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Jawbone54 · Oct 21, 2015, 09:31 AM

ESPN poised for big job cuts - Oct. 20, 2015

An ESPN representative declined to comment on Tuesday evening. Earlier in the day Bloomberg News reported that up to 350 employees, or 4.3% of its 8,000 positions, will be affected.

Layoff rumors started not long after. The Big Lead, a sports news site, said in September that Disney had told ESPN to "trim $100 million from the 2016 budget and $250 million in 2017

This explains Simmons and Cowherd, at least partially.

The Final Dakar · Oct 21, 2015, 09:36 AM

Told you.

ShortcutToMoncton · Oct 21, 2015, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

If you actually believe that several hundred fans throwing beer cans (many of them nearly full) from the stands and upper deck isn't dangerous to the players on the field, then I'm going to have trouble accepting your objectivity on the matter.

If I was standing just ten feet away from you and underhanded a half-full can at your head, it could be enough to illicit a yelp, and then you'd be willing to fight. Imagine one lucky can careening from 100 feet high, hitting an outfielder in the head. You're actually trying to convince me that wouldn't be a player safety issue?

I was at the game. Lower level, non-throwing. I mean it wasn't pretty, but it really wasn't dangerous, either. The fact that he ump had called time before the run scored just confused the hell out of everyone and for various reasons we already have a "US/MLB is against us" complex.

We're getting spanked by the Royals. It doesn't look good right now.

Jawbone54 · Oct 21, 2015, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Told you.

It seems bad right now, but I'm wondering where the next $250 million is going to come from.

It's always seemed to me like they have far too many analysts. Their paychecks have to be fairly hefty. They're probably all sweating a bit.

Originally Posted by ShortcutToMoncton

I was at the game. Lower level, non-throwing.

This tickled me.

I mean it wasn't pretty, but it really wasn't dangerous, either.

I'm not going to argue the point that objects thrown from a distance are dangerous anymore. We'll agree to disagree.

The fact that he ump had called time before the run scored just confused the hell out of everyone and for various reasons we already have a "US/MLB is against us" complex.

The ump calling time is probably the most valid argument in Toronto's favor. The other is the complexity/obscurity of the rule.

We're getting spanked by the Royals. It doesn't look good right now.

God is punishing Canada for the beer-throwing.

rickey939 · Oct 24, 2015, 10:35 AM

Royals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dork. · Oct 24, 2015, 03:31 PM

No.

rickey939 · Oct 24, 2015, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by Dork.

No.

Yes.

Dork. · Oct 24, 2015, 08:20 PM

We are at an impasse, it seems. Maybe we should just let them play the games.

OAW · Oct 24, 2015, 08:32 PM

Since my Cardinals didn't make it. It's all about my other city. KC Royals all the way. OAW has spoken!

OAW

rickey939 · Oct 24, 2015, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by OAW

Since my Cardinals didn't make it. It's all about my other city. KC Royals all the way. OAW has spoken!

OAW

Jawbone54 · Oct 26, 2015, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Dork.

No.

Originally Posted by rickey939

Yes.

The Final Dakar · Oct 27, 2015, 12:18 PM

Bill Simmons confirmed in an AMA that ESPN will never let Zach Lowe on his podcast.

Jawbone54 · Oct 27, 2015, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Bill Simmons confirmed in an AMA that ESPN will never let Zach Lowe on his podcast.

And I'm not sure Lowe would give up the access to players/coaches/officials that a job with ESPN grants him. He has major insider access.

The Final Dakar · Oct 27, 2015, 03:39 PM

Well that's a different issue

Jawbone54 · Oct 27, 2015, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Well that's a different issue

For now. I'm talking about contract renewal time, whenever that may be.

My fault — I wasn't clear at all.

ShortcutToMoncton · Oct 31, 2015, 11:27 AM

Well it's official - ESPN pulled the plug on Grantland yesterday. Site is now archived reading. Too bad....

Jawbone54 · Nov 1, 2015, 01:25 AM

A Deadspin article claimed some of the writers were upset at Simmons for keeping the four editors who jettisoned in a hush-hush deal to all pull out at the same time for maximum damage to ESPN, effectively placing his feud above their own livelihoods. Who knows if that can be substantiated, but it makes for good reading, anyways.

Cap'n Tightpants · Nov 1, 2015, 03:09 AM

Great college FB today, that Miami vs Duke ending was wild.

rickey939 · Nov 1, 2015, 04:35 PM

Royals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dork. · Nov 2, 2015, 08:06 AM

Proud Of You®©™

(And a bit frustrated, because the Mets didn't score enough runs and Murph Murphed.....)

rickey939 · Nov 2, 2015, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Dork.

Proud Of You®©™

(And a bit frustrated, because the Mets didn't score enough runs and Murph Murphed.....)

The Royals are magical. Really, no other way to view it. Simply magic. How else do you explain Murph? You don't. It's magic.

sek929 · Nov 3, 2015, 12:03 PM

Denver/Green Bay game Sunday night was eye-opening, Rodgers held to just ~80 yards throwing and the Denver O is starting to get production from Peyton the noodle. Late November's Manning vs Brady matchup is shaping up to be epic.

sek929 · Nov 6, 2015, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

I guess all that's left is to watch with baited breath to see if the Patriots start fumbling the ball a hell of a lot more because the footballs are at 12.6 instead of 11.65

Patriots have the fewest (3) turnovers in the NFL, Colts have 13, the second highest.

The Final Dakar · Nov 6, 2015, 01:06 PM

Doesn't prove anything. Pats are still cheating, they just found a different method to prevent fumbles.

The Final Dakar · Nov 10, 2015, 07:14 PM

Exclusive: ESPN President John Skipper on His Decision to Shutter Gran | Vanity Fair

“We lacked a full understanding of the bonding nature between Bill and those guys,” Skipper says now. But along with management failing to appreciate fully the bond between Simmons and his staff, it also misunderstood the Grantland culture—enough to imagine that turning the site over to Chris Connelly, brought in as a temporary Simmons replacement, would sit well with the staff.

Talk about being out of touch.

turtle777 · Nov 10, 2015, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

Denver/Green Bay game Sunday night was eye-opening, Rodgers held to just ~80 yards throwing and the Denver O is starting to get production from Peyton the noodle. Late November's Manning vs Brady matchup is shaping up to be epic.

I really don't understand how the Broncos tore apart the Packers, and then turned around and lost to Indy.

WTF ?

Prediction: Broncos - Patriots is going to be a blowout. Broncos are going to fail hard.

-t

The Final Dakar · Nov 13, 2015, 12:12 AM

Simmons' acquisitions will be branching out with their own podcasts, likely creating his own network. Someone joked he should call it BSPN

The Final Shortcut · Nov 15, 2015, 11:51 AM

Love the BSPN idea. Would get sued to hell and back of course.

So....Holly Holm! Wow. Beautiful work.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 09:23 PM

The Patriots managed to beat the Giants! god I hope they don't get to the SB.

Peyton broke the passing yardage record....then threw 4 INTs and got benched. Now has 17 INTs on the year.

starman · Nov 15, 2015, 09:39 PM

The Patriots won because the refs miscalled that catch by Collins. I recorded it. Catch, control, elbow first. Effing INTERCEPTION.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 09:42 PM

We'll call it even for the ghost DPI called on Butler for his perfect coverage of OBJ.

Or maybe don't be a poor sport and blame the refs.

Also, for it to be a catch you have to maintain possession after going to the ground, you watch football right?

starman · Nov 15, 2015, 09:50 PM

Watch the video. He had control and his elbow hit first. In.Ter.Cep.Tion.

Your Golden Boy cheated his way to another win.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 09:53 PM

Lol, you need to maintain possession after going to the ground, that's how that's been called for years now, same rule that applies to the WRs apply to a DB trying to get an INT.

Your salt is delicious

starman · Nov 15, 2015, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

Lol, you need to maintain possession after going to the ground, that's how that's been called for years now, same rule that applies to the WRs apply to a DB trying to get an INT.

Your salt is delicious

He had control of the ball. Do Patriots fans feel the need to rewrite the rules all the time?

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by starman

He had control of the ball. Do Patriots fans feel the need to rewrite the rules all the time?

Oh okay, so you haven't been watching football, I'll clear this up.

See, since he was jumping to get the ball he never "became a runner" or "made a football move" therefore he needs to maintain possession of the ball through the act of landing on the ground, he did not so it didn't count. Easy right? The whole "arm down" rule only applies once the ball is secured and the player becomes a runner, that did not happen so he needs to hang on to the ball through the entire act of landing on the ground.

So tell me again how TB "cheated" or the refs "screwed this one up" when this is how they've determined catches for the last 4 or so seasons.

starman · Nov 15, 2015, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

Oh okay, so you haven't been watching football, I'll clear this up.

See, since he was jumping to get the ball he never "became a runner" or "made a football move" therefore he needs to maintain possession of the ball through the act of landing on the ground, he did not so it didn't count. Easy right?

So tell me again how TB "cheated" or the refs "screwed this one up" when this is how they've determined catches for the last 4 or so seasons.

The only "football move" you need to make when you're stationary is to have control of the ball.

Must be real convenient when your team constantly cheats. Now the fans are so delusional they can't even understand the rules.

Been watching since before you were born, apologist.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by starman

The only "football move" you need to make when you're stationary is to have control of the ball

See, since he was jumping to get the ball he never "became a runner" or "made a football move" therefore he needs to maintain possession of the ball through the act of landing on the ground, he did not so it didn't count. Easy right? The whole "arm down" rule only applies once the ball is secured and the player becomes a runner, that did not happen so he needs to hang on to the ball through the entire act of landing on the ground.

starman · Nov 15, 2015, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

See, since he was jumping to get the ball he never "became a runner" or "made a football move" therefore he needs to maintain possession of the ball through the act of landing on the ground, he did not so it didn't count. Easy right? The whole "arm down" rule only applies once the ball is secured and the player becomes a runner, that did not happen so he needs to hang on to the ball through the entire act of landing on the ground.

False. If that were true, then players tackled at the point of reception would always have incomplete passes. Learn the rules, please, and stop rooting for cheaters.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by starman

Been watching since before you were born, apologist.

Then you should have seen dozens of examples of this rule over the years, Dez and Megatron got TDs called back for literally the exact same thing, yet you seem to think this is an example of "cheating" somehow, which is both baffling and hilarious.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by starman

False. If that were true, then players tackled at the point of reception would always have incomplete passes. Learn the rules, please, and stop rooting for cheaters.

Players tackled at the point of reception have their feet on the ground, that is in no way what we are talking about. Just take the loss and move on dude, jesus christ you're a salty bastard.

starman · Nov 15, 2015, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

Players tackled at the point of reception have their feet on the ground, that is in no way what we are talking about. Just take the loss and move on dude, jesus christ you're a salty bastard.

Easy to say when your team has a reputation of cheating their way to the top.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by starman

Easy to say when your team has a reputation of cheating their way to the top.

So we're dropping the whole " that call was totally screwed up" thing right? You understand that when someone jumps up for the ball they need to maintain possession through contacting the ground, correct?

starman · Nov 15, 2015, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by sek929

So we're dropping the whole " that call was totally screwed up" thing right? You understand that when someone jumps up for the ball they need to maintain possession through contacting the ground, correct?

No, I think it was a bad call. We could keep this going if you want. I suppose you think that Golden Boy Brady isn't capable of throwing an interception. Face it, he can.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 10:24 PM

I think that the rule is odd, as I've stated before when it happened to Dez in this very thread. The call was correct, your issue is with the rule.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by boy8cookie

Pre: Packer's fan here.

As soon as I saw the play, I knew it wasn't a catch by the rules of the NFL.

Pretty clear to me, he's going to the ground as he completes, ball hits the ground, he doesn't maintain control. Incomplete.

You can argue the rule, but you can't argue the call.

Back on Page 4, the call was correct, admit it and move on.

starman · Nov 15, 2015, 10:33 PM

Um, the ball hit the ground first there. Nice try.

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 10:56 PM

Ball or arm does not matter. Must. Maintain. Possession. What don't you understand?

sek929 · Nov 15, 2015, 11:03 PM

So just looked around r/nygiants, literally noone disputing that call in their subreddit, but yeah, totally cheating

starman · Nov 16, 2015, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by sek929

So just looked around r/nygiants, literally noone disputing that call in their subreddit, but yeah, totally cheating

From /r/nygiants:

"Seriously though, how was that not an interception? Collins caught the ball and his elbow hit the floor while he still had possession of the ball."

Keep trying...

The Final Shortcut · Nov 16, 2015, 01:21 AM

You're embarrassing yourself. You don't know the rules. Just stop.