloom. All with 20+ years experience and they know exactly what I'm looking for. And then I will edit each if needed but after so long, these guys know what I'm looking for.

It's a challenge.

It's to your credit that you use the phrase "in our view" in those instances. Not everybody does that and it makes them less credible IMO. Not in terms of the specific take per se, but just in terms of how they communicate. The blurbs in the OP, for example, immediately bother me as someone trying to engineer a narrative.

However, there is an evil step cousin of using the phrase "in our view" or similar. Reporters like to hide behind these fake veneers of "we think", or "the attitude around here is" or "people have been saying..." when really it's nothing but what is in their head. So it is to be used cautiously.

 

[barackdhouse]

Incredible how much NBC wants this to be a Milroe story.

I hear everything you've been saying here but I think this is more about them being Darnold haters than anything else, coupled with the crappy habit of crappy "journalists" which is to tear people down and/or to look for controversy whether there is any or not. It's gross when it's about sports it's borderline criminal when it's politics social economic news etc. The creation of narratives is a huge problem in journalism. These sound like Seahawks fans that hate Darnold to me and just want to write about his downfall. They don't give a **** about Milroe one bit. Yet.

This might be a solid take here actually. Could also be Seattle beat writers keep asking because they want the shiny new toy the Seahawks drafted.

Either way it’s shoddy reporting.

Or it’s possible these were just routine questions being asked about their QB room and NBC taking creative license with their interpretation of it.

Any way you slice it it’s definitely a sign of the awful state of journalism.

this is also a really really really huge problem

 

[cdclopper]

Why are the Seahawks fielding questions from a fantasy football people in the first place?

I don’t think they were necessarily FF questions - more likely they were questions about the Seahawks state of affairs, being interpreted/distilled by NBC for their FF site. In this case, somewhat creatively.

It is a fair to point out the reporters keep asking the questions I think. That's my hang up with the story, for real why do they keep asking the same questions about Milroe? It would at least make sense for fantasy people to hound them about a potential player like him. But why actual reporters?

Quarterback controversies sell papers - probably that simple. I remember the coverage of the Dalton/Fields or Jimmy G/Lance. I mean there's nothing sexy about Andy Dalton or Jimmy Garapollo - except for Jimmy Garapollo.

On the other hand, Fields and Lance are 1st round picks, so you could say the teams were asking for it. This time not so much.

 

[BoltNlava]

Why are the Seahawks fielding questions from a fantasy football people in the first place?

I don’t think they were necessarily FF questions - more likely they were questions about the Seahawks state of affairs, being interpreted/distilled by NBC for their FF site. In this case, somewhat creatively.

Quarterback controversies sell papers - probably that simple. I remember the coverage of the Dalton/Fields or Jimmy G/Lance. I mean there's nothing sexy about Andy Dalton or Jimmy Garapollo - except for Jimmy Garapollo.

What are these "papers" you speak of?

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Why are the Seahawks fielding questions from a fantasy football people in the first place?

I don’t think they were necessarily FF questions - more likely they were questions about the Seahawks state of affairs, being interpreted/distilled by NBC for their FF site. In this case, somewhat creatively.

It is a fair to point out the reporters keep asking the questions I think. That's my hang up with the story, for real why do they keep asking the same questions about Milroe? It would at least make sense for fantasy people to hound them about a potential player like him. But why actual reporters?

Quarterback controversies sell papers - probably that simple. I remember the coverage of the Dalton/Fields or Jimmy G/Lance. I mean there's nothing sexy about Andy Dalton or Jimmy Garapollo - except for Jimmy Garapollo.

On the other hand, Fields and Lance are 1st round picks, so you could say the teams were asking for it. This time not so much.

Well, as I suggested above it’s possible these were just beat writers asking the sort of normal questions about a new draft pick and potential for usage, and NBC taking massive creative leaps to engineer a story.

That’s certainly how it comes off to me.

 

[cdclopper]

Why are the Seahawks fielding questions from a fantasy football people in the first place?

I don’t think they were necessarily FF questions - more likely they were questions about the Seahawks state of affairs, being interpreted/distilled by NBC for their FF site. In this case, somewhat creatively.

It is a fair to point out the reporters keep asking the questions I think. That's my hang up with the story, for real why do they keep asking the same questions about Milroe? It would at least make sense for fantasy people to hound them about a potential player like him. But why actual reporters?

Quarterback controversies sell papers - probably that simple. I remember the coverage of the Dalton/Fields or Jimmy G/Lance. I mean there's nothing sexy about Andy Dalton or Jimmy Garapollo - except for Jimmy Garapollo.

On the other hand, Fields and Lance are 1st round picks, so you could say the teams were asking for it. This time not so much.

Well, as I suggested above it’s possible these were just beat writers asking the sort of normal questions about a new draft pick and potential for usage, and NBC taking massive creative leaps to engineer a story.

That’s certainly how it comes off to me.

Seems to me the coach was getting irritated by the questions himself when he said "that is a crazy question", as if its been being brought up more than he'd like. Maybe I was reading into it to much.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

But what you're describing with the "whip saw" thing with seeming them going from different perspectives is a real challenge when you have mulitple people contributing but it's not clear to the reader that it's multiple people.

It's one of our biggest challenges to try and have a consistent "FBG Voice".

We'll use our rankings for people to express their individual opinions. Or our Player Spotlights. But at the end of the day, people want a FBG Pick. So we do that too. But it's a big challenge for us to not be confusing to the reader.

Sure, and I agree that’s a challenge.

What I don’t understand (or appreciate) is trying to create the narrative that clearly isn’t there.

Ok the 1st time I get it - they drafted Milroe, fair question if he’s gonna get some packages with his athleticism.

The 2nd is clearly framed as an “if/then” statement, concluding that “neither of them (the 2 QB) will have any FF value”
Ok, fair statement, but kinda out of left field, especially since the coach just told you it wasn’t going to be the case.

The last one is especially grating, as they’re essentially saying “it’s troubling that reporters keep asking these questions”.

lol, cmon. This isn’t reporting, it’s world building.

Understood.

We try to keep it fact focused and grounded in the "our view" sections.

They've clearly built a huge business tons more successful than Footballguys though so I have to tip the cap there.

I think what you do better than most (all?) of these sites is separate the "news" portion of the item from the "our view" part of your blurbs. Some of these massive sites interweave them, as HSG has shown above. A lot of those kinds of articles are making things up out of whole cloth when the actual quotes run directly against what the "writer" is trying to sell the reader. AI-written articles are only going to make this worse. When I read FBGs stuff, I know it's coming from people who know what they are talking about. Whether I agree or not with a particular "our view" doesn't matter (they are usually right and I am usually wrong ). Not blowing smoke up your butt here, Joe. Y'all keep being y'all.

 

[Joe Bryant]

But what you're describing with the "whip saw" thing with seeming them going from different perspectives is a real challenge when you have mulitple people contributing but it's not clear to the reader that it's multiple people.

It's one of our biggest challenges to try and have a consistent "FBG Voice".

We'll use our rankings for people to express their individual opinions. Or our Player Spotlights. But at the end of the day, people want a FBG Pick. So we do that too. But it's a big challenge for us to not be confusing to the reader.

Sure, and I agree that’s a challenge.

What I don’t understand (or appreciate) is trying to create the narrative that clearly isn’t there.

Ok the 1st time I get it - they drafted Milroe, fair question if he’s gonna get some packages with his athleticism.

The 2nd is clearly framed as an “if/then” statement, concluding that “neither of them (the 2 QB) will have any FF value”
Ok, fair statement, but kinda out of left field, especially since the coach just told you it wasn’t going to be the case.

The last one is especially grating, as they’re essentially saying “it’s troubling that reporters keep asking these questions”.

lol, cmon. This isn’t reporting, it’s world building.

Understood.

We try to keep it fact focused and grounded in the "our view" sections.

They've clearly built a huge business tons more successful than Footballguys though so I have to tip the cap there.

I think what you do better than most (all?) of these sites is separate the "news" portion of the item from the "our view" part of your blurbs. Some of these massive sites interweave them, as HSG has shown above. A lot of those kinds of articles are making things up out of whole cloth when the actual quotes run directly against what the "writer" is trying to sell the reader. AI-written articles are only going to make this worse. When I read FBGs stuff, I know it's coming from people who know what they are talking about. Whether I agree or not with a particular "our view" doesn't matter (they are usually right and I am usually wrong ). Not blowing smoke up your butt here, Joe. Y'all keep being y'all.

Thank you GB. I'm glad that's something you notice as it's something we do very intentionally.

The first piece is the actual news with link and author. We always want the reader to be able to check "the source" as well as our writing.

Then very separately, we'll have the "Our View". And oftentimes that's about something quite different than the actual story. It's such an interconnected game, oftentimes the news affects others as much as the player that had the news.

Our challenge is being interesting without reaching beyond what we actually know.

 

[massraider]

What I don’t understand (or appreciate) is trying to create the narrative that clearly isn’t there

Clicks. Engagement.

It's a boring time of year. The only people paying attention to OTAs are fantasy junkies, so you get reporters attending press conferences trying to get the coach to say anything about Milroe, that they can then run out and spin. To suggest their shiny new QB was somehow in danger.

The worst, really, is PFT. At least all of the sad little wannabes writing for SI.com are rightfully ignored.

But PFT is now only clickbait. They used to break news. But now other people get the contract details, they no longer get scoops. So they post "question" stories.

WOULD CALEB WILLIAMS ASK FOR AN OWNERSHIP STAKE??

People click thru to find out there's nothing based in fact, but that's a small percentage of people. Most are happy to read a headline, then happily, stupidly, repeat it as fact.

The state of media is the #1 reason I didn't want Shedeur Sanders anywhere near my team.

 

[Chaka]

Clicks. Engagement.

[/Thread]

 

[fatness]

The worst, really, is PFT.

PFT has gotten way worse in the last year or 2. They pick certain story lines to push and bang on those topics every day whether there's any substantial news or not. Right now their favorite drums to beat are:
Bill Belichick/ Jordon Hudson
Aaron Rodgers
And much of what they've posted about those 2 topics is frivolous, hyped-up stuff.
It is about the clicks.
When you're a "content creator" you need to fill the same number of boxes of "content" every day, whether there's worthwhile news or not.

 

[fatness]

So they post "question" stories.

WOULD CALEB WILLIAMS ASK FOR AN OWNERSHIP STAKE??

An FBG clickbait headline thread might be fun.

 

[pinkstapler]

The worst, really, is PFT.

PFT has gotten way worse in the last year or 2. They pick certain story lines to push and bang on those topics every day whether there's any substantial news or not. Right now their favorite drums to beat are:
Bill Belichick/ Jordon Hudson
Aaron Rodgers
And much of what they've posted about those 2 topics is frivolous, hyped-up stuff.
It is about the clicks.
When you're a "content creator" you need to fill the same number of boxes of "content" every day, whether there's worthwhile news or not.

The death of PFT is up there with the death of the OG RotoWorld updates/blurbs app for me. It was one of the best at just delivering no frills info within seconds of it hitting the public.

Not to derail from HSGs great thread too much, but it speaks to how just about all news has slowly just become "entertainment" over the past few years, to the point they rarely even try to dress it up as legitimate anymore. Some opinion based analysis of the news was always present, but it was more of a seasoning than the main course. And, while this could be my own reflection of the past being viewed in a more positive light, something that seems to bias me more and more as I age; IMO this analysis was provided by people who had built a level of trust and rapport with the consumer base over years and years and seemed to have a core set of values we'd refer to as "journalistic integrity". Walter Cronkite probably the lighthouse for what I'm trying to describe.

It was for the consumers more so than those who ran the shows/content providers. Now the shows and content providers just seem to hire the loudest, most "colorful" people regardless of those values. Sometimes it feels they actually go in the opposite direction knowing mistrust, anger, vitriol get them just as much traction (or more) than trust, honesty, prudence. Those things are apparently "boring". Just all kind of sad, and makes it easier to just grow apathetic and disconnect from a lot of this stuff anymore.

 

[zed2283]

Just catching up on some player news, and stumbled on this wild series of Darnold updates. Check out the bolded.

4/29 - "Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Sam Darnold will take “over 90% of the snaps.”

“One of the reasons we hired [Klint Kubiak] was his ability to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well. Adding Jalen [Milroe] is a part of that,” Macdonald added. That’s a pretty revealing quote, and while we blurbed Macdonald talking about how Jalen Milroe isn’t an option in a Taysom Hill role, it sounds like Milroe will at least have some package of run-play installs. If those plays come near the goal line, it’s possible that Darnold will suffer reduced fantasy viability in superflex leagues this year. With the Seahawks not married to Darnold by contract in 2026, there’s already some inherent benching risks to consider as well. Darnold should still open the year as the starter, but he probably needs to perform well to stay on it all season.

Followed by this:
5/28 - "Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald said QB Jalen Milroe “will not be used in the same fashion as Taysom Hill.”

“Milroe is a quarterback, Macdonald said, and will be used accordingly,” The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar said. That doesn’t mean the Seahawks won’t find some way to get the ultra-athletic Milroe onto the field in some high-leverage circumstances, perhaps in short yardage or goal line situations. If Milroe and Darnold rotate snaps in 2025, neither will have much in the way of fantasy value. Seattle is fully expected to be among the NFL’s most run-heavy units under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Followed by this:
6/3 "Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said “This is a crazy question, Sam’s our starting quarterback” when asked if there’s a scenario where Sam Darnold wouldn’t start."

We don’t think it’s completely wild to imagine Jalen Milroe taking over if things go bad down the stretch, particularly with Darnold’s contract not having extensive guarantees into the second season. Still, this is something Macdonald had to say given where the team is at right now. It isn’t exactly comforting for Darnold’s superflex stock that reporters are already asking the question, but we expect Darnold to start and continue playing as long as things are going well for Seattle.

OK so the big take-away here is that despite being harangued repeatedly about Milroe by reporters and giving absolutely clear, concise answers that no, in fact Darnold is their starting QB and Milroe is not expected to have any packages designed for him, the reporters just keep asking that same question.

And then the coach finally says it's "a crazy question" - and NBC reports it as "not exactly comforting" that... reporters keep asking the same question over and over again? Why would that be a Sam Darnold issue? Sounds like a reporting issue. There's literally no story here.


I've never seen an outlet work harder to produce a framed narrative out of whole cloth. Like, what part of "no" are you not understanding here? Now, it's not the biggest deal, but it makes me wonder big picture what the possible motivation for this is? Most analysts I follow have described Milroe as a project who needs at least 1, if not 2 years of seasoning, and Lock is reportedly the clear QB2 on the Seahawks.

Just comes off as really bizarre.

Sounds like media in general.

 

[massraider]

Not to derail from HSGs great thread too much, but it speaks to how just about all news has slowly just become "entertainment" over the past few years, to the point they rarely even try to dress it up as legitimate anymore

On the contrary, I think you are speaking exactly to the OP.

Just all kind of sad, and makes it easier to just grow apathetic and disconnect from a lot of this stuff anymore.

I feel you, but I would say that a little personal curating goes a long way toward fixing this issue.

The original tweet that HSG was quoting was from a Twitter account that's really pretty helpful. 32BeatWriters. But they aren't really discerning.

They are really doing exact same thing as Faust does here. Faust isn't vetting this stuff, he's sharing. It's my job to hover my cursor over the link, and know if it's worth clicking.
In case anyone was unaware, any knucklehead with a keyboard can write for any of these sites. SI.com, Bleacher Report, etc. On a whim, I submitted a writing sample to a few of these several years ago. Accepted by every single site (four, I think). They will let ANYONE create content for them.

Point is, some jerky on SI.com throwing out an opinion is no more valid than if it came from RaidersSuckMyBallzz1989 from FFToday forums.

 

[pinkstapler]

Not to derail from HSGs great thread too much, but it speaks to how just about all news has slowly just become "entertainment" over the past few years, to the point they rarely even try to dress it up as legitimate anymore

On the contrary, I think you are speaking exactly to the OP.

Just all kind of sad, and makes it easier to just grow apathetic and disconnect from a lot of this stuff anymore.

I feel you, but I would say that a little personal curating goes a long way toward fixing this issue.

The original tweet that HSG was quoting was from a Twitter account that's really pretty helpful. 32BeatWriters. But they aren't really discerning.

They are really doing exact same thing as Faust does here. Faust isn't vetting this stuff, he's sharing. It's my job to hover my cursor over the link, and know if it's worth clicking.
In case anyone was unaware, any knucklehead with a keyboard can write for any of these sites. SI.com, Bleacher Report, etc. On a whim, I submitted a writing sample to a few of these several years ago. Accepted by every single site (four, I think). They will let ANYONE create content for them.

Point is, some jerky on SI.com throwing out an opinion is no more valid than if it came from RaidersSuckMyBallzz1989 from FFToday forums.

The HST profile picture makes me intrigued as to the content of this writing sample. In my head cannon it was revisiting the depravity of the Kentucky Derby

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

The original tweet that HSG was quoting was from a Twitter account that's really pretty helpful. 32BeatWriters. But they aren't really discerning.

Actually no, it was all directly from NBC / Rotoworld.

 

[BassNBrew]

But what you're describing with the "whip saw" thing with seeming them going from different perspectives is a real challenge when you have mulitple people contributing but it's not clear to the reader that it's multiple people.

It's one of our biggest challenges to try and have a consistent "FBG Voice".

We'll use our rankings for people to express their individual opinions. Or our Player Spotlights. But at the end of the day, people want a FBG Pick. So we do that too. But it's a big challenge for us to not be confusing to the reader.

Sure, and I agree that’s a challenge.

What I don’t understand (or appreciate) is trying to create the narrative that clearly isn’t there.

Ok the 1st time I get it - they drafted Milroe, fair question if he’s gonna get some packages with his athleticism.

The 2nd is clearly framed as an “if/then” statement, concluding that “neither of them (the 2 QB) will have any FF value”
Ok, fair statement, but kinda out of left field, especially since the coach just told you it wasn’t going to be the case.

The last one is especially grating, as they’re essentially saying “it’s troubling that reporters keep asking these questions”.

lol, cmon. This isn’t reporting, it’s world building.

Understood.

We try to keep it fact focused and grounded in the "our view" sections.

They've clearly built a huge business tons more successful than Footballguys though so I have to tip the cap there.

I've built a business and am not the biggest dog in town. I don't cheat clients or customers like the rest of the industry and try to make our engagement a positive experience and win/win for everyone. I may have to end up working a few extra years, but at the end of the day I'm perfect fine with that. The size of your bank account is the end all in the definition of success. You are very successful IMO.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I've built a business and am not the biggest dog in town. I don't cheat clients or customers like the rest of the industry and try to make our engagement a positive experience and win/win for everyone. I may have to end up working a few extra years, but at the end of the day I'm perfect fine with that.

Exactly. And same.

 

[massraider]

Actually no, it was all directly from NBC / Rotoworld.

my bad. Sorry, I didn't realize people still went to that site.

I do have to say, the 'our view' part of those blurbs was always the part I ignored. Give me the facts, I'll draw my own conclusion.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I do have to say, the 'our view' part of those blurbs was always the part I ignored. Give me the facts, I'll draw my own conclusion.

Yeah, it’s not even an “our view” - in the OP, the part I put in quotes with date is the bolded lede, and the part in the quote excerpt is the body of each item.

That’s actually what I take the most issue with. It’s all blurred together with no delineation between what is real and the narratives they've interjected as fact.

If they’d prefaced any of it with “our view” or “our opinion” this would be a non-issue. Even a “it leads us to wonder what will happen if…” sort of preamble would be fine.

But they don’t do that even once. Just wild speculation integrated fully with a quote from the team, opinion disguised as news.

 

[Desert_Power]

But what you're describing with the "whip saw" thing with seeming them going from different perspectives is a real challenge when you have mulitple people contributing but it's not clear to the reader that it's multiple people.

It's one of our biggest challenges to try and have a consistent "FBG Voice".

We'll use our rankings for people to express their individual opinions. Or our Player Spotlights. But at the end of the day, people want a FBG Pick. So we do that too. But it's a big challenge for us to not be confusing to the reader.

Sure, and I agree that’s a challenge.

What I don’t understand (or appreciate) is trying to create the narrative that clearly isn’t there.

Ok the 1st time I get it - they drafted Milroe, fair question if he’s gonna get some packages with his athleticism.

The 2nd is clearly framed as an “if/then” statement, concluding that “neither of them (the 2 QB) will have any FF value”
Ok, fair statement, but kinda out of left field, especially since the coach just told you it wasn’t going to be the case.

The last one is especially grating, as they’re essentially saying “it’s troubling that reporters keep asking these questions”.

lol, cmon. This isn’t reporting, it’s world building.

Understood.

We try to keep it fact focused and grounded in the "our view" sections.

They've clearly built a huge business tons more successful than Footballguys though so I have to tip the cap there.

I think what you do better than most (all?) of these sites is separate the "news" portion of the item from the "our view" part of your blurbs. Some of these massive sites interweave them, as HSG has shown above. A lot of those kinds of articles are making things up out of whole cloth when the actual quotes run directly against what the "writer" is trying to sell the reader. AI-written articles are only going to make this worse. When I read FBGs stuff, I know it's coming from people who know what they are talking about. Whether I agree or not with a particular "our view" doesn't matter (they are usually right and I am usually wrong ). Not blowing smoke up your butt here, Joe. Y'all keep being y'all.

Absolutely a great feature. The amount of time I've read these blurbs while on the clock...

 

[massraider]

But they don’t do that even once. Just wild speculation integrated fully with a quote from the team, opinion disguised as news

My internal rule with PFT when reading a news story back when PFT was relevant to me, was to ignore the last paragraph. It wasn't news, it was always Florio's attempt to find a sleazy angle.

 

[wgoldsph]

I've never seen an outlet work harder to produce a framed narrative out of whole cloth.

Haven't been paying attention to just the regular media then, eh?

I look at it from the journalist's perspective, each day you need to get a new interesting quote from the players and coaches who have all been trained to be as milquetoast as possible so they don't made the brand look bad. That's how you get stories like "Stephon Diggs is near pink powder". Something needs to make headlines, and if there isn't one then they just need to keep asking in different ways until they find a soundbite.

It works considering the fact that we are now talking about it, at the very least.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

It works considering the fact that we are now talking about it, at the very least.

Not exactly, seeing as my OP was practically dripping with derision for the irresponsible reporting.

 

[wgoldsph]

It works considering the fact that we are now talking about it, at the very least.

Not exactly, seeing as my OP was practically dripping with derision for the irresponsible reporting.

All advertising is good advertising.

It's funny because at least three of the people in this thread are independent businesses owners and I'm acting like I know anything about business.

That said, I think about this in particular is that nobody really believes in Darnold and we all want the electric yet raw rookie to take the league by storm. Or at the very least see him a few snaps a game like early Lamar Jackson. "Sam's our quarterback" isn't exactly an inspiring thing to be saying.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

That said, I think about this in particular is that nobody really believes in Darnold and we all want the electric yet raw rookie to take the league by storm. Or at the very least see him a few snaps a game like early Lamar Jackson. "Sam's our quarterback" isn't exactly an inspiring thing to be saying.

I don’t think that’s the case at all. I think that’s the garbage narrative that NBC is trying to spin. Clearly the team believes Darnold is their best bet.

 

[wgoldsph]

That said, I think about this in particular is that nobody really believes in Darnold and we all want the electric yet raw rookie to take the league by storm. Or at the very least see him a few snaps a game like early Lamar Jackson. "Sam's our quarterback" isn't exactly an inspiring thing to be saying.

I don’t think that’s the case at all. I think that’s the garbage narrative that NBC is trying to spin. Clearly the team believes Darnold is their best bet.

It's not NBC's opinion. It's MY opinion. Darnold may not see ghosts any more, but I have absolutely no faith in him behind the Seattle line and Kubiack (sp) as an OC. He never should have been given the starting job in the first place and Seattle should have signed Geno on the same structured contract that let them get out without being on the hook for a more money. Hell even a guaranteed two years you can eat if you draft a rookie after this season.

I am not saying I know more than the people in the building by any means, I just feel like this is a common take on the trade and Sam Darnold as a QB. Personally I want to say it's crazy to suggest Sam is their best possible option when Nathan Peterman is on the street right now. I want more than the "he gives us the best chance to win" soundbite, I want to know how you're going to fix the fact that he can't handle rushers in his face at all on top of that line and that skill position group now that DK is gone. And please give me more than "fix his footwork".

Until then we'll just have to dream of a QB controversy.

 

[wgoldsph]

Also... The fact that they're not using the dynamic Monroe in at least one trick play package makes no sense. He's in the playbook in a designed play somewhere or Seattle doesn't trust him to run a QB draw. In that case he'll be on practice squad, which would be a story in it's own right.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Also... The fact that they're not using the dynamic Monroe in at least one trick play package makes no sense. He's in the playbook in a designed play somewhere or Seattle doesn't trust him to run a QB draw. In that case he'll be on practice squad, which would be a story in it's own right.

He’s nowhere near ready to trust in an NFL lineup.

he’s a project. The best thing for him & the team is for him to sit for 1-2 years. If the Seahawks are running out Milroe at any point this year they’re in deep doo doo. And they’ll probably ruin him.

 

[massraider]

Also... The fact that they're not using the dynamic Monroe in at least one trick play package makes no sense

I don't think this is a fact already, what with the season being months away.

 

[wgoldsph]

Also... The fact that they're not using the dynamic Monroe in at least one trick play package makes no sense

I don't think this is a fact already, what with the season being months away.

That's what I mean though. Based on what they're saying there's nothing this player is capable of doing. A better quote would be something like "Sam is our starter, but we always are looking to be creative on offense" is much better than this "i don't know why anyone is questioning this questionable move" nonsense.

Also @Hot Sauce Guy , if you're not NFL ready in some capacity then you don't make an NFL roster. They need to at least believe Monroe can act as their third string, or he's practice squad.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Also @Hot Sauce Guy , if you're not NFL ready in some capacity then you don't make an NFL roster. They need to at least believe Monroe can act as their third string, or he's practice squad.

He hasn’t made the NFL roster yet, my dude. And if he does, he’s almost certainly their QB3. Maybe their QB4 if they carry 4 this year.

You act like this would be a sin against god and nature and the craziest thing to ever happen, but I assure you it’s very normal and happens all the time.

yoda would tell you to not go to the dark side, letting your Darnold hatred flow through you. lol

 

[titusbramble]

Why are the Seahawks fielding questions from fantasy football people in the first place?

While it is in no way clear whether this is what was happening, why wouldn't they? A franchise limiting questions to dying legacy media outlets would appear to me to be the opposite of progressive

 

[Pip's Invitation]

“Nathan Peterman is better than Darnold” may be the hottest take I’ve seen on these boards


Edited. Please do not mock other posters.