Kevin Byrne slams Mike Preston over his Reed comments

**RavenScallywag** · 04-06-2013, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Bl1tz

People read the Byrne report?

I do...It's a nice perspective. So what if he's a PR guy? He offers unique insight to some of the hidden moments of the team.

In this case, it should be taken as an opinion piece. But to me, if the report about not wanting Reed back was true, why not just stay silent about it? There was no "need" for him to come out and write that piece. He did it because he wanted to address it. I'd say that while you can't take it as the total truth, it's probably more true than not.

**lowrider** · 04-06-2013, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

He did it because he wanted to address it. I'd say that while you can't take it as the total truth, it's probably more true than not.

Ed Reed is such a fan favorite in Baltimore I'm sure Byrne felt the need to address it on their behalf. While their could be some truth to Preston's assertion, it is not based in fact. It is based in opinion, and Byrne knows very well this is Preston's MO.

**TheFlacco** · 04-06-2013, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by lowrider

Ed Reed is such a fan favorite in Baltimore I'm sure Byrne felt the need to address it on their behalf. While their could be some truth to Preston's assertion, it is not based in fact. It is based in opinion, and Byrne knows very well this is Preston's MO.

Exactly. This was about getting a message out to the fans that love Ed Reed. Reed knows that Preston is full of shit... but for the fans out there that don't know Preston's reputation for being a bullshitter, the team felt the need to correct the lies.

**Shas** · 04-06-2013, 08:52 AM

A distinction needs to be made here. Preston was not reporting facts...and he also was not providing his opinion. He was purely speculating. There is a difference. See my post from the Boldin thread.

Preston could have written a perfectly acceptable piece where he made it clear that there is a lot of speculation that Harbaugh cut Pollard because of his clubhouse lawyering, and then gone on to give his opinion that--if this speculation is true--a coach can't tolerate constant defiance...or a coach should welcome a little defiance if it brings the team together.

I'm fine with Preston having opinions as long as he's clear if he's basing his opinion on fact versus rumor.

It's fun to debate how much leeway an NFL coach should give players. It's not fun to debate Preston's theories about what Harbaugh may have been thinking.

**Paintballguy** · 04-06-2013, 10:13 AM

@AlbertBreer: The Ed Reed situation as I understood it having covered it -- The Ravens told him how far they'd go $$-wise, and let him hit the market.

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**alien bird** · 04-06-2013, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

As for what the Ravens offered, we 'believe' the Ravens were offering Reed 3 million per year, do we have any confirmation for that?

The way Ray was dealt with was being given an offer before he entered FA. The team told him to go out there and see what he could find and that if he could not find anything, he could come back to that offer. We don't know if Ed was handled the same way.

Originally Posted by Paintballguy

@AlbertBreer: The Ed Reed situation as I understood it having covered it -- The Ravens told him how far they'd go $$-wise, and let him hit the market.

Well, there you go. I'm guessing that's as close as any of us is going to get to a confirmation. Just live with it.

**Haloti92** · 04-06-2013, 10:57 AM

The Ravens would have been better served just ignoring the column. A canned and weak defense (with a healthy heap of feigned indignation) from the PR guy is worse than silence.

**rd1z** · 04-06-2013, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by Haloti92

The Ravens would have been better served just ignoring the column. A canned and weak defense (with a healthy heap of feigned indignation) from the PR guy is worse than silence.

They wouldn't have had to do it if national outlets like PFT didn't pick up the story and post Preston's opinion as fact.

**HKusp** · 04-06-2013, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Haloti92

The Ravens would have been better served just ignoring the column. A canned and weak defense (with a healthy heap of feigned indignation) from the PR guy is worse than silence.

I disagree. Sometimes you have to call BS. This is one of those times.

**knots** · 04-06-2013, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Haloti92

The Ravens would have been better served just ignoring the column. A canned and weak defense (with a healthy heap of feigned indignation) from the PR guy is worse than silence.

The Ravens had no choice as just the implication that the Ravens made a personality based (and on the surface, vindictive move) hurts the image of the franchise. If nothing else it puts donut boy on notice that his lies won't be tolerated. The Ravens could take the next step and deny donut boy access. Ask Matt Simon if he'd like a second chance to be used by donut boy...

Byrne not only responded to donut boy, but he dressed him down in a very thorough and professional manner...