McD and Jay Skurski

[Ethan in Cleveland]

I assume the Jay in the media room is Jay Skurski.  Is there a feud between these two?  Last two press conferences McD has pointed out the negative aspect of his question and called him by name in the response.  His questions about the poor defensive performance but good second half adjustments were reasonable.  I think McD said something like "there is always a but, how about an and" and today he said "Jay always seeing the negative".  I am not local so I don't see or read much of the local coverage. 

Is there a history here?

[gonzo1105]

I think it’s fair to question McDermott on the defense and its inability to keep teams at bay with the amount of resources they put into that side of the ball. Coaches in general don’t like being questioned like that 

[Einstein]

19 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

I assume the Jay in the media room is Jay Skurski.  Is there a feud between these two?  Last two press conferences McD has pointed out the negative aspect of his question and called him by name in the response.  His questions about the poor defensive performance but good second half adjustments were reasonable.  I think McD said something like "there is always a but, how about an and" and today he said "Jay always seeing the negative".  I am not local so I don't see or read much of the local coverage. 

Is there a history here?

McD has long been known to take umbrage with reporters not towing the party line. Remember in his first or second year he got into an argument with a reporter during practice because of an article he wrote?

[DeepPass]

What's new in the NFL - - it's all part of the show!

[4merper4mer]

Much of the media is incapable of asking a reasonable question without sounding confrontational.  It’s pathetic actually.  They’re supposed to know how to use the language.  False bravado?  A need to feel alpha?  
 

McD subtly pointing out the difference between “but” and “and” is spot on, but since media does the spinning it won’t  be acknowledged.  Some in the media are too stupid.  Those that aren’t are jackasses.  It gets spun back on McD as demands to tow the party line.  That’s false.

[Don Otreply]

1 minute ago, 4merper4mer said:

Much of the media is incapable of asking a reasonable question without sounding confrontational.  It’s pathetic actually.  They’re supposed to know how to use the language.  False bravado?  A need to feel alpha?  
 

McD subtly pointing out the difference between “but” and “and” is spot on, but since media does the spinning it won’t  be acknowledged.  Some in the media are too stupid.  Those that aren’t are jackasses.  It gets spun back on McD as demands to tow the party line.  That’s false.

Jay could have asked what the ”difference “ between 1st & 2nd half defensive performance was, but alas…, 

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

McDermott doesn't like to be held accountable, and he's sending a message to any other media members: don't ask tough questions, don't ask anything negative. He envisions the media as a PR arm of the team.

[thenorthremembers]

Couldn't care less about Jay Skurski.  Let's talk about Melissa Holmes.

[Draconator]

2 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

Couldn't care less about Jay Skurski.  Let's talk about Melissa Holmes.

Jay is upset that him and Melissa got divorced and is taking it out on McD. She wiped all mention of him off her social media, and every family post is of her son or her parents. 

[MJS]

The constant negativity when the team is winning does get exhausting. Coaches and players are required to speak to the media. Most would not choose to do it if they had the choice. They just want to get through their media requirements and go home. I understand the sentiment, and it makes it more grating when you have to answer a bunch of passive aggressive questions from reporters who seem to only focus on the negatives. But that's why he gets paid the big bucks. It would be better to not show that it annoys him and just give the standard cookie cutter answers.

 

I really don't care how players or coaches talk to the media. They are never going to say anything too interesting. I don't even listen to them anymore. All I care about it how they play on game days.

[DrDawkinstein]

20 minutes ago, MJS said:

The constant negativity when the team is winning does get exhausting. Coaches and players are required to speak to the media. Most would not choose to do it if they had the choice. They just want to get through their media requirements and go home. I understand the sentiment, and it makes it more grating when you have to answer a bunch of passive aggressive questions from reporters who seem to only focus on the negatives. But that's why he gets paid the big bucks. It would be better to not show that it annoys him and just give the standard cookie cutter answers.

 

I really don't care how players or coaches talk to the media. They are never going to say anything too interesting. I don't even listen to them anymore. All I care about it how they play on game days.

 

Two weeks in a row the Bills end up down 21-11 and 24-7 at half and have to dig their way out and hope Josh pulls a rabbit out of his hat.

 

It isnt "focusing on the negative" or being passive aggressive for someone to wonder "Hey, glad you won the game, but what is going on with the 1st half defense?"

 

Sounds like all McD wants is "Hey, glad you won the game, and you must be the best coach in the league for it!"

 

Instead of getting annoyed or even giving cookie cutter answers, it would be nice if the defensive guru could have an answer and get it figured out.

 

If all you care about is how they play on game days, then you should be asking the same thing as Jay.

[Sojourner]

A true journalist covers all aspects of whatever they are writing about. Both the positive and the negative. 
 

Putting anyone public figure in an uncomfortable or awkward spot can often give a truer statement than the words that can come out of the mouth. 

15 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Two weeks in a row the Bills end up down 21-11 and 24-7 at half and have to dig their way out and hope Josh pulls a rabbit out of his hat.

 

It isnt "focusing on the negative" or being passive aggressive for someone to wonder "Hey, glad you won the game, but what is going on with the 1st half defense?"

 

Sounds like all McD wants is "Hey, glad you won the game, and you must be the best coach in the league for it!"

 

Instead of getting annoyed or even giving cookie cutter answers, it would be nice if the defensive guru could have an answer and get it figured out.

 

If all you care about is how they play on game days, then you should be asking the same thing as Jay.

Exactly. Giving those questions is more to input a reflective perspective to McD. I’m sure he’s aware there’s things that could have been better but actually hearing him address and/or acknowledge it immediately after a game is something I think most fans respect. 

[The Jokeman]

53 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

Couldn't care less about Jay Skurski.  Let's talk about Melissa Holmes.

No love for Jordan Norkus?

[4merper4mer]

1 hour ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

McDermott doesn't like to be held accountable, and he's sending a message to any other media members: don't ask tough questions, don't ask anything negative. He envisions the media as a PR arm of the team.

Or…he’s a smart man and recognizes but does not suffer passive aggressive fools.

[Herc11]

30 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Two weeks in a row the Bills end up down 21-11 and 24-7 at half and have to dig their way out and hope Josh pulls a rabbit out of his hat.

 

It isnt "focusing on the negative" or being passive aggressive for someone to wonder "Hey, glad you won the game, but what is going on with the 1st half defense?"

 

Sounds like all McD wants is "Hey, glad you won the game, and you must be the best coach in the league for it!"

 

Instead of getting annoyed or even giving cookie cutter answers, it would be nice if the defensive guru could have an answer and get it figured out.

 

If all you care about is how they play on game days, then you should be asking the same thing as Jay.

 

And you would hope that McD is having this same attitude with the team. Great win, but we sucked in the 1st half. Damn, Belichek even said that to his teams when they played phenomenal. He never let people get comfortable and always pointed out what could of been done better. 

 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

2 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

I assume the Jay in the media room is Jay Skurski.  Is there a feud between these two?  Last two press conferences McD has pointed out the negative aspect of his question and called him by name in the response.  His questions about the poor defensive performance but good second half adjustments were reasonable.  I think McD said something like "there is always a but, how about an and" and today he said "Jay always seeing the negative".  I am not local so I don't see or read much of the local coverage. 

Is there a history here?

 

I'm not local either but do have a subscription for the BN so read most of Skurski's columns and for the most part like him, always look forward to his mailbag columns too.  But I will say McD is kind of spot on as Skurski does tend to see things as the glass is half empty most of the time. I don't think he gives deep thought into many of his responses and focuses his thoughts on the low hanging fruit and the simple answer.

 

[eball]

31 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

and hope Josh pulls a rabbit out of his hat.

This is FALSE and keeps being repeated. The defense came up with huge back to back INTs vs Cincy and held the Pats*** to 35 yards and a broken play on the 2nd half. And oh yeah, James Cook.  Josh is AMAZING and not taking away from that, but this is NOT a one man team. 
 

[thenorthremembers]

1 hour ago, Draconator said:

Jay is upset that him and Melissa got divorced and is taking it out on McD. She wiped all mention of him off her social media, and every family post is of her son or her parents. 

The hell you say?  I had no clue.  I didn't even know they were married until a few years back.    

[US Egg]

Just when I thought McDermott couldn’t do anything more for me to dislike him he goes and does this and totally redeems himself.

[shrader]

1 hour ago, Draconator said:

Jay is upset that him and Melissa got divorced and is taking it out on McD. She wiped all mention of him off her social media, and every family post is of her son or her parents. 

Just a tad bit creepy, don’t you think?