BruceVilanch Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Per The Athletic: The Buffalo Bills have banned Chris Brown, their radio host and web reporter, from covering practices the rest of training camp and have suspended him from all their platforms, multiple sources tell The Athletic. The Bills aren’t talking about Brown’s whereabouts, but he disappeared from practices last week after apparently violating the team’s media policy. Three days later, the longtime club employee vanished from “One Bills Live” — simulcast on WGR 550 and MSG Network — and social media without an announcement on where he went or when he will return. Brown’s total evaporation occurred Thursday, less than two hours after heralding Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy’s tweet about buying title sponsorship rights to the Bills’ stadium. I don't know how much I can post from a paywall site but he has been suspended according to the article not terminated, it seems like he violated the teams revised 2020 media policy and was divulging too much information from training camp 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoPoy88 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 ?? That’s weird and mysterious. i was wondering why they had a guest co-host with Tasker today on that 12-3 radio show. It can’t be about the Portnoy thing - unless ownership really, really hates Barstool. Still harsh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Whoa. I wonder what this is all about. He's been a total company man from all appearances. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceVilanch Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 Just now, JoPoy88 said: ?? That’s weird and mysterious. i was wondering why they had a guest co-host with Tasker today on that 12-3 radio show. It can’t be about the Portnoy thing - unless ownership really, really hates Barstool. Still harsh. I don't know how much I can post from a paywall site, but the article strongly hinted that he was divulging too much practice information (snap counts, formations, etc) and he violated the revised 2020 media policy. 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Wow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 1 minute ago, BruceVilanch said: I don't know how much I can post from a paywall site, but the article strongly hinted that he was divulging too much practice information (snap counts, formations, etc) and he violated the revised 2020 media policy. Divulging that where, though? He wasn't saying anything in the open anywhere that I saw. Never said much on the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Joe Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Like Manish I guess.. he didnt toe the company line enough... And yes that is a joke... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Brown Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 1 minute ago, BruceVilanch said: I don't know how much I can post from a paywall site, but the article strongly hinted that he was divulging too much practice information (snap counts, formations, etc) and he violated the revised 2020 media policy. I'll post that part Brown’s last day at Bills practice was Aug. 17, when he apparently violated the new policy for reporting on practices. Enforcement of the policy has varied from team to team. The 2020 media policy forbids reporting on game strategy, snap counts and with which units players are working out. The guidelines were revamped for competitive reasons, with the public unable to attend camp sessions and no preseason games being played. The Bills seemingly prefer to keep practice developments as proprietary as possible. General manager Brandon Beane on Wednesday suggested the Bills view anything that happens at practice to be valuable information the other 31 teams can use. Beane, in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, said the Bills have their scouts mine media Twitter accounts for updates on players around the league. The Bills distributed their 2020 media policy to reporters Aug. 16. Shortly after “One Bills Live” began at noon the next day, Brown discussed what he noticed from the first practice with co-host Steve Tasker. Brown: “At least today, (rookie defensive end A.J. Epenesa) was lining up on the left side. In college, he was mostly on the right his senior year.” Tasker: “Defensive left?” Brown: “Yeah, so he was on defensive left today, primarily with the second team. It was Jerry (Hughes) and Trent (Murphy), and then the second group was A.J. and (Mario) Addison.” … Brown: “Here’s the interesting thing. The two rookie receivers we’ve talked about and the veteran receivers we have talked about, we had John Brown on the air last week, saying, ‘These two rookie receivers know our playbook better than any rookie receivers I’ve ever been around.’ They’re getting rewarded for that. At least today, they were rotating in with the starters. You have your top three, and then they roll in the next three. They’re two of the next three.” Tasker: “Who is the other third?” Brown: “I’m trying to think off the top of my head. It was rotating a bit. I know Robert Foster was out there once. Andre Roberts was out there once. But those two kids were rolling in. They didn’t make a ton of plays. Hodgins had a couple of catches, a nice 20-yard reception. But those two kids were rolling in, something to keep an eye on going forward.” … Brown: “As Coach McDermott told us in a Zoom call last week, Cody Ford would work at both guard and tackle, and that proved to be the case today.” Tasker: “Who was around him?” Brown: “Mitch Morse is the staple at the pivot. We know that. And Daryl Williams was the right tackle with him when (Ford) was playing guard, and then when (Ford) would switch and play tackle, he would have Brian Winters next to him. So he was flipping back and forth. You kind of wonder … I’m sure that how Cody plays at both of those positions will ultimately help determine where he winds up. But I think it’s also predicated, Steve, on who’s quickest on the uptick in terms of blending in with those four returning players. Does Winters work better or does Williams work better?” Those “One Bills Live” exchanges have been scrubbed from WGR’s online audio. Brown was absent from practice the rest of the week and disappeared from his radio show by Friday. He apparently has not logged into the 12 media video conferences the Bills have held over that time. 1 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceVilanch Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 Just now, MJS said: Divulging that where, though? He wasn't saying anything in the open anywhere that I saw. Never said much on the show. The article was quoting his interviews during One Bills Live, he was giving out where guys were lining up, which Wr's were getting reps and where they were lining up. Pretty run of the mill stuff during a regular training camp but the article also quotes Beane saying that any information this season is valuable and they are trying to keep there TC buttoned up. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
US Egg Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) Barstool has ripped on Goodell. Makes some sense maybe why Brown disappeared after touting Barstool as a potential stadium naming rights candidate.....per Goodell's orders? https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/barstool-dave-portnoy-roger-goodell-blocked-auction-bid. Edited August 27, 2020 by I am the egg man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffBillsForLife Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Wow, crazy. He was never a favorite of mine but he was one of the most prominent figures in Bills media. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJS Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) 5 minutes ago, BruceVilanch said: The article was quoting his interviews during One Bills Live, he was giving out where guys were lining up, which Wr's were getting reps and where they were lining up. Pretty run of the mill stuff during a regular training camp but the article also quotes Beane saying that any information this season is valuable and they are trying to keep there TC buttoned up. Yeah. I can see that now. I guess I've just gotten so used to hearing that kind of stuff. It sucks that he got in trouble for it because I'm sure he wasn't trying to break the rules, but hey, rules are rules and it is his job to know what he can and can't say. Edit: Tasker should have told him to shut up instead of asking for more information. He should know the rules too. Edited August 27, 2020 by MJS 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherlock Holmes Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 18 minutes ago, Doc Brown said: I'll post that part Brown’s last day at Bills practice was Aug. 17, when he apparently violated the new policy for reporting on practices. Enforcement of the policy has varied from team to team. The 2020 media policy forbids reporting on game strategy, snap counts and with which units players are working out. The guidelines were revamped for competitive reasons, with the public unable to attend camp sessions and no preseason games being played. The Bills seemingly prefer to keep practice developments as proprietary as possible. General manager Brandon Beane on Wednesday suggested the Bills view anything that happens at practice to be valuable information the other 31 teams can use. Beane, in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, said the Bills have their scouts mine media Twitter accounts for updates on players around the league. The Bills distributed their 2020 media policy to reporters Aug. 16. Shortly after “One Bills Live” began at noon the next day, Brown discussed what he noticed from the first practice with co-host Steve Tasker. Brown: “At least today, (rookie defensive end A.J. Epenesa) was lining up on the left side. In college, he was mostly on the right his senior year.” Tasker: “Defensive left?” Brown: “Yeah, so he was on defensive left today, primarily with the second team. It was Jerry (Hughes) and Trent (Murphy), and then the second group was A.J. and (Mario) Addison.” … Brown: “Here’s the interesting thing. The two rookie receivers we’ve talked about and the veteran receivers we have talked about, we had John Brown on the air last week, saying, ‘These two rookie receivers know our playbook better than any rookie receivers I’ve ever been around.’ They’re getting rewarded for that. At least today, they were rotating in with the starters. You have your top three, and then they roll in the next three. They’re two of the next three.” Tasker: “Who is the other third?” Brown: “I’m trying to think off the top of my head. It was rotating a bit. I know Robert Foster was out there once. Andre Roberts was out there once. But those two kids were rolling in. They didn’t make a ton of plays. Hodgins had a couple of catches, a nice 20-yard reception. But those two kids were rolling in, something to keep an eye on going forward.” … Brown: “As Coach McDermott told us in a Zoom call last week, Cody Ford would work at both guard and tackle, and that proved to be the case today.” Tasker: “Who was around him?” Brown: “Mitch Morse is the staple at the pivot. We know that. And Daryl Williams was the right tackle with him when (Ford) was playing guard, and then when (Ford) would switch and play tackle, he would have Brian Winters next to him. So he was flipping back and forth. You kind of wonder … I’m sure that how Cody plays at both of those positions will ultimately help determine where he winds up. But I think it’s also predicated, Steve, on who’s quickest on the uptick in terms of blending in with those four returning players. Does Winters work better or does Williams work better?” Those “One Bills Live” exchanges have been scrubbed from WGR’s online audio. Brown was absent from practice the rest of the week and disappeared from his radio show by Friday. He apparently has not logged into the 12 media video conferences the Bills have held over that time. Now you have violated the same policy, what if they ban you next from everything Buffalo Bills?!?! How am I supposed to use the old BBMB Chris Brown Emoji nowwww 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warcodered Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 2 minutes ago, Sherlock Holmes said: Now you have violated the same policy, what if they ban you next from everything Buffalo Bills?!?! How am I supposed to use the old BBMB Chris Brown Emoji nowwww I'd be more worried about the guys on the Athletic. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) Maddie too hot for Chris Brown Edited August 27, 2020 by John from Riverside 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 He has never been the smartest. No surprise he managed to break the rules despite being employed by the Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreggTX Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 They have no one left in their media group that's worth a damn. I don't know their policies, but perhaps they aren't very well thought out. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BringMetheHeadofLeonLett Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 If only Lockheed Martin could keep their secrets so well. C'mon, Chris Brown... seriously? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da webster guy Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 The Bills are taking this secrecy thing way too far. They are gonna cut a bunch of guys before the opener who will have tons of information much closer to game day. Then after opening Sunday every team is going to have film and information on every other team. Lighten up you guys, please. If Beane is truly investing in people to scour social media to find information, then he can just bring in one of the 27 Jets players cut on Sept 5th and get their entire playbook. In fact, there will be over 600 guys across the NFL waiver wire that will be cut by 9/5, every team's camp activity will be transparent anyway within a few days because of all the information out there and the opposing teams bringing in guys to "evaluate' them. Do they really think Chris Brown, who is a true blue Bills fan, is going to impact a game a month from now by talking about where some non-starting rookie is going to rotate in at Dline? Cmon man. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transplantbillsfan Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Uuuuhhhh... wtf...? He was a pretty darn loyal team reporter... so much so that I would go elsewhere. I feel bad for the guy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warcodered Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Just now, transplantbillsfan said: Uuuuhhhh... wtf...? He was a pretty darn loyal team reporter... so much so that I would go elsewhere. I feel bad for the guy. I mean all the media people have been acknowledging the restrictions the Bills placed on them and from that chunk of the Athletic article he really did step in it. I mean if you're going to have these restrictions there have to be repercussions for breaking them especially if it's one affiliated with the organization. 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBBills Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Ffs we need this season to start ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaBu Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 37 minutes ago, Da webster guy said: The Bills are taking this secrecy thing way too far. They are gonna cut a bunch of guys before the opener who will have tons of information much closer to game day. Then after opening Sunday every team is going to have film and information on every other team. Lighten up you guys, please. If Beane is truly investing in people to scour social media to find information, then he can just bring in one of the 27 Jets players cut on Sept 5th and get their entire playbook. In fact, there will be over 600 guys across the NFL waiver wire that will be cut by 9/5, every team's camp activity will be transparent anyway within a few days because of all the information out there and the opposing teams bringing in guys to "evaluate' them. Do they really think Chris Brown, who is a true blue Bills fan, is going to impact a game a month from now by talking about where some non-starting rookie is going to rotate in at Dline? Cmon man. I think one of the primary reasons for letting limited information out is to conceal how certain players are performing or progressing. If teams see a player has been running with the one and twos, and they have a need there, they might be inclined to claim him. Meanwhile the Bills may be trying to get them on their taxi squad without having other teams see what they are seeing. This year especially with the expanded squads. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProcessTruster Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 2 hours ago, MJS said: Yeah. I can see that now. I guess I've just gotten so used to hearing that kind of stuff. It sucks that he got in trouble for it because I'm sure he wasn't trying to break the rules, but hey, rules are rules and it is his job to know what he can and can't say. Edit: Tasker should have told him to shut up instead of asking for more information. He should know the rules too. agree on the Tasker point. he may have just cost Brown his job. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2020 Our Year For Sure Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Tasker is such an idiot. "Defensive left?" Ya Steve that would be the meaning of left end 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/08/27/report-bills-ban-in-house-reporter-for-violating-reporting-policy-marketing-staff-quits/ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flaz Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Brownie made that time slot worth a listen. Howard and Jeremy are now the only show worth my time. The remainder of the GR lineup is a bad joke 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locomark Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Is that why you can’t even find out when they scrimmage and whether they will even have a single view of it anywhere ?? Are they afraid the Jets might gameplay from it. I mean we have the same offense and defense. We aren’t coming out running some crazy new formations. So are we going to play vanilla week 1 because we know the Jets stink just so we can save our good stuff for he following weeks. My god this is such a joke. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragoon Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 This is weird. CB is a buttoned-up dude. I wouldn’t expect him to flagrantly ignore team rules. Then the marketing staff quits? Weird. Really weird. Especially when we all like to think OBD behind closed doors is harmonious and professionally run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsMafi$ Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 And the marketing staff quits? Troubles a brewing at OBD! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 3 person Marketing team is done too - In another brow-raising development unrelated to Brown’s suspension, the Bills’ three-person marketing staff has quit or will be gone by the end of the week. Vice president of marketing Shaena Kershner resigned two weeks ago. Marketing coordinator Alex Compton followed. Marketing manager Kelly Baker remains in the club directory, but sources say her last day is this week. Sources added these are voluntary departures, peculiar considering Buffalo’s season is scheduled to begin in 18 days and the current job market is impacted by COVID-19. Pegula Sports and Entertainment properties have jettisoned dozens of employees, including several executives, since November. Many of the moves were planned before the pandemic. Current and former PSE, Bills or Sabres employees described a “toxic culture” that worsened with downsizing and furloughs. The Bills have posted two marketing positions on LinkedIn’s jobs board. Kershner joined the Bills in 2017 as marketing director and last year was promoted to vice president. She declined to comment. (Full disclosure: Kershner’s husband, Gene Kershner, is a partner at CTBK accounting and business consultants, a sponsor of my radio show.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Just a clarification on the thread title - he’s only suspended Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SectionC3 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 4 hours ago, GunnerBill said: He has never been the smartest. No surprise he managed to break the rules despite being employed by the Bills. Yeah, no. Brownie is not a stupid guy by any stretch. Diligent, hardworking, honest, smart, sincere. All around great guy. Take it from someone who's known him professionally for more than half of his own life. 5 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Tuesday Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Civil society has collapsed. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Sounds like the environment is difficult, and I feel bad for CB. I’ve always thought for being a Bills employee, he did a good job. It’s apparent they are censored, but that is not the employees fault. Yolo brings up a good point that he is only suspended so as long as he can keep his job and get back to normal in two weeks, that’s not too bad. It makes me wonder if Mehta and Brown is a common thread, how many others are going to get the same Suspensions. The rules are a little excessive, but I understand if all teams are this strict, you can’t be the team that lets information pass. One of the reasons I hope these reporters get their jobs retained. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfanmiami(oh) Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 4 hours ago, Da webster guy said: The Bills are taking this secrecy thing way too far. They are gonna cut a bunch of guys before the opener who will have tons of information much closer to game day. Then after opening Sunday every team is going to have film and information on every other team. Lighten up you guys, please. If Beane is truly investing in people to scour social media to find information, then he can just bring in one of the 27 Jets players cut on Sept 5th and get their entire playbook. In fact, there will be over 600 guys across the NFL waiver wire that will be cut by 9/5, every team's camp activity will be transparent anyway within a few days because of all the information out there and the opposing teams bringing in guys to "evaluate' them. Do they really think Chris Brown, who is a true blue Bills fan, is going to impact a game a month from now by talking about where some non-starting rookie is going to rotate in at Dline? Cmon man. You messed up Chris. Take your suspension like a big boy and go back to your room. 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 4 hours ago, GunnerBill said: He has never been the smartest. No surprise he managed to break the rules despite being employed by the Bills. Agreed, I was never a fan. Besides just toeing the company line, his “interviews” were painful. He’s the type of interviewer who asks a 5-minute question and answers it himself in the process. Sort of glad he’s out. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLTbills Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Damn that's pretty wild. Chris Brown is the dictionary definition of a "company man" if there ever was one. One of the best reporters out there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 4 hours ago, jabu said: That would be Red Cashion’s call. Is Ben stealing his thunder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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