Jeff Duncan (1 Viewer)

[RJ in Lafayette]

For years, Duncan has been blistered on this forum, largely based on his somewhat negative coverage of the Saints organization during Bountygate. The most frequent allegation was that he turned on the local team to get a job with a national organization. A frequent response seen was I will never read Jeff Duncan.

I never was terribly critical of Duncan because I thought the organization merited criticism over Bountygate--though I also believe that the NFL's investigation was one-sided and the league's sanctions were absurd. The investigation findings and penalties were driven by the then ongoing head-injury class-action lawsuit. In large part, my anger at the organization was based on my understanding that the Saints and at least one other team had been warned by the league about "bounties" and that the Saints simply ignored the warning, putting themselves in the position to be the league's convenient scapegoat, which is exactly what happened. Bountygate was about public relations, not player safety. But we handed them our head on a platter.

But it seems these days that if the Saints organization at any time was upset with Duncan, it no longer is. When Payton was here, the organization leaked to Sean's friends in the national media what he wanted to leak. Then it seemed the organization and Nick Underhill had a cozy relationship with Underhill reporting what the Saints wanted reported. Today it seems that if the Saints want something talked about, Jeff Duncan in their go-to guy.

Is my impression about Duncan today wrong?

 

[mr.t]

For years, Duncan has been blistered on this forum, largely based on his somewhat negative coverage of the Saints organization during Bountygate. The most frequent allegation was that he turned on the local team to get a job with a national organization. A frequent response seen was I will never read Jeff Duncan.

I never was terribly critical of Duncan because I thought the organization merited criticism over Bountygate--though I also believe that the NFL's investigation was one-sided and the league's sanctions were absurd. The investigation findings and penalties were driven by the then ongoing head-injury class-action lawsuit. In large part, my anger at the organization was based on my understanding that the Saints and at least one other team had been warned by the league about "bounties" and that the Saints simply ignored the warning, putting themselves in the position to be the league's convenient scapegoat, which is exactly what happened. Bountygate was about public relations, not player safety. But we handed them our head on a platter.

But it seems these days that if the Saints organization at any time was upset with Duncan, it no longer is. When Payton was here, the organization leaked to Sean's friends in the national media what he wanted to leak. Then it seemed the organization and Nick Underhill had a cozy relationship with Underhill reporting what the Saints wanted reported. Today it seems that if the Saints want something talked about, Jeff Duncan in their go-to guy.

Is my impression about Duncan today wrong?

I don't read him. I trust you

 

[Rouxble]

Is my impression about Duncan today wrong?

He is saying what they want to hear, all is forgiven as a result.

 

[26ISTHEMAN]

For years, Duncan has been blistered on this forum, largely based on his somewhat negative coverage of the Saints organization during Bountygate. The most frequent allegation was that he turned on the local team to get a job with a national organization. A frequent response seen was I will never read Jeff Duncan.

I never was terribly critical of Duncan because I thought the organization merited criticism over Bountygate--though I also believe that the NFL's investigation was one-sided and the league's sanctions were absurd. The investigation findings and penalties were driven by the then ongoing head-injury class-action lawsuit. In large part, my anger at the organization was based on my understanding that the Saints and at least one other team had been warned by the league about "bounties" and that the Saints simply ignored the warning, putting themselves in the position to be the league's convenient scapegoat, which is exactly what happened. Bountygate was about public relations, not player safety. But we handed them our head on a platter.

But it seems these days that if the Saints organization at any time was upset with Duncan, it no longer is. When Payton was here, the organization leaked to Sean's friends in the national media what he wanted to leak. Then it seemed the organization and Nick Underhill had a cozy relationship with Underhill reporting what the Saints wanted reported. Today it seems that if the Saints want something talked about, Jeff Duncan in their go-to guy.

Is my impression about Duncan today wrong?

Fans didn't so much turn on Duncan because of negative coverage of the team. They turned on him because he mocked the fan base. I haven't read a single thing he's written since then.

 

[SoggyBottomBoy]

The main issue I had/have with Duncan was his condescending tone he took towards us fans. He accused us of being incapable of being objective fans. I met Duncan at an SR.com gathering and he's a nice, decent fellow. I bought his post-Super Bowl book and enjoyed it. But during that bounty gate period he simply towed the national media/NFL line as if to show he was open-minded about the subject.

As the story played out, yes, SP and Saints got caught after being warned, but the severity of the punishment pointed to the Saints simply being a scapegoat. The so-called evidence that the league had was mostly manufactured and changed as that was revealed. Thankfully, Vilma sued the NFL and they were no longer able to hide behind a CBA stipulation. And I think that Duncan had an ax to grind with Payton, but that is my speculation. If he was gunning for a national gig, that's speculation as well, I guess. Regarding BountyGate, I think he was simply wrong and I think he knows that as well.

And, no, I don't read his work unless portions of it are quoted on this forum.

 

[Elvis]

I think Duncan is the organizations inside guy at this point. He might as well be John DeShazier of NOLA.com.

 

[NatureBoy]

I don’t know if he is their inside guy, but his article about the culture certainly comes from a position of knowing something that he’s not willing to entirely say. Either he doesn’t want to cause waves (by saying too much and compromising his informant) or he was fed the company line. Whichever it is, this is the type of article that usually precedes the juicy parts of the story he wasn’t in position to tell today.

 

[St. Widge]

The main issue I had/have with Duncan was his condescending tone he took towards us fans. He accused us of being incapable of being objective fans. I met Duncan at an SR.com gathering and he's a nice, decent fellow. I bought his post Super Bowl book and enjoyed it. But during that bounty gate period he simply towed the national media and NFL line as if to show he was open-minded about the subject.

As the story played out, yes, SP and Saints got caught after being warned, but the severity of the punishment pointed to the Saints simply being a scapegoat. The so-called evidence that the league had was mostly manufactured and changed as that was revealed. Thankfully, Vilma sued the NFL and they were no longer able to hide behind a CBA stipulation. And I think that Duncan had an ax to grind with Payton, but that is my speculation. If he was gunning for a national gig, that's speculation as well, I guess. Regarding BountyGate, I think he was simply wrong and I think he knows that as well.

And, no, I don't read his work unless portions of it are quoted on this forum.

I agree with all of this. I'll add that I think he continues to troll Saints fans for clicks.

 

[BreesusSaves]

The main issue I had/have with Duncan was his condescending tone he took towards us fans. He accused us of being incapable of being objective fans. I met Duncan at an SR.com gathering and he's a nice, decent fellow. I bought his post Super Bowl book and enjoyed it. But during that bounty gate period he simply towed the national media and NFL line as if to show he was open-minded about the subject.

As the story played out, yes, SP and Saints got caught after being warned, but the severity of the punishment pointed to the Saints simply being a scapegoat. The so-called evidence that the league had was mostly manufactured and changed as that was revealed. Thankfully, Vilma sued the NFL and they were no longer able to hide behind a CBA stipulation. And I think that Duncan had an ax to grind with Payton, but that is my speculation. If he was gunning for a national gig, that's speculation as well, I guess. Regarding BountyGate, I think he was simply wrong and I think he knows that as well.

And, no, I don't read his work unless portions of it are quoted on this forum.

Don't forget the Federal Judge went on record and called the NFL's evidence laughable. That case fell apart so fast in open court it was breathtaking.

 

[SaintsMan209]

Yes that’s accurate.

 

[Super]

Scooter? I thibk he burned some bridges around here. He’s on the other side looking thru the smoke and flams trying to get back

 

[GeauxSainz]

Fans didn't so much turn on Duncan because of negative coverage of the team. They turned on him because he mocked the fan base. I haven't read a single thing he's written since then.

This right here. Scooter can go pound sand for all I care.

 

[Deuuuuce]

I remember scooter writing all these negative, click baity articles in 2009, and then when it became clear the team was for real, he pivoted and wound up writing a book celebrating the superbowl win. Never trusted him after that.

 

[St. Widge]

I remember scooter writing all these negative, click baity articles in 2009, and then when it became clear the team was for real, he pivoted and wound up writing a book celebrating the superbowl win. Never trusted him after that.

And he is doing similar things now. When the fans were being positive he wrote negative articles for click bait. Now that all the fans are disgruntled and unhappy with keeping DA and the direction of the organization, he is writing articles in support of the current direction to generate controversy and clicks. Dude is a troll for clicks plain and simple.

I will say, that most of the other reporters seem to really like Duncan, so maybe if you know him he's a good guy and a good person. But his online/media persona is that of a troll.

 

[DerrickB]

Y'all only enhancing his profile by continuing to mention him. Lol