Kirk Herbstreit hits back at Dan Orlovsky’s comments on Justin Fields

There is an unwritten rule among network colleagues not to call colleagues publicly. (Some in the company would say this also applies to employees of competing networks.) Recently, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit broke this convention regarding comments made by ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky about the quarterback of ESPN. ‘Ohio State Justin Fields.

It started when Orlovsky shared with Pat McAfee some things that Orlovsky had heard in an attempt to explain the perception that Fields’ interim stock was slipping. Says Orlovsky, via Jeremy Layton from New York Post: “First, I heard he was a last-in, first-out quarterback. Like, not the manic work ethic. I even heard it in relation to Justin Herbert, where it was like, ‘Dude, when Justin Herbert came in he was like a psychopath when it came to working and getting ready for the project. Or even at school, like, “Give me more, I want to work nonstop.” And I’ve heard that there are issues with Justin Fields’ work ethic. . . . The second thing is. . . where is his desire to go be a great quarterback? I think there is a desire to be a great athlete, from what is expressed to me, but where is his desire to be a great quarterback? And to be great, you have to be prepared to find the things you’re not good at and be scared of.

Orlovsky faced a backlash for the racial stereotypes embedded in his comments. He posted a video on Thursday aimed at putting out the fire by conveying positive opinions on Fields which Orlovsky then obtained from an Ohio State assistant coach and former NFL quarterback John Beck, who assists. Fields to prepare for the draft.

Still, Orlovsky reiterated the negative views: “The reality is I’ve heard these things from the teams. And they could feel that.

Herbstreit did not buy any of it. “Absolutely ridiculousHerbstreit tweeted in response to the video, via Jimmy Traina from SI.com. “Even if YOU don’t say it… passing this on ‘in-the-know’ is reckless and absurd !! Embarrassing!!”

Herbstreit, who will be one of the analysts for ABC’s coverage of the project, is right. In many ways, the mumbo-jumbo draft has evolved to the point that most people who get paid to talk about it should realize that there is an abundance of bullshit. Teams who secretly love a player will push negative accounts and opinions on condition of anonymity in order to fuel a free fall that will make the player available when the team is on the clock.

As Dwight Scrute would say, “It’s like Machiavelli is getting together. . . Soccer.”

Orlovsky finally mentions this dynamic as a Oh by the way in his cleaning video. This is hardly a collateral point. Boy Scouts and Coaches actively prey on naive and / or recklessly ambitious members of the media with platforms in an attempt to ignite those fuses. This dynamic should never be a SP; it should always be the lede.

Indeed, that’s what Orlovsky should have said when McAfee asked why Fields seemed to fall.

“Well, Pat, here’s what’s going on this time of year,” Orlovsky should have explained. “Teams that like a player will try to create the impression that the player is falling, by diffusing unflattering views of him. They actually do this so that the player is available when they are on the clock. So it’s best to treat all opinions from anonymous Boy Scouts and sources with Teams – especially negative ones – as bogus and unreliable. Also, unless we know what the 32 teams think, we never know which team will be the one to draft a guy in a much higher position than everyone else would have expected, as the 49ers will when they trade. from n ° 12 to n ° 12.. 3 to get Mac Jones, Trey Lance or maybe Fields. “

All of us covering the NFL in the weeks leading up to the draft must understand this, and we must refuse to be manipulated on behalf of producers / editors who are satisfactory or appear to be “in the know.” Simply put, if a scout or coach or any other team employee refuses to attach a name to a negative opinion of a player in the weeks leading up to the draft, we shouldn’t repeat it – even with the bet. guard that this can come from. in order to trigger a slide. (This does not mean that the sources are knowingly lying. Some coaches and general managers surely say things like that in the presence of subordinates who have a reputation for being talkative, in the hope that these employees will spread the bogus evaluation in the media. in a way that will be true, as far as the source knows.)

Whether Orlovsky has reason to be upset with Herbstreit for taking their feud public is another question. ESPN surely prefers everyone who has a Mickey Mouse logo on their paychecks to behave with each other like Chip and Dale. But even if Herbstreit was irrelevant, Orlovsky’s inability to realize that he had most likely been played by someone who wants to see Fields fall is the major learning moment that stems from this incident.