Preston Column - June 9, 2009

[Ravens23]

The past few Preston columns have been very critical of Heap. Is there any history between Heap and Preston?

He gives the impression that Heap is not a hard worker and the Ravens are concerned that Heap basically has the same back issues that he did last season...

I have been critical of Heap lately myself.. hey, love the guy as a player but lately I have been wondering if he is tough enough...:eyes:

Anyhow.. just wondering if anyone has any insight into Preston's apparent beef with Heap.

GO RAVENS!

[HoustonRaven]

You reference his latest article in the title of your post. Here is what Preston said re Heap:

"It's at tight end, where the Ravens have a M*A*S*H unit. It appears the goal is to get starter Todd Heap (lower back) and backup L.J. Smith (groin) ready for training camp. The mystery is why Heap left at the end of last season with a back injury and returned to the off season camps with basically the same injury. The coaching staff can't be happy."

Where is he inaccurate or wrong with this statement?

I'm no fan of Preston but this is a pretty obvious analysis.

[Ravens23]

Well.. I was kinda referring to his recent articles [I guess the last few months] where he has eluded to some issues... just seemed apparent to me that there was an issue there.. maybe I'm paranoid.

[shaslers]

The past few Preston columns have been very critical of Heap.


You reference his latest article in the title of your post. Here is what Preston said re Heap:...The mystery is why Heap left at the end of last season with a back injury and returned to the off season camps with basically the same injury. The coaching staff can't be happy."

Where is he inaccurate or wrong with this statement?

Well, R23 said that Preston was critical, not necessarily innaccurate about Heap, and his ailing back.

It does beg questions: what is the nature of the injury and why has it taken so long to heal?

Those are reasonable questions.

The real problem is the way Mike Preston went about answering them.

Some people criticize Heap for being hurt all the time. But he hasn't really been hurt more frequently than many other Ravens.

On the other hand, it does seem like it takes him an inordinately long, long time to completely heal. Maybe that's the issue with his back (and leg injuries in the past). The implication is that he is not willing to battle through injuries as much as the next guy, and therefore he doesn't fit the mold of a Harbaugh-type guy. Or, perhaps the implication is that he's an unhappy veteran and will use veteran tricks to avoid OTAs and summer camp.

I don't know if that's a fair, or even accurate assessment. But circumstantially I can see how it might add up. Either way, a hard-scrapple coach like Harbs would not have patience for guys who refuse to play, or practice, because they are hurt, as opposed to injured.

I hope, BTW, we call all dispense with the silly notion that Heap won't take treatments because he is a Mormon. Or that he thinks his magic underpants will heal him. None of that nonsense factors here.

But there is reason to wonder about his ability to get back from injuries in a reasonable timeframe.

The problem is that Preston is nibbling around the edges of the story and has not come out and explained what the problem really is. Since Harbaugh isn't quoted, nor are any of the coaches, you can't tell if Preston is purely imagining "the coaches can't be happy." The way its written, you can only assume this is 100% Preston's opinion, and that he's never really spoken to a coach about the issue. Hence, R23's question about, what's Preston's beef? Why is he targeting Heap with these questions?

If Preston has picked up a vibe from the coaches that they are unhappy with the player, then Preston's point is more justifiable...but it's still tough to accept the way he throws it out there as an unsubstantiated rumor.

OTOH, if it's merely his opinion that Heap is "soft," then he should clarify that it's only his opinion -- and avoid the implication the coaches share that opinion.

Either way, we deserve better.

[Jeremiah W]

TE is like running back, you need good ones and they take a beating. The back ups need to be good because they are going to get a lot of work in big games. Heap may make too much money to have quality back ups, but he has proven what ever offense we are running is better when he is playing. He is very good at all phases of the game. His overall game is great when he is healthy, but like the big money Willis got, it may have been much better to spread it around than invest it in a premium player at an injury prone position.

[Ravens23]

Thanks, Shaslers. You definitely understood where I was coming from in reference to the article..

Excellent insight. Good post!

[Galen Sevinne]

In would be nice to get Heap back to where he was a couple years ago. His catch against the Titans in the Div. PO game was vintage Heap. That being said, there is something going on with the guy that is not fitting in with Harbaugh's opinion of what makes a football player.

I don't see how an opinion piece from any reputable writer wouldn't find criticism in Heap over the past 12 months...there is criticism to be voiced. I am sure more will come out down the line. Preston wrote a very positive piece on Stover last week so I don't think this is a "Preston issue" as I am sure gravity will ultimately pull this thread.

[mojorob]

Remember what Preston was writing about right after Coach Harbaugh was hired? He was trying to play up the possible friction between the veteran players and the new coach with the new attitude. Preston was convinced that Ray Lewis would have some problems and we all know that never happened. When Heap was "injured" during training camp last year,Preston latched on to that and rode it hard. Granted,Heap's nagging injuries are indeed a concern. When Heap dropped the TD pass early in the season,thats when Preston really convinced himself that Heap was in Coach Harbaugh's doghouse. Now that C-Mac is gone,Preston will work this Heap-Harbaugh angle to the max. He is so predictable. It's all pure speculation from Preston.

[Dave Lap]

There's not a lot of warm fuzzies going on between Heap and Preston. When listening to 1370 AM a few months ago I recall Preston and Coleman talking about having Heap in the booth. They something to the effect that Heap wouldn't sit in the same room as Preston. They made it sound like it was something that had already been attempted and Heap turned it down because of Preston. Or maybe they were kidding?

Heap seems to be on Prestons shit list for reasons not wholly apparent to me.

[52decleetzu]

Heap is back practicing fully today

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.ravens0609,0,2399673.story

Sorry Mikey,find some other shit to stir up you pathetic POS.

[B-more Ravor]

If Preston has picked up a vibe from the coaches that they are unhappy with the player, then Preston's point is more justifiable...but it's still tough to accept the way he throws it out there as an unsubstantiated rumor.


I've always thought that much of what Preston writes is actually true - although he often needs a fact checker at times - but because it's what he's been told "off the record", he has to write it as "rumor" and can't attribute it to a source.

It also - which I think suits him fine - allows it to seem as if he's predicted something, even though it's really something that he was told, but "off the record". Basically, he uses insider info to form the basis of his opinions.

Now, that's not to say that he doesn't embellish it a bit, but his reports on locker room discord in the past and of present coaching staff displeasures with certain players has been pretty much on target. Whether it's as bad as he alleges or insinuates, well, that remains to be seen.

[shaslers]

I've always thought that much of what Preston writes is actually true - although he often needs a fact checker at times - but because it's what he's been told "off the record", he has to write it as "rumor" and can't attribute it to a source.

It also - which I think suits him fine - allows it to seem as if he's predicted something, even though it's really something that he was told, but "off the record". Basically, he uses insider info to form the basis of his opinions.

Now, that's not to say that he doesn't embellish it a bit, but his reports on locker room discord in the past and of present coaching staff displeasures with certain players has been pretty much on target. Whether it's as bad as he alleges or insinuates, well, that remains to be seen.

I've always suspected the same. People complain that he "makes stuff up" but I agree that a lot of the reports about injuries (recall Alan Ricard?) and discord (McAlister, et al) have been true. I've heard that some of his past sources are no longer there, and were not the usual suspects (Jon Ogden's now-deceased father?!)

He clearly is liberal with sourcing.

[jonboy79]

It does beg questions: what is the nature of the injury and why has it taken so long to heal?
.

Back problems don't tend to go away, they tend to get worse.

I agree with Ravor as well. Preston seems to be right a LOT for someone that is supposedly a gossip collumnist with no sources. Especially when it comes to the "doghouse".

[purplepoe]

Remember what Preston was writing about right after Coach Harbaugh was hired? He was trying to play up the possible friction between the veteran players and the new coach with the new attitude. Preston was convinced that Ray Lewis would have some problems and we all know that never happened. When Heap was "injured" during training camp last year,Preston latched on to that and rode it hard. Granted,Heap's nagging injuries are indeed a concern. When Heap dropped the TD pass early in the season,thats when Preston really convinced himself that Heap was in Coach Harbaugh's doghouse. Now that C-Mac is gone,Preston will work this Heap-Harbaugh angle to the max. He is so predictable. It's all pure speculation from Preston.

I get that some people think Preston is a hack. Fine, whatever.

But Preston was far from the only one talking about the friction between the veteran players and Harbaugh. It happens in every locker room around the league when you have a coaching change.

PP

[mojorob]

I get that some people think Preston is a hack. Fine, whatever.

But Preston was far from the only one talking about the friction between the veteran players and Harbaugh. It happens in every locker room around the league when you have a coaching change.

PP

Good point,PP. Change can be disruptive. But I think that Preston was so convinced that the Ravens were going to have a poor season last year and that he was going to have all sorts of controversies(real and imaginary) to dwell on. It's a shame that the Ravens had to go and rain on his parade. His style is reminiscent of Ken Rosenthal. Rosenthal led the effort to run HOF Eddie Murray out of Baltimore. I can't help but think that Preston would like to do the same to a Raven.

[purplepoe]

Good point,PP. Change can be disruptive. But I think that Preston was so convinced that the Ravens were going to have a poor season last year and that he was going to have all sorts of controversies(real and imaginary) to dwell on. It's a shame that the Ravens had to go and rain on his parade. His style is reminiscent of Ken Rosenthal. Rosenthal led the effort to run HOF Eddie Murray out of Baltimore. I can't help but think that Preston would like to do the same to a Raven.

Winning games cures a whole lot of ills, that's for sure. Look at what happened to this team in 2005 and 2007. It was brutal.

I'm not sure I follow your Rosenthal/Murray analogy. I was only 10 or 11 when Eddie was traded to LA but IIRC it was guys like Stan the Fan and John Steadman who were linked to Eddie's departure.

Anyway, I understand Preston ruffles feathers with some of his comments and writing style but it's hard to ignore that many things he talks about turn out to have some merit.

PP

[B-more Ravor]

I'm not sure I follow your Rosenthal/Murray analogy. I was only 10 or 11 when Eddie was traded to LA but IIRC it was guys like Stan the Fan and John Steadman who were linked to Eddie's departure.


Rosenthal was definitely one of the media types that was very hard on Murray over Eddie's last few years here.

[purplepoe]

Rosenthal was definitely one of the media types that was very hard on Murray over Eddie's last few years here.

Yea but the real issues were with stuff around 1980 and EBW calling him out right? About him being lazy and his original contract negotiations with the team?

Another thing is that times have changed so much since then. Back then with Murray the Sun was basically the only media outlet.

Now there are countless outlets which can either confirm or dispute certain things that are reported.

I guess my point now is that no single entity wields the power or influence that the Sun did back in the day.

PP

[Ravenswarrior19]

Anyway, I understand Preston ruffles feathers with some of his comments and writing style but it's hard to ignore that many things he talks about turn out to have some merit.

PP

I won't argue that Preston's talking points have merit. I've never thought he simply dreamed columns up out of thin air.

My question would be is he accurately representing the issues in his columns to the best of his knowledge?
Or, is there a deliberate exaggeration or distortion of information to make for a juicier story?

[purplepoe]

I won't argue that Preston's talking points have merit. I've never thought he simply dreamed columns up out of thin air.

My question would be is he accurately representing the issues in his columns to the best of his knowledge?
Or, is there a deliberate exaggeration or distortion of information to make for a juicier story?

And that's the rub.

He's borderline inflammatory sometimes.

I dunno, I guess I'm used to his style (when I read it) and balance out what I believe to be true with some of the hyperbole that goes along with it.

Preston is no different than many other big city writers. Just watch Around the Horn once in awhile if you don't believe that.

PP

[Dave Lap]

Preston is tricky to evaluate as a reporter because he mixes inside scoops from real sources, with known facts, with editorial comments, with what seems like pure conjecture. To add to that he will sometimes throw in a comment that just seems designed to piss people off by stirring the pot. He often doesn't clue the reader in as to which one he is doing (conjecture, fact, editorial???) in the context of his article.

One that really pissed me off was in a Q and A column where a reader asked if he thought that Tavares Gooden and another player had any chance of helping the team in the future. His one word response= "No." That was it. That's the kind of smug, irresponsible reporting that I can't stand. If you're going to say "No", then explain why. This year he's been singing Gooden's praises. :grbac: That's just one example of how every once in a while he will just take a nasty shot at someone.

He's a pretty knowledgeable guy with interesting opinions that can stray from the mainstream but still make sense. I actually like listening to him more than reading him. He's less ornery when on a radio show.

I think he does what he does to draw attention to himself and as a way of self promotion. Pretty smart maybe. After all, he wasn't one of the ones axed in the recent Sun layoff.

Also, I thought it was unusual, in his latest article that he thought Flacco would struggle more this year because other teams now know his tendencies better. That has some truth to it but compare that to Flacco's having a year's experience under his belt....that he knows the offense now and will have a full training camp this year to prepare for the season. Interesting Preston, interesting...I think he's pretty much taking the wrong angle and maybe intentionally. It almost seems like one of those comments made to spark controversy and that is not always bad for one's career....

[Galen Sevinne]

and so gravity pulls the topic away from the original poster's intention to an analysis of Mike Preston as is the case with every post on this board that references a Preston article.

I know you read this board Mike so here's to you big guy! As long as the Sun is around, you will be around. You're brilliant! Its not about what you write about, its just as long as people read you and need to have an opinion about you...which they obviously do.

I for one like your content but am even more impressed with your faithful following....everyone has an opinion about Mike Preston. Outside of Ray Lewis, you very well could be the second most referenced name on this board.

[B-more Ravor]

Yea but the real issues were with stuff around 1980 and EBW calling him out right? About him being lazy and his original contract negotiations with the team?


I'm pretty sure that the whole EBW thing happened in the mid-80s, just a few years before Murray's departure. Then, he refused to talk to the media, and things went rapidly down hill from there.

[srobert96]

Preston writes articles in a way that stirs up the pot. He likes to come across as negative towards the players.

Take for instance what he wrote about Heap. He talks about Heap still having back problems that plagued him at the end of the season. He goes on to say that the Ravens can't be "happy" about that. That leads people to believe that the Ravens are unhappy with Heap because he has not taken care of it the way he should have. Maybe that is the case or maybe he could have just said that the Ravens should be concerned because he is still being plagued by the same back problems.

He always makes a point to be negative towards Ray and Reed. He comes across as a Jealous reporter. His constant negative attitude has soured people to the point that when he does write something good people struggle to accept it because it was written by Preston.

[shaslers]

The way its written, you can only assume this is 100% Preston's opinion, and that he's never really spoken to a coach about the issue. ...if it's merely his opinion that Heap is "soft," then he should clarify that it's only his opinion -- and avoid the implication the coaches share that opinion.


I've always thought that much of what Preston writes is actually true - although he often needs a fact checker at times - but because it's what he's been told "off the record", he has to write it as "rumor" and can't attribute it to a source.



Preston is tricky to evaluate as a reporter because he mixes inside scoops from real sources, with known facts, with editorial comments, with what seems like pure conjecture. To add to that he will sometimes throw in a comment that just seems designed to piss people off by stirring the pot. He often doesn't clue the reader in as to which one he is doing (conjecture, fact, editorial???) in the context of his article.


We're all saying the same thing. He has good information, but he is too often coy about what's fact vs. opinion, and purposely bends the "rules" to provoke a response from readers, or to protect sources. As I said, if he wants to write an opinion piece on whether Heap is soft, that may piss off fans, but that's his right to have an opinion. If he digs up information that the coaches aren't happy with Heap, then he's reporting facts, and it's up to him if he wants to throw in his own opinion, as a columnist. I just wish he was clearer about which camp he's in. It's okay to write, "team sources indicated to me..."

[52decleetzu]

Some one please provide me of a list of things Preston has been right about,and how we KNOW he is right about them.Everyone says "but he is right most of the time" and I say about what???? Someone please enlighten me to these reports that I apparently missed.

Nothing but speculation and conjecture from him, that can't be confirmed one way or the other.Perfect for his "brand" of journalism where the facts take a back seat to his pot stirring reports and rumor and innuendo rule.

Its gonna be tough to watch Ray Lewis suit up for the Cowboys this year with his $25 mill.........wait a minute......that never actually happened did it?

I guess Ray turned that money down to play for his city because he just couldn't see himself anywhere else but BMore.