Packers Huddle

I just honestly like guys who can break down film to teach me about the game, guys with inside access to give me a feel what is going on and guys who write stories to get me to know the human a bit more.

Right now I have that.

Andy Herman breaks down film.
Nagler, Demovsky, Wes and Spoff have inside feels (Spoff and Wes obviously are towing the Packer line)
and Wes, Spoff, and Dunne do great jobs on getting to write great stories on the people behind the helmet.

I'm happy.

Acrobat wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 08:01

McGinn lost me at his hit piece on Colt Lyerla and how the Packers were bottom dwellers or whatever. I think he WAS good but then he developed tunnel vision and was resembling Skip Bayless more than a respected sports reporter.

I doubt he ever said we where bottom dwellers, and whatever he said concerning Lyerla was probably accurate, lis, if your a homer Bob was bound to upset you, not that he was always right, but he was most of the time, as the article I just brought says ( you should read it) Bob was distinguished as one of the country's best sports journalist, his reason for leaving had to do with the increase of Packer beat reporters made it more difficult to gain access to interviews, He loved being a Packer beat reporter till the end.

Skip bayless comment shows me you don't know much about Bob McGinn.

go pak go wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 08:10

I just honestly like guys who can break down film to teach me about the game, guys with inside access to give me a feel what is going on and guys who write stories to get me to know the human a bit more.

Right now I have that.

Andy Herman breaks down film.
Nagler, Demovsky, Wes and Spoff have inside feels (Spoff and Wes obviously are towing the Packer line)
and Wes, Spoff, and Dunne do great jobs on getting to write great stories on the people behind the helmet.

I'm happy.

Bob McGinn and someone like Yoho's father and Cristy and the older sports journalist didn't have the up bringing of the internet, but that doesn't mean they lacked the ability to explain what transpired on the field during games, and they did, just not with pictures.

the more well known you are outside of Wisky sports, the more you can ask the FO tough questions and pin them down for honest answers, McGinn called out the FO plenty and I remember Ted saying he respected Bob for doing so, but said he couldn't/wouldn't answer every question with a chuckle, he new Bob had a job to do, I think a lot of fans got the wrong impression of McGinn simply because they didn't like what he had to say even though what did say was balls on accurate.

Yoop wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 08:12

Acrobat wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 08:01

McGinn lost me at his hit piece on Colt Lyerla and how the Packers were bottom dwellers or whatever. I think he WAS good but then he developed tunnel vision and was resembling Skip Bayless more than a respected sports reporter.

I doubt he ever said we where bottom dwellers, and whatever he said concerning Lyerla was probably accurate, lis, if your a homer Bob was bound to upset you, not that he was always right, but he was most of the time, as the article I just brought says ( you should read it) Bob was distinguished as one of the country's best sports journalist, his reason for leaving had to do with the increase of Packer beat reporters made it more difficult to gain access to interviews, He loved being a Packer beat reporter till the end.

Skip bayless comment shows me you don't know much about Bob McGinn.

I just remember his article, and several articles in future years coming across as a desperate attempt to be edgy. As I said, he WAS a really good reporter but after a while, he became predictable. You know that his articles were going to be negative. That was his new image, much like Skip Bayless plays the contrarian for a living.

Yoop wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 08:23

go pak go wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 08:10

I just honestly like guys who can break down film to teach me about the game, guys with inside access to give me a feel what is going on and guys who write stories to get me to know the human a bit more.

Right now I have that.

Andy Herman breaks down film.
Nagler, Demovsky, Wes and Spoff have inside feels (Spoff and Wes obviously are towing the Packer line)
and Wes, Spoff, and Dunne do great jobs on getting to write great stories on the people behind the helmet.

I'm happy.

Bob McGinn and someone like Yoho's father and Cristy and the older sports journalist didn't have the up bringing of the internet, but that doesn't mean they lacked the ability to explain what transpired on the field during games, and they did, just not with pictures.

the more well known you are outside of Wisky sports, the more you can ask the FO tough questions and pin them down for honest answers, McGinn called out the FO plenty and I remember Ted saying he respected Bob for doing so, but said he couldn't/wouldn't answer every question with a chuckle, he new Bob had a job to do, I think a lot of fans got the wrong impression of McGinn simply because they didn't like what he had to say even though what did say was balls on accurate.

Yeah my post wasn't about ranting against old sports writers at all. I know that was a different time.

I was just saying I think we are starting to get a good mix again of media folks covering the Packers. There was definitely a dark period from like 2014 - 2018 where the media coverage was JUNK because it was still old time media guys doing things the old way (meaning using the press conference for sounds bites and putting in an article). Those are worthless today because I can listen to the press conference myself. I don't need a regurgitated sound bite.

Plus, these journalists can do their work over video format and podcasts rather than writing which is also a breath of fresh air. Meaning I can listen to a podcast while cooking or something mindless and get my news rather than needing to read an article.

The result is I am more educated fan than I was able to be 15 or even 10 years ago.

The tough question thing to me isn't about how much of a dick can you be, but rather how creative are you in asking the question? There are guys who still ask tough questions. Some of them are dicks about it though and that's now how you go about it. And it's not just a FO thing. I remember when reports asked Rodgers about his fundamentals and Rodgers responded, "look at my high school tape!" He was visibly pissed.

McGinn also has a knack for creating a narrative about what the team should do; acting like that narrative is driven by inside sources about what the team will do/wants to do, then criticizing the team for not doing what they wanted to do; when the only reason the narrative ever existed was because McGinn kept pushing it in the first place. I've talked to a lot of people who work in the NFL over the years--opinions are not unified within organizations. Just because you have some source telling you one thing doesn't mean it's The Thing.

Anyway, his source work is SUPER valuable, especially when he posts the longer-form versions of the quotes and doesn't cherry-pick as much. His draft predictions are routinely good, which likely means his sources around the league keep him pretty well tuned-in. He has value as a reporter. It's his columns and, yeah, predictable points of view that grew tiresome.

I guess I haven't read as much Dunne since he went away, but he seems much more of a human interest reporter with real sources than a narrative-builder who won't sway. But lupe says he's doing the same thing, and I honestly don't see enough of his work to argue it. Just that I haven't seen it as much.

YoHoChecko wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 09:10

I guess I haven't read as much Dunne since he went away, but he seems much more of a human interest reporter with real sources than a narrative-builder who won't sway.

I just saw he put out a piece on Erik Kramer. I don't have access to read-it, but am aware of his story (it is worth your attention) and I think you are right. Even the Rodgers story, I think that was more here's what it is versus drama seeking.

I remember reading a article Bob did on Ted Thompson, wish I could find it, even though Bob seemed tough on Ted the article was full of praise for Ted, I bet Bob took it hard watching Teds ability decline the last couple years, to my knowledge he never wrote about it though, and he surely could have.

YoHoChecko wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 09:10

I guess I haven't read as much Dunne since he went away, but he seems much more of a human interest reporter with real sources than a narrative-builder who won't sway. But lupe says he's doing the same thing, and I honestly don't see enough of his work to argue it. Just that I haven't seen it as much.

He is a human interest guy. Especially for Packers stuff now that he is back in Buffalo. And Dunne works really hard on his pieces. I think I remembered him saying he follow MVS and AJ Dillon for days/weeks just to get to know them to write his pieces.

I think the criticism for Tyler Dunne is unfair. He grew up a Packers fan. Yeah he may be a tool on a personal level. But I know a lot of tools.

go pak go wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 09:08

I was just saying I think we are starting to get a good mix again of media folks covering the Packers. There was definitely a dark period from like 2014 - 2018 where the media coverage was JUNK because it was still old time media guys doing things the old way (meaning using the press conference for sounds bites and putting in an article). Those are worthless today because I can listen to the press conference myself. I don't need a regurgitated sound bite.

was the reporting junk, or was it that they told us that the team was junk, as I said, Packer fans hate hearing stuff about the team they don't like, always been this way, Fans dislike any news that points to ineptitude, even though there upset over FO issues themselves.

It's like I can be critical of my brother, but you can't sorta thing.

you like the new form of media that you can listen to versus the written word that you have to take time to read, I think thats common now days, everyone is in such a hurry or busy, myself, I grew up with Packer report, very few pictures, but great articles.

Yoop wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 10:13

go pak go wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 09:08

I was just saying I think we are starting to get a good mix again of media folks covering the Packers. There was definitely a dark period from like 2014 - 2018 where the media coverage was JUNK because it was still old time media guys doing things the old way (meaning using the press conference for sounds bites and putting in an article). Those are worthless today because I can listen to the press conference myself. I don't need a regurgitated sound bite.

was the reporting junk, or was it that they told us that the team was junk, as I said, Packer fans hate hearing stuff about the team they don't like, always been this way, Fans dislike any news that points to ineptitude, even though there upset over FO issues themselves.

It's like I can be critical of my brother, but you can't sorta thing.

you like the new form of media that you can listen to versus the written word that you have to take time to read, I think thats common now days, everyone is in such a hurry or busy, myself, I grew up with Packer report, very few pictures, but great articles.

oh okay so when you defend the beat writers and talk of the great articles and reporting you are drawing from your experiences some time ago such as when you were in your childhood potentially around the 1930s.

Yoop wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 10:13

go pak go wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 09:08

I was just saying I think we are starting to get a good mix again of media folks covering the Packers. There was definitely a dark period from like 2014 - 2018 where the media coverage was JUNK because it was still old time media guys doing things the old way (meaning using the press conference for sounds bites and putting in an article). Those are worthless today because I can listen to the press conference myself. I don't need a regurgitated sound bite.

was the reporting junk, or was it that they told us that the team was junk, as I said, Packer fans hate hearing stuff about the team they don't like, always been this way, Fans dislike any news that points to ineptitude, even though there upset over FO issues themselves.

The reporting was junk.

I don't care if the news is bad or the news is good. I just want the news. I want to be educated. I don't want opinions from "unnamed sources". I want to see WHY a person analyzes something a certain way.

From 2014 to 2018, the tweeting and reporting of the Packers were bad. We all complained about it. The Training Camp updates were horrible. Jason Wilde was a joke. His name to fame was having Rodgers on his show in 2014 and the famous words, 'R-E-L-A-X...relax" but his updates on TC were horrible. All we got was 6 tweets of the same injury count, who isn't practicing, did someone intercept the ball and what music was playing. It was terrible coverage. We didn't know who was in the lineups, how the blocking was, etc.

It's why the Press Gazette took a chance on Aaron Nagler. A non-journalist who had a "fan perspective". Us fans told Aaron what questions to ask the coach and the players and it was awesome. From there people who were trained in film review, like Andy Herman, Ross Uglum and Zach Kruse, got more platforms to educate the die hard fans of what to look for, again good and bad. Zach Kruse was a true leader in showing us why MM made his offenses hard and also why Rodgers was not playing the level he should have been playing (like missing Wide Open receivers). It was very eye opening and incredible coverage.

I got excited about the MLF hire primarily because of Zach Kruse. And he ended up being right.

I also like the new platforms because they can show directly what they are talking about via All 22 tape video feeds on twitter. The coverage is definitely getting better.

why you would present Nagler as some street fan is beyond me, Nagler has been envolved with NFL football for a decade or more.

Whether you’re watching the Green Bay Packers on Lambeau Field’s aluminum bleachers, your favorite bar stool or that new recliner, we know your smartphone is your second screen.

To serve you better on whichever social media platform you prefer, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin will expand and improve its digital reach by hiring someone steeped in the digital world to help cover the Packers.

Aaron Nagler, an NFL analyst for Sports Illustrated who co-founded the Cheesehead TV website, is joining the PackersNews.com coverage team as a multimedia reporter/social media strategist.


Nagler, an Appleton native whose grandfather took him to see his first Packers game at age 3, was chosen for the newly created position after a national search.


“Aaron is a natural fit for this exciting, evolving position,” Packers Editor Stu Courtney said. “His focus will be on taking our outstanding Packers reporting to new places, using social media platforms to help our coverage find new audiences.”

Nagler’s mission will be to help identify practical opportunities among an array of digital and social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, as well as new and emerging applications.


Before joining Sports Illustrated, where he served for two seasons as an on-camera NFL analyst and social producer for NFL games, Nagler wrote for Bleacher Report and helped the site launch and grow its NFL video group.

With CheeseheadTV.com, Nagler took what began as a Wordpress blog and grew it into one of the most popular independent Packers sites on the internet. He provided daily content and built a strong social media presence for the site, and also co-hosted a live weekly one-hour broadcast, Packer Transplants, that included interviews with current and former players and members of the national and local media.

“I am both excited and honored to be joining such a robust, venerable team covering the most storied franchise in the NFL,” Nagler said. “I hope I can add a unique, real-time voice to the already-amazing Packers coverage that fans have come to expect from PackersNews.com."

obviously video, and podcast is a step up from old world journalism, I waited weekly for my Packer report, and almost any written article on the Packers, young people like you have it so much better then fans born prior to the 90's, but I still like a well written article, and our beat writters did a pretty good job of that.

yoop.

i didnt get to see your reply to me [mention]Yoop[/mention] but i was just messing with ya. Teasing if you will.

go pak go wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 11:28

yoop.

the team did stuff from 014 maybe even sooner that our beat writers didn't approve of, specially McGinn, and they voiced there opinions, right or wrong, they gave fans something to read, and for that I'am thankful.

this was never a contest for me of who was better or worse, I admit I like the podcast from Herman, and articles from Krause and Uglum, I just don't see the need to step on guys like Wilde, Silverstien, or Demovsky, my feeling is that they did a pretty good job of reporting TC practices, do you realize how boring that job can be when ya do it 4 hours a day, every day, I've been to TC practices when I was a young pisser like you I couldn't get enough, as I got older I couldn't wait to leave, thats how that can get, how many nice catches, how many Pds does it take to be impressed, coupled with very average player production most of the rest of the time, they probably become as bored writing the stuff you become bored reading.

Drj820 wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 11:58

i didnt get to see your reply to me @Yoop but i was just messing with ya. Teasing if you will.

I deleted it because I knew you where probably just kidding, I turned 74 this week and you hurt my feelings

Yoop wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 12:02

Drj820 wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 11:58

i didnt get to see your reply to me @Yoop but i was just messing with ya. Teasing if you will.

I deleted it because I knew you where probably just kidding, I turned 74 this week and you hurt my feelings

apologies i was just joking around

Drj820 wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 12:04

Yoop wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 12:02

Drj820 wrote: ↑

29 Jun 2021 11:58

i didnt get to see your reply to me @Yoop but i was just messing with ya. Teasing if you will.

I deleted it because I knew you where probably just kidding, I turned 74 this week and you hurt my feelings

apologies i was just joking around

haha, I admit I become defensive with almost anything concerning the Packers, I'am a homer minus the rose colored glasses, I lived through the dark years when Packers management made one mistake after another for 2 decades, when Harlan took over all of Packer nation breathed a sigh of relief, obviously some beat reporters are a lot better then other, however to a old fan that was starved for years for any Packer info living in Chicago land, almost any news was welcome.

My prediction on the Rodgers fiasco:

Aaron Rodgers retires….then comes back next year and plays for the Broncos. The Packers accuse the Broncos of tampering. Setting everything up through “unofficial” channels the year before.

The Green Bay fans will be pissed because management had a chance to get several high draft choices for Rodgers but instead played hardball and missed an opportunity to get something for the HOF QB.

The Packers struggle with Jordan Love while Rodgers lead Denver to the Super Bowl. The Packer fans demand a change in the front office.

The front office remains the same but they all get down on their knees and pray that Jordan Love quickly improves to become a top NFL QB.

….to be continued…