Media: Is the perception the reality?

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8 ... hot_topics

Just reading this story irritates me. Is this really the case? They perceive it to be that we are in for BIG trouble. I mean just read this quote:

"4. A final note: These are the Pittsburgh Steelers. A model franchise. Why? Because in a league where coaches barely unpack their boxes before they're sent on their way again, the Steelers have remained a consistent powerhouse. The team conjures thoughts of solid personnel moves, loyalty to players and the remarkable Rooneys. This entire episode -- from Arians to Haley -- is Pittsburgh finally blinking. The star quarterback's irritated and the team is moving away from what worked for so long. Haley sits at the center of a coming storm. He must replicate or surpass Arians' success this year -- or the fallout could be fierce."

Finally blinking?? I feel as though he doesn't know much about our team...or does he?

 

This article was in another thread awhile back, and I mentioned something about how the guy knows nothing about the Steelers. The "finally blinking" line -- the idea that Haley over Arians is somehow an affront to the incredible coaching record of Noll-Cowher-Tomlin -- is ridiculous, like you said. To me there are two other quotes that are typical from the media and are the crux of the point they are missing:

"On the field, the offense Big Ben had thrived in under Arians from 2007 to 2011 was history."

"...why toy with a good thing in Pittsburgh?"

Thriving? A good thing? They look at the passing yards and can't believe we would ever do away with what must be an amazing offensive coordinator. It's like they haven't seen a single Steelers game. It's pathetic that they get paid for this. It's no different than hiring me to write about present day basketball coaching decisions (I haven't watched a basketball game since the 90s). I wouldn't know what I was talking about, but I could look at some stats and put together an article. That's what a lot of the media does all the time.

 

Haha. We've lost offensive and defensive coordinators before and seem to keep on rolling. So, what make the BA to Haley change so different?

 

I dont know who this guy is but i guarantee you he didnt watch every down of Steeler foootball for the last four years like we all have. Problem is this guy probably only see's highlights on espn of the good plays, and he probably only looks at the stats from the arians era and thinks why mess with anything. Teams change coordinators all the time and are fine. Its like these guys are just waiting for the demise of the Pittsburgh Steelers and it never comes

 

Perception may be reality, but Rooney's don't panic and that is whey they are successful. If they did buy into media hype they would have fired Cowher years before he left the team.

Arians did have to go, our redzone offense wasn't good for too long that it was trend, and not something they were panicked into doing. Ben was taking too many shots too. Rooney's need to protect their 100 million dollar investment in Ben. To me, it was the right move.

 

I'm glad others, like you and Snack, are standing up and taking notice of how the sports media is out of control. And I'm impressed with how many posters on these boards shrug it off and pay no attention to the media--good for them. The media just keeps getting worse and worse. They will twist and spin anything into some sort of storyline for the sakle of it. Now that there are so many national media outlets, with a 24/7 approach to the news, what we see is what we get. A lot of hacks, trying to create stories where they don't exist and also trying to "frame the debate" as they see fit.

Big ben and Silverback are now two of the most combustible figures in football. Their names sell--especially when paired with anything negative.

 

Ariens was given the benefit of the doubt with a lot of doubt for a few years. Two Super Bowls kept his job. Last year's overall performance and especially the playoff performance finished him off.

Liberal Arts and English majors do not know anything useful, usually. Forget the writer.

 

If you really want to know if the media tries to shape reality with the way it writes stories, heres a quote from Ed Bouchette, from yesterday's Post Gazette:

"Who said this about the new Steelers offense:
“It’s been work. Any time you do something for going on almost eight years and you have to change the way you think about things, that’s not easy. But we’re out here working, we’re studying and trying to change our mindset a little bit.’’
Ben Roethlisberger? No, but if the quarterback had said that about Haley’s offense, what would you think? Probably, that he was complaining.
Heath Miller told me that last week and I can guarantee you he was not complaining (Miller complains about nothing). He was merely stating a fact. However, when Roethlisberger has basically stated the same fact, he’s been ripped in some corners for it. "

So yes, the media is playing up the Roethlisburger/Haley crap a lot more than neccessary, but it has to sell papers (or blog hits, or whatever).
http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/inde ... -this-week