HailMary Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) Let me start by saying Doug Whaley behind a podium on a good day with good news is terrible. Whaley has needed media training from Day 1. The recent media disasters and confusing messaging with Lynn and Whaley start with the mishandling by the Bills communication team and SVP Scott Berchtold should be held accountable. Any savvy experienced media relations pro would have identified the risks with both pressers and planned a strategy with prepared statements delivering succinct transparent messaging with clarity on Tyrod and Rex situations especially given Whaley's media experience. Whaley had the perfect opportunity to come clean on both situations and take charge. Well thought out scripted statements with honesty and clarity would have improved the Bills position and credibility. Instead they put Lynn in the line of fire and Whaley delivered a presser that was a national disaster raising red flags with any potential coach not to mention upcoming free agents. The presser was so bad the Bills had to go into "damage control" with an exclusive Pegula article by John Wawrow, all likely set up by Berchtold. Why didn't they set the record straight before the Whaley and Lynn pressers. While the damage is done more questions should be asked about the role of the Bills communication team and SVP Scott Berchtold in this mess. Edited January 4, 2017 by tannins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpberr Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 I agree. Â You get the feeling there are a lot of hall walkers at OBD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heitz Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Of all the crazy "accountably" threads, this one might actually make the MOST sense. You're not wrong on the job responsibilities... Â Let's at least hope there's footage of him behind the curtain, just off-stage, cringing as Whaley muddled through that presser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodbuster Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Yes. All of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bangarang Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 It's crazy that a billion dollar organization can have its figureheads so unprepared to face the media. Â It seems like they aren't even prepped on what question to anticipate and how to answer. Another OBD lifer leading the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thought he did a good job. Gave nothing to the media. The way it should be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailMary Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Berchtold led Tim Graham to slaughter with Marone in 2013. Remember this? Does a PR pro do this? #BillsPRmafia http://buffalonews.com/2016/11/25/marrone-week-full-story-doug-marrone-interrogating-reporter-airport-tweets-bills-jaguars/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Bills Fan Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Of all the crazy "accountably" threads, this one might actually make the MOST sense. You're not wrong on the job responsibilities... Â Let's at least hope there's footage of him behind the curtain, just off-stage, cringing as Whaley muddled through that presser. Â There was an article in 2014 by Tim Graham claiming conflict between Whaley, Marrone, and the "lifers" (not a compliment) including Carpenter, Littman, Overdorf, and Berchtold. The jist of the piece was that "Marrone and Whaley -- unusual young guns compared to the Tom Modraks, Dick Jaurons and Chan Gaileys the Bills have hired in the past -- want to fix the team's this-is-the-way-we've-always-done-it culture" and were struggling to effect change. Â The article said that "Berchtold is responsible for helping Marrone and Whaley deal with the media. Bills coaches refer to Berchtold as the team's "sports information director," a term colleges use for their flacks. Berchtold doesn't like that." Â If that's true, there's more likely footage of Berchtold behind the curtain, cackling and chortling and rubbing his hands as Whaley struggled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailMary Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thought he did a good job. Gave nothing to the media. The way it should be What's your POV on Terry Pegula's statement on Rex firing and timing of it then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SectionC3 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Let me start by saying Doug Whaley behind a podium on a good day with good news is terrible. Whaley has needed media training from Day 1. The recent media disasters and confusing messaging with Lynn and Whaley start with the mishandling by the Bills communication team and SVP Scott Berchtold should be held accountable. And savvy experienced media relations pro would have identified the risks with both pressers and planned a strategy with prepared statements delivering succinct transparent messaging with clarity on Tyrod and Rex situations especially given Whaley's media experience. Whaley had the perfect opportunity to come clean on both situations and take charge. Well thought out scripted statements with honesty and clarity would have improved the Bills position and credibility. Instead they put Lynn in the line of fire and Whaley delivered a presser that was a national disaster raising red flags with any potential coach not to mention upcoming free agents. The presser was so bad the Bills had to go into "damage control" with an exclusive article by John Harrow, all likely set up by Bertchold. Why didn't they set the record straight before the Whaley and Lynn pressers. While the damage is done more questions should be asked about the role of the Bills communication team and SVP Scott Berchtold in this mess. The seeds for this mess were sown long ago. For too long and Bills have given a local media nothing in the way of scoops, info, etc. That, in turn, has given rise to a toxic relationship between the bills and the local media in which most of the locals are unafraid to bite the bills' proverbial "hand" because it doesn't "feed" them. The last two pressers have been outrageous. The questioning would have been far less confrontational had some of these guys had something to lose from the bills. Notice that sal c. has gone soft on the bills. Why, you ask? Because he doesn't want to disrupt the flow of information from Kim pegula. Perhaps it's a similar story with carucci - no hostility there because he can't alienate his sources. It's crazy that a billion dollar organization can have its figureheads so unprepared to face the media. It seems like they aren't even prepped on what question to anticipate and how to answer. Another OBD lifer leading the way. Not defending berchtold here. I have no idea what type of prep was done. But perhaps trying to school Whaley on media presence is like trying to teach a chicken about gravity. It just isn't going to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailMary Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 "Whaley was evasive during a contentious 38-minute session where he refused to admit to knowing the details of most anything related to Rex Ryan's firing. The Buffalo media and Whaley drilled down on this topic for a long time without getting anywhere, something you simply don't see very often. Â Whaley, who also reportedly did not see eye-to-eye with previous head coach Doug Marrone, did not take responsibility or even address if he approved of Ryan's departure. At one point, a reporter said to Whaley: "I'm trying to figure out what you do for a living despite your job title." Â It's clear Whaley is not comfortable with the media. That's not the end of the world. But the image that Whaley and the Bills presented was one of a muddled power structure and shaky communication. That's not an ideal image to give off in a competitive job market, especially with Whaley leading the job search." Â Gregg Rosenthal Around The NFL Editor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Not to turn this into another Brandon thread, but as team president shouldn't he also be concerned with tarnishing the "brand image" by sending Lynn and Whaley out as unprepared as can be? In turn, the Whaley press conference became an embarrassment in sports circles around the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voodoo poonani Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 SB is a dinosaur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurlyBurly51 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Been saying for years Berchtold has to go. Their pressers are pure embarrassment for professional organizations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HailMary Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 SB is a dinosaur You're right. I'm not sure SB and communication team understand the implications of social media in the ever changing world of PR or how to adapt their relationships and strategies to manage effectively. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heitz Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 WTH - someone linked to this thread on Twitter! Â Â @BillsNewsNow #GoBills #BillsMafia #Forum SVP of Communications Scott Berchtold should be accountable #Bills #BuffaloBills dld.bz/frv4Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LI_Bills Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Let me start by saying Doug Whaley behind a podium on a good day with good news is terrible. Whaley has needed media training from Day 1. The recent media disasters and confusing messaging with Lynn and Whaley start with the mishandling by the Bills communication team and SVP Scott Berchtold should be held accountable. And savvy experienced media relations pro would have identified the risks with both pressers and planned a strategy with prepared statements delivering succinct transparent messaging with clarity on Tyrod and Rex situations especially given Whaley's media experience. Whaley had the perfect opportunity to come clean on both situations and take charge. Well thought out scripted statements with honesty and clarity would have improved the Bills position and credibility. Instead they put Lynn in the line of fire and Whaley delivered a presser that was a national disaster raising red flags with any potential coach not to mention upcoming free agents. The presser was so bad the Bills had to go into "damage control" with an exclusive article by John Harrow, all likely set up by Bertchold. Why didn't they set the record straight before the Whaley and Lynn pressers. While the damage is done more questions should be asked about the role of the Bills communication team and SVP Scott Berchtold in this mess. Â I only disagree with the insinuation that the damage control interview by Pegula being set up by Berchtold was a bad thing. Whaley and Pegula pretty much conveyed the same things, but Whaley was ill-prepared and/or ill-equipped to deal with the media onslaught and Pegula didn't have to deal with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Tuesday Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 He is TERRIBLE at his job. Like, Mike McLintock from Veep terrible. It amazes me that he still has his job after all these years of sucking at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Tuesday Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 In the last 3 seasons, he has fielded the 4th ranked defense, #1 ranked special teams and 7th ranked offense. He knows how to build a solid team, unfortunately, Rex tore down the 4th ranked defense before we could pair it with the 7th ranked offense. Those rankings get you in the playoffs more often than not. ?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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