Underhill on Payton
I mean, Ian has “reported” this AT LEAST 4 times since 2015. At what point do we finally say casually “jumping the gun” crosses the line into bad reporting? We seriously haven’t gotten there by now?
Maybe he’s right this time, but I think he’s way past getting the benefit of the doubt.
And has Underhill actually ever defended Rapoport, or is that just speculation? I haven’t seen Underhill do that, but I could be wrong.
4 times = 3 in a 1 week period - Dec. 27, 2015 and Jan. 3/4 2016 PLUS yesterday’s report. So, in essence, you have two reports—the first at the end of 2015/beginning of 2016 when speculation was rampant across league that Payton was leaving (Niners and Dolphins were big two with Giants also *reportedly* interested) until he announced on Jan. 6 2016 that he was going to be here as long as the team would have him. And the other is this latest report. It is not as if there are 4 reports spread over 4 different seasons. Now honestly, “committed” is not necessarily the word I would use because I think it is a bit charged, and I have repeatedly said Ian’s reporting can be sensationalistic. But yesterday’s report is not inaccurate.
As for Nick defending Ian, I said he “would” defend him and I said it for a reason.
With as much time and energy as you're putting into defending Rapoport, me thinks Rapoport has been your inside source all this time. It makes sense, since you have claimed to have information about other teams that someone inside the Saints organization wouldn't necessarily have.
Also, Ian doesn't seem as concerned about his reputation as a reporter as you seem to be.
I put time and energy into almost every post. Always have. Just my nature to explain things in detail. But a few things:
1. Ian is not and never has been my source.
2. I do not work inside the Saints organization although it wouldn’t be hard for someone in one organization to have insider info on another. A lot of these individuals are friends and/or former colleagues/employees of one another/other teams so they are able to get info. For example, Jeff Ireland was able to tap his former sources with Miami to get intel on Brian Flores. In addition, a lot of these teams hire each other’s family—so Ted Philips’s son works for the Saints and Mickey Loomis’s daughter ironically does marketing for the Bears.
3. I am not concerned with Ian’s rep. When he has been wrong, I’ve said so. This is an instance where he is not even if I don’t care for the story being written and his delivery.
60minutes has been on this forum for a long time and has consistently been a source of reliable information when it comes to the team. Whether in this instance you like the content of that information (I don't; I want Payton to see out his contract and hope that he ultimately will), it doesn't diminish the fact that as at today's date there are some legitimate questions being asked about his future in the league on the basis of seemingly credible information that has now been reported by several media outlets.
Thanks. I appreciate it. Thing is, I’m not upset because I know it is tiring for Saints fans. Every year almost, same narrative from some corner of the league or another. My only point was that Ian’s report, at least this time, was accurate. At the same time, I wish he had not written it because it does fuel speculation and splash reporting. And at some level, it becomes what Nick suggested is happening—folks trying to interpret Sean’s silence.
I’m not doubting that we’re near the end of Payton’s career. He’s been in the League for 16 years and you’re starting to have to go back to the 60s and 70s to see someone with the same longevity with one team (besides Belechick).
I have a hard time believing he’ll leave town this soon without any notice.
No, he will not leave without notice and reality is I think he is back. He was burnt out, he took some time away. But in doing so, the approach was different than usual and he has not been communicative. So, it has caused people close to him to wonder. But I tend to believe when you are burnt out, and are trying to get your groove back, sometimes it is necessary to switch up the routine. Throughout his career, Sean has mastered reinvention—with small things and approaches. And in the past week, I’ve seen things that give me confidence that not only will he be back but he will be back with more vigor and a vengeance.