Why all the Cimini bashing?

[LIJetsFan]

I don't know why everyone is so down on Cimini around here.  This IMHO is a pretty good read for the casual fan:

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/50556/sunday-notes-new-york-jets-bulk-shopping-has-pros-and-cons

A look at what's happening around the New York Jets:

1. Sweet 16? General manager Mike Maccagnan has done a nice job of increasing the competition at virtually every position on the roster, acquiring 16 new players, but he has spent a little too much time shopping in the aisle marked "Older/Injured Players."

Eight of the 16 will be at least 30 years old when the season starts and, more concerning, six ended last season on injured reserve -- Brandon Marshall, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stevan Ridley, James Brewer, Jamari Lattimore and Corey Hilliard. Another player, Joe Mays, began the season on IR and returned at midseason. All told, the new players missed a total of 63 games because of injuries, not counting Erin Henderson, who sat out the year because of substance-abuse issues. Then there's Marcus Gilchrist, who didn't miss a single game but is limited this offseason due to a residual shoulder injury.

Of the injuries that plagued many of the Jets' newcomers, Stevan Ridley's knee issue was the most serious. AP Photo/Mike Groll

 

 

 

Maccagnan went into the second wave of free agency with his eyes open and, appropriately, reduced the risk by doling out nine one-year contracts for minimum salaries and small signing bonuses. In other words, if they're hurt or ineffective, they're gone -- with no damage to the salary cap. My prediction is at least 10 or 11 will make the team, but you wonder how many will contribute on special teams. And that's what backups are supposed to do, right? Only three played at least 100 special-teams snaps last season -- Lattimore, Buster Skrineand Kevin Vickerson.

This approach, in part, was born of necessity. Save for 2013, the recent John Idzik and Mike Tannenbaum drafts failed to produce the kind of numbers you need to sustain a healthy roster, leaving gaping holes on the depth chart. So, basically, Maccagnan did some bulk shopping at cut-rate prices, saving the big money for Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Skrine.

If you're a Jets fan, you'd better hope Maccagnan doesn't start trading away draft choices, thinking the older/injured can hold the fort for more than a year. The draft remains the lifeblood of successful organizations.

2. Ridley on the mend: Of all the newcomers, the most seriously injured was Ridley, who is only five months removed from major knee surgery. Nevertheless, the Jets are optimistic about his recovery. He soon will report to the offseason program to continue his rehab. Barring a setback, he should be ready to go for training camp, a source said. This is a prove-it year for Ridley. He signed a one-year deal, although he's not behaving like someone who expects a one-and-done with the Jets. On Friday, he posted an Instagram video of himself getting a rather large "Jets" tattoo on his right forearm. Imagine if he signed a Revis-type deal; they would've run out of ink.

3. Maybe ball deflation is the answer: The biggest criticism of Ridley is that he's a fumbler, which is weird because his former team -- the New England Patriots -- is known for excellent ball security. From 2012 to 2014, he fumbled seven times on rushing attempts. The only running backs with more fumbles over that period are Jamaal Charles (13), Alfred Morris (11), Joique Bell (10),Reggie Bush (nine), C.J. Spiller (nine), Marshawn Lynch (eight) and LeSean McCoy (eight), according to ESPN Stats & Information. That's a pretty good group; the Jets probably could tolerate a few miscues if Ridley can produce like those guys.

4. Motivation behind the Coples move: The Jets' decision to exercise the fifth-year option for Quinton Coples gives them another year to evaluate the talented, but inconsistent former first-round pick. It simply buys them time before they have to make a call on whether to pony up the serious money. Let me explain. Right now, his 2016 salary ($7.8 million) is guaranteed for injury only. The salary doesn't become fully guaranteed until the start of the 2016 league year in mid-March. If Coples has a terrible year, he can be released before then with no cap ramifications.

Teams still are getting comfortable with the concept of the fifth-year option because this is only the second year of its existence. Some facts and figures from last year: Thirty first-round picks from 2011 were eligible for a fifth-year option. Of those 30, 21 had their option picked up, including the Jets'Muhammad Wilkerson. Four of the 21 received long-term deals; the other 17 remained on their teams. That includes the San Francisco 49ers' Aldon Smith, who restructured his contract.

 

5. The joy of six: There are six elite prospects in the draft, according to a consensus from four well-respected experts -- Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay of ESPN, Rob Rang of CBSSports.com and Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media. After compiling their player rankings, six stood out above the crowd (in order): USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, West Virginia wide receiverKevin White, Florida defensive end/linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

[AFJF]

My issue with Cimini is that he enjoys it too much when the Jets.  He prefers snark over substance.

 

It's the offseason and Mac is doing a great job so we'll get some solid work from him now.  The second something goes wrong, he'll pounce on it.

[Larz]

ESPNNY cimini is 180 degress the opposite of NYDN cimini, which in my mind is proof he adjusts his take on a subject to suit his audience and he has the credibility of a pats* fan 

[flgreen]

ESPNNY cimini is 180 degress the opposite of NYDN cimini, which in my mind is proof he adjusts his take on a subject to suit his audience and he has the credibility of a pats* fan 

Agree.

 

I suspect that it's more the NYDN Ed policy then it is actually cimini.  Who's the worst Jets beat writer now.  Mehta, who also works for the NYDN.

 

 

 

GO RANGERS

[TheBlairThomasFumble]

Where do I start?

 

He tweeted out that Ellis was a "druggie" after the Jets drafted him.

 

He humiliated his ESPN colleague Jane McManus by sending out a tweet (that was supposed to be private) saying, in effect, that her work sucked. 

 

He created a fake Twitter account to mock Jake Steinberg (Steiny), presumably because it's fun to make fun of people who players trust more than you. 

[32EBoozer]

Welcome to the board Dick!!

 

 

Go Rangers.

[Jolot]

Hey if you want to forgive him and Mehta because they are saying the right things now fine, it's your choice,...me?..never , I'll despise them both til the day I die...there's no amount of " play nice " articles they can write to make me trust them, it's like forgiving a cheating spouse because they come crawling back to you, they will screw you over again as soon as the going gets tough. And I know Cimini and Mehta read this site so hello as##h#ls.

Edit Go Islanders.

[Jet Blast]

ESPNNY cimini is 180 degress the opposite of NYDN cimini, which in my mind is proof he adjusts his take on a subject to suit his audience and he has the credibility of a pats* fan 

I have noticed this myself. He has been fine since he joined ESPN, though I still can't stand Mehta. And Mehta was good at first and then he got hired by the NYDN. The NYDN is the culprit here.

 

The media in general pisses me off.  There was no finer example of how low they will go than when Mehta speculated a few months back that the Eagles COULD trade two 1's and two 2's to the Jets in order to move up for Mariota. That in itself was OK, but within a few days it went national with the headline "Sources Are Saying Blockbuster Eagles Jets Trade" or some variation of that. Every sports news outlet in the country was reporting that. WTF??? How does this happen? All because Mehta speculated... and ironically this one time Mehta DID make it clear that it was only speculation. It was never more obvious that the media will take anything and bend it, twist it and mold it to make something out of nothing in order to fabricate a headline that will sell advertising space. I realize it's a business, but they are way over the edge.

[GoingToMyGraveGreen]

I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while. As a former journalist and sport writer (not the pros) I can understand why sports writers can appear irrelevant, obvious and outright dumb. There are many reasons for this, but I’ll only go into a few. The net-net of this is: Give ‘em a break.

 

• Sports writers write to a 9th grade level. That’s what we’re taught in J-school and there are good reasons for that – well maybe not good, but that the reality of being a sports writer.
• Sport writers are at the mercy of the teams they write about. Access to many practices is restricted and they are screened from anything unique (for obvious good reason here).
• Access to players is restricted and monitored, and the players are taught to say the same (dumb) clichés that as a writer you want to physically choke your interviewee when they say them. And of course the sport writer gets dinged for quoting this drivel.
• Sports writers know more than they can say – but they do not write about it because if they did they would be damned, shunned and perhaps outright banned. So the writer needs to talk around it awkwardly or not at all. Remember, this is how they get paid so they can pay their bills and feed their families too.
• Finding stories (especially this time of year) is agonizing. The result is usually a reiteration of the obvious to the informed Jets fan, but their editors EXPECT and DEMAND a story. (not yelling here – just adding emphasis).
• It’s a very competitive world to be a sports writer in New York...so you need an angle different than you competition to attract readership. Sometime it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
• And lastly (to keep this short) for the members and readers of this website, we know anything we write that is the least bit controversial is often responded to with considerable emotion (and maybe this post too). So i'm not surprised the sports writers catch flak here too,

 

Remember, Cimini and the other sports writers are on this board too. They come here often to get ideas on new stories and we can help them with our insights and angles. It is quite a complement to a member here for his or her idea to be picked up and published.

 

Flaming on them is your American right, but as one who received threatening calls when I quoted a college coach after beating their opponent saying, “we love to play them”…I’m ready to give Cimini and the others a break.

[Dcat]

I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while. As a former journalist and sport writer (not the pros) I can understand why sports writers can appear irrelevant, obvious and outright dumb. There are many reasons for this, but I’ll only go into a few. The net-net of this is: Give ‘em a break.

 

• Sports writers write to a 9th grade level. That’s what we’re taught in J-school and there are good reasons for that – well maybe not good, but that the reality of being a sports writer.
• Sport writers are at the mercy of the teams they write about. Access to many practices is restricted and they are screened from anything unique (for obvious good reason here).
• Access to players is restricted and monitored, and the players are taught to say the same (dumb) clichés that as a writer you want to physically choke your interviewee when they say them. And of course the sport writer gets dinged for quoting this drivel.
• Sports writers know more than they can say – but they do not write about it because if they did they would be damned, shunned and perhaps outright banned. So the writer needs to talk around it awkwardly or not at all. Remember, this is how they get paid so they can pay their bills and feed their families too.
• Finding stories (especially this time of year) is agonizing. The result is usually a reiteration of the obvious to the informed Jets fan, but their editors EXPECT and DEMAND a story. (not yelling here – just adding emphasis).
• It’s a very competitive world to be a sports writer in New York...so you need an angle different than you competition to attract readership. Sometime it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
• And lastly (to keep this short) for the members and readers of this website, we know anything we write that is the least bit controversial is often responded to with considerable emotion (and maybe this post too). So i'm not surprised the sports writers catch flak here too,

 

Remember, Cimini and the other sports writers are on this board too. They come here often to get ideas on new stories and we can help them with our insights and angles. It is quite a complement to a member here for his or her idea to be picked up and published.

 

Flaming on them is your American right, but as one who received threatening calls when I quoted a college coach after beating their opponent saying, “we love to play them”…I’m ready to give Cimini and the others a break.

 

sorry but both of them have had ample time to demonstrate even the slightest bit of journalism integrity and both have continuously demonstrated a lack of professionalism.  They both suck.  Really suck.  Mehta was solid when he was at the Star-Ledger and overnight he transformed into a NYDN smelly assshole.  Cimini will never change his obnoxious ways.  Buying into the NYDN "National Enquirer" brand of writing was their own f-ked up choice and now they pay the price of being despised, ridiculed and ultimately regarded as irrelevant.  They both should take a long walk off a short pier AFAIC.  

[T0mShane]

ESPNNY cimini is 180 degress the opposite of NYDN cimini, which in my mind is proof he adjusts his take on a subject to suit his audience and he has the credibility of a pats* fan

Or that NYDN is a tabloid rag.

[32EBoozer]

I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while. As a former journalist and sport writer (not the pros) I can understand why sports writers can appear irrelevant, obvious and outright dumb. There are many reasons for this, but I’ll only go into a few. The net-net of this is: Give ‘em a break.

 

• Sports writers write to a 9th grade level. That’s what we’re taught in J-school and there are good reasons for that – well maybe not good, but that the reality of being a sports writer.
• Sport writers are at the mercy of the teams they write about. Access to many practices is restricted and they are screened from anything unique (for obvious good reason here).
• Access to players is restricted and monitored, and the players are taught to say the same (dumb) clichés that as a writer you want to physically choke your interviewee when they say them. And of course the sport writer gets dinged for quoting this drivel.
• Sports writers know more than they can say – but they do not write about it because if they did they would be damned, shunned and perhaps outright banned. So the writer needs to talk around it awkwardly or not at all. Remember, this is how they get paid so they can pay their bills and feed their families too.
• Finding stories (especially this time of year) is agonizing. The result is usually a reiteration of the obvious to the informed Jets fan, but their editors EXPECT and DEMAND a story. (not yelling here – just adding emphasis).
• It’s a very competitive world to be a sports writer in New York...so you need an angle different than you competition to attract readership. Sometime it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
• And lastly (to keep this short) for the members and readers of this website, we know anything we write that is the least bit controversial is often responded to with considerable emotion (and maybe this post too). So i'm not surprised the sports writers catch flak here too,

 

Remember, Cimini and the other sports writers are on this board too. They come here often to get ideas on new stories and we can help them with our insights and angles. It is quite a complement to a member here for his or her idea to be picked up and published.

 

Flaming on them is your American right, but as one who received threatening calls when I quoted a college coach after beating their opponent saying, “we love to play them”…I’m ready to give Cimini and the others a break.

Is it TOO much to ask that our beat writers be ACTUAL fans of the teams they are representing?

 

I understand the difficulties in keeping news fresh this time of year, but c'mon man... If Joe Caporoso from TOJ and Brian Bassett from TJB and all the guys @ GGN

 

and ALL the great articles written here on JetNation are perfectly acceptable to us Jet fans, why can't Mehta and Cimini and others come up with quality content?

 

Wait, I know..... they all want to be on ESPN in Patriots Country and the only way to do that is bash the Jets.

[GoingToMyGraveGreen]

I agree - there have been great articles written here at JN...which is why this is the first place I go for Jets news and information and have been a reader for years.

 

I'm just wondering if you could be Cimini's editor - what story(ies) would you want him writing about now?

[Thor99]

Because he sucks balls?

[32EBoozer]

I agree - there have been great articles written here at JN...which is why this is the first place I go for Jets news and information and have been a reader for years.

 

I'm just wondering if you could be Cimini's editor - what story(ies) would you want him writing about now?

My first thing would be to assign him an investigative piece titled:

 

"Why do Pats fans LURK on Jets message boards" and "Is Kelly a dude or what?"

[Thor99]

My first thing would be to assign him an investigative piece titled:

 

"Why do Pats fans LURK on Jets message boards" and "Is Kelly a dude or what?"

The second one would be a pretty short article.

[RutgersJetFan]

Or that NYDN is a tabloid rag.

Tweeters reporting.

[Jet Blast]

I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while. As a former journalist and sport writer (not the pros) I can understand why sports writers can appear irrelevant, obvious and outright dumb. There are many reasons for this, but I’ll only go into a few. The net-net of this is: Give ‘em a break.

 

• Sports writers write to a 9th grade level. That’s what we’re taught in J-school and there are good reasons for that – well maybe not good, but that the reality of being a sports writer.
• Sport writers are at the mercy of the teams they write about. Access to many practices is restricted and they are screened from anything unique (for obvious good reason here).
• Access to players is restricted and monitored, and the players are taught to say the same (dumb) clichés that as a writer you want to physically choke your interviewee when they say them. And of course the sport writer gets dinged for quoting this drivel.
• Sports writers know more than they can say – but they do not write about it because if they did they would be damned, shunned and perhaps outright banned. So the writer needs to talk around it awkwardly or not at all. Remember, this is how they get paid so they can pay their bills and feed their families too.
• Finding stories (especially this time of year) is agonizing. The result is usually a reiteration of the obvious to the informed Jets fan, but their editors EXPECT and DEMAND a story. (not yelling here – just adding emphasis).
• It’s a very competitive world to be a sports writer in New York...so you need an angle different than you competition to attract readership. Sometime it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
• And lastly (to keep this short) for the members and readers of this website, we know anything we write that is the least bit controversial is often responded to with considerable emotion (and maybe this post too). So i'm not surprised the sports writers catch flak here too,

 

Remember, Cimini and the other sports writers are on this board too. They come here often to get ideas on new stories and we can help them with our insights and angles. It is quite a complement to a member here for his or her idea to be picked up and published.

 

Flaming on them is your American right, but as one who received threatening calls when I quoted a college coach after beating their opponent saying, “we love to play them”…I’m ready to give Cimini and the others a break.

 

I get all that. But that doesn't give them license to lie and deceive.

 

Is it TOO much to ask that our beat writers be ACTUAL fans of the teams they are representing?

 

I understand the difficulties in keeping news fresh this time of year, but c'mon man... If Joe Caporoso from TOJ and Brian Bassett from TJB and all the guys @ GGN

 

and ALL the great articles written here on JetNation are perfectly acceptable to us Jet fans, why can't Mehta and Cimini and others come up with quality content?

 

Wait, I know..... they all want to be on ESPN in Patriots Country and the only way to do that is bash the Jets.

 

That would be the other extreme. I don't want the local beat writers to be haters or homers. I want them to be unbiased.

[Larz]

Or that NYDN is a tabloid rag.

 

yeah it probably boils down to what the news wants to see.   

[Larz]

I'm just wondering if you could be Cimini's editor - what story(ies) would you want him writing about now?

 

options for the jets if they want to move on from wilkerson this year

what are other execs saying about maccs first 16 moves ?

[peekskill68]

Let's not forget that "Same Old Jets" and dysfunction is part of the culture of this franchise. It has been around alot longer than Mehta or Cimini. They just exploit it by writing about it to expand their viewership.  The Giants don't get the same press coverage simply because they have been winners and their organization from the Maras down to the waterboys have been raised differently. They have no coaches whispering dirt to reporters, they rarely if ever have a locker room controversy, they can hide things like LT's outrageous behavior, etc. All the things the Jets have never been able to do. Going after reporters is an easy cop out to the fact that what they are reporting on has been a mess for most of the past 40+ years.  Maybe Woody finally is figuring out how to be an NFL owner and will create a different organization than the one Mehta and Cimini and everyone before them has reported on in the past.

 

I don't want Homers reporting about my team. I want my team to give the reporters something to write about that isn't based on dysfunction and failure...

[LIJetsFan]

Hey if you want to forgive him and Mehta because they are saying the right things now fine, it's your choice,...me?..never , I'll despise them both til the day I die...there's no amount of " play nice " articles they can write to make me trust them, it's like forgiving a cheating spouse because they come crawling back to you, they will screw you over again as soon as the going gets tough. And I know Cimini and Mehta read this site so hello as##h#ls.

Edit Go Islanders.

 

Ok, so I think I get it.  Thanks.  I guess I'm just a glass half full type of guy.  

 

My thinking was that many here say that he is a lousy writer which just isn't true.  I hadn't realized that it was/is just his NYDN persona that sux till now.  

[32EBoozer]

I get all that. But that doesn't give them license to lie and deceive.

 

 

That would be the other extreme. I don't want the local beat writers to be haters or homers. I want them to be unbiased.

If our Supreme Court, most Religious leaders and our police and Legislators can't be unbiased in matters of life and death, how can we expect sports writers to be unbiased.

 

That being said, I'd prefer the homers so I don't get upset with these clowns

[T0mShane]

Tweeters reporting.

ONE TIME I WROTE THAT. ONCE.

[dbatesman]

Cimini is ok as a reporter (inasmuch as any of them are ok), but he goes to the Droopy Dog well a bit often for my taste. Every one of his stories seems to end like "Mike Maccagnan's scouting background should serve him well as Jets GM, unless he screws everything up and the Jets are terrible forever :("

[GoingToMyGraveGreen]

My first thing would be to assign him an investigative piece titled:

 

"Why do Pats fans LURK on Jets message boards" and "Is Kelly a dude or what?"

LOL...this was great Boozer

 

I laughed so hard my kids called down wondering if I was OK...I was almost unable to breathe.

 

Interesting articles though!!!

[UnitedWhofans]

When Cimini is interviewed or is appearing on television, he is pretty good. His writing, though, tends to use too much sarcasm in cases where there is an proper explanation. In other words, he's trying to find some dirt or scandal to unearth. Mehta does this to an extreme.

[jack48]

I guess no writer wants to be vanilla.  And negative sells.

[32EBoozer]

LOL...this was great Boozer

 

I laughed so hard my kids called down wondering if I was OK...I was almost unable to breathe.

 

Interesting articles though!!!

Glad you survived! Don't think I'll ever understand the continual presence of other teams fans on an opposing teams fan site.

Their message boards must suck, or they're not one of the cool kids on those boards and like the attention... any attention.

 

The other is why pretend to be a chick when you're a Dude?? Very Bruce(Brandy) Jenner-esque.

[slats]

Cimini is ok as a reporter (inasmuch as any of them are ok), but he goes to the Droopy Dog well a bit often for my taste. Every one of his stories seems to end like "Mike Maccagnan's scouting background should serve him well as Jets GM, unless he screws everything up and the Jets are terrible forever :("

I agree with this. He does the same thing in this article, lamenting about the over 30s and walking wounded Maccagnan signed before acknowledging that the previous accountants in charge left him little choice. He's better than he was since he left the NYDN, and the fact that Manish is far worse than Cimini ever was (after his previously decent incarnation) would suggest the problem is almost certainly the NYDN's editorial department.

[faba]

Cimini is lots better at ESPN than he was  at the paper-step up in journalism class

[j4jets]

My issue with Cimini is that he enjoys it too much when the Jets.  He prefers snark over substance.

 

It's the offseason and Mac is doing a great job so we'll get some solid work from him now.  The second something goes wrong, he'll pounce on it.

 

He's the Coples of Jets beat writers...talented (sources), but inconsistent.

[NYJetsVets91]

Welcome to the board Dick!!

 

 

Go Rangers.

 

 

Agree.

 

I suspect that it's more the NYDN Ed policy then it is actually cimini.  Who's the worst Jets beat writer now.  Mehta, who also works for the NYDN.

 

 

 

GO RANGERS

 

GO RANGERS!!!!... Oh yeah, and Cimini sucks. Not really though, I think he's a pretty good beat writer except for the occasional bias... Now as a co-worker or person? I'm not so sure. I don't know the guy.

[New York Mick]

I don't, he's not worth listening to.

[Beerfish]

His article as with many made no sense.  Bargain basement guys are either old or injured.  You are not getting younger still totally legit startser for bargain money and bargain term.