Tyler Dunne story on McDermott - 3 parts, 25 interviews, one damning conclusion

[Scott7975]

2 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Here’s where I differ.  That anonymous coach or player that was interviewed likely does not have access to building logs.  He was not aware that McDermott slept at work, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.   So it’s basically conjecture - yet this is what Dunne chose to put in the article and what you are regarding as a “fact.”  
 

Besides, even if he never technically slept at work, does it matter?  He clearly worked a lot of long hours in Buffalo and throughout his other stops.

 

Either way we’re splitting hairs here.  The response in the video was about setting an example to his children of hard work more than it was about sleeping in the office.  

This is where it does matter that he used disgruntled coaches with an ax to grind.  It’s like the example I used.  A boss says he’s “the arrive and the last to leave.  On the day he has to leave early for whatever reason it would be like shouting “you said you’re the last one to leave, but you left before us today.  You’re fake.”  Sooooo incredibly stupid.  

 

And it’s that kind of mentality that has rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way - and a big reason why Dunne is facing so much blowback from fans why the majority of fans in his biggest area of opportunity won’t pay the nominal $8 fee to read.  Case and point… this forum.

 

Yeah, it's fine I will just agree to disagree.  If someone is in the office and McD leaves before them then he didn't sleep there.  Could be made up, I guess.

 

Yes, it does matter to me if he says he sleeps at work to try and look a certain way to everyone but doesn't actually sleep at work.  Its fake and phony to me.  I'd prefer genuine.  If he works hard then he works hard.  Just say that. Say I stay up home till 2am watching film and get up at 4am to go back to work, I don't care.  Just don't make up something if it doesn't happen.

 

To be clear, I have no doubts that McD works hard. He for sure does.  Unlike clown Rex Ryan.  I also have no doubts that he is a good dude and really is doing his best to win.  I just don't need anything phony about that.  I hate fake people with a passion.

 

He used sources he has access too.  It's that simple.  Josh Allen wasn't calling him up on the phone to talk about the behind the scenes.  I don't care if people are disgruntled. They can still speak truths.  They can still speak on their perspectives. There were also sources not speaking disgruntled or poorly of McD to semi balance that. Dunne himself did not entirely speak poorly of McD.  But again, I take all this with a grain of salt and treat it for what it is and make my own opinion.  This thread is nothing more than people bringing out pitch forks because they are afraid of McD getting fired.

[hondo in seattle]

2 hours ago, wettlaufer said:

 

Do you have any idea how rare this kind of article is? Or what constitutes good journalism?

 

And you just admitted you read enough (from screenshots, DMs, failed firewall blockers) of a 20,000 word piece (that's a GD senior thesis) to reiterate your going-in biases?

 

You're a scholar. A scholar and a GD gentleman.

 

I don't understand the need for an ad hominem attack.   You don't know me, my character, what I've done...

 

In any case, I've admitted in this thread that (1) I likewise don't know Dunne personally or his character, (2) I don't believe Dunne presented anything as factual that wasn't factual, (3) I do believe Dunne believed every word that he wrote, and (4) I don't actually know what McD is like on the practice field, in the locker room or the training facility.

 

But here's what bugs me: Dunne's judged the man.   For example, he writes, "Coaches see a boss who preaches accountability while taking none himself."  It's one thing to criticize a coach's tactical decisions, another thing altogether to attack the person.  And Dunne doesn't have the right to speak for the coaches -  I am certain that there are Bills coaches who would disagree with Dunne's characterization.  

 

I'm not sure if McD is a good enough coach to get us a Lombardi.  Maybe he is "tight" and has some of the other shortcomings Dunne described.  But when Dunne stoops to character assassination, which I've seen in quotes from the article, I'm not a fan.  Neither is Micah Hyde.  And, btw, Sherfield says Hyde was speaking for the team when he rebutted Dunne.  

 

But I'm not sticking up for McD as much as I'm sticking up for human respect and kindness.  I don't believe in attacking people.  It's a crappy thing to do.  And I don't need to read 20,000 words to know that.  If a criminal robs 20,000 people, I don't need to witness every theft to know I'm not a fan.  

[Ray Stonada]

43 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

It actually does encapsulate the Sean McDermott era because the premise is that Sean pisses his pants in big moments.  He does.  Thats why his record is so bad in big moments.  Thats why mistakes keep happening in big moments. Thats why timeouts keep happening in big moments.  Thats why he tries to control everything instead of trusting his people in big moments.  Thats why 13 seconds happened. Thats why he kneels the ball down with 20 seconds to go against the best team in the league with Josh Allen playing the best ball of his career... because the dude craps his pants in big moments.  So yeah, it was the perfect time to release the article in this sense.

This.

[Scott7975]

I'll leave you all today with another snippet. This time from part III.  It might even be part of the free stuff, IDK?  But some people might not have found it even if it is.  I'm not actually leaving yet but soon.  You can all sing tears of joy 😃

 

There are two distinct versions of Josh Allen this 2023 season. One is fun. One takes off on the run — “The crowd loves it!” Al Michaels professes — and holds the football over the goal line while staring down a Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback. All at full speed.

This version gets a Cincinnati Bengals safety to leave his feet with a pump fake, points, laughs and runs in for a TD. Flag ‘n fine, be damned. Meanwhile, Sean McDermott, spits on the turf and purses his lips. Fifteen yards lost on a kickoff likely means more to the Buffalo Bills head coach than any momentum gained by his backyard quarterback rediscovering himself.

This version, at rain-slopped Philadelphia, rams through Reed Blankenship at the goal line, chucks the ball against the backstop and — flanked by teammates — swaggers right into the teeth of those trash-talking Eagles fans as if welcoming a dark-alley fight. The TD launched a tour de force for the quarterback: 420 total yards, four touchdowns. 

“No. 17 is just a different bird,” said one friend and former pro teammate. “He’s wired different. He’s not like most of these quarterbacks. He wants to make dick jokes and run into people.”

If Buffalonians could create the quarterback they’ve always desired in a lab, it’s exactly this.

But then, there’s the other Allen. The pale, stupefied, knockoff version who trudges to the sideline after an interception vs. Denver with McDermott screaming in his ear.

Unlike his boss, Allen does not come remotely close to assigning blame. Doesn’t embarrass receivers on national TV. Doesn’t snipe into earholes on the sidelines. Doesn’t kindly remind the public what McDermott said back in March when, in truth, it’s fully within his rights to alert your attention to these trainwreck comments. When, in reality, this is everything a former Bills assistant coach meant when he said this team is forced to “overcome the head coach.” Everything a former teammate meant by McDermott serving as a drop of “poison.”

A smart coach does everything in his power to accentuate the first version of Allen.

Realize you’ve been gifted a Marvel character at the most important position in sports and let him fly.

Then, there’s McDermott sitting down with NFL Network last March. He made it abundantly clear that Allen needed to siphon these sorts of plays out of his game. 

“I don’t think that that’s a healthy way to play quarterback in this league,” said McDermott, in a video posted by the team. “It’s really undefeated that things are going to happen when you play that style, that brand of football. So, we’ve got to get that adjusted. It’s never going to go completely away but it has to get to where it’s workable. I don’t want to take his personality away from him as far as that goes. His signature. But there needs to be an adjustment in that style of play.”

Manually warping the “style” of your most valuable commodity should’ve slotted in as the 2,789th item on the Bills’ offseason agenda. But this was no surprise.

This is a head coach with a low Quarterback IQ.

[Rico]

9 minutes ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

I don't understand the need for an ad hominem attack.   You don't know me, my character, what I've done...

 

In any case, I've admitted in this thread that (1) I likewise don't know Dunne personally or his character, (2) I don't believe Dunne presented anything as factual that wasn't factual, (3) I do believe Dunne believed every word that he wrote, and (4) I don't actually know what McD is like on the practice field, in the locker room or the training facility.

 

But here's what bugs me: Dunne's judged the man.   For example, he writes, "Coaches see a boss who preaches accountability while taking none himself."  It's one thing to criticize a coach's tactical decisions, another thing altogether to attack the person.  And Dunne doesn't have the right to speak for the coaches -  I am certain that there are Bills coaches who would disagree with Dunne's characterization.  

 

I'm not sure if McD is a good enough coach to get us a Lombardi.  Maybe he is "tight" and has some of the other shortcomings Dunne described.  But when Dunne stoops to character assassination, which I've seen in quotes from the article, I'm not a fan.  Neither is Micah Hyde.  And, btw, Sherfield says Hyde was speaking for the team when he rebutted Dunne.  

 

But I'm not sticking up for McD as much as I'm sticking up for human respect and kindness.  I don't believe in attacking people.  It's a crappy thing to do.  And I don't need to read 20,000 words to know that.  If a criminal robs 20,000 people, I don't need to witness every theft to know I'm not a fan.  

Me, I’m not here to defend McD at all, it’s all about bashing Tyler Dunne, been doing it for years now.  

 

Still have at least 5 games to play, let’s see what happens.

[Scott7975]

Start with the player who helped him become a head coach: Cam Newton. When the former No. 1 overall pick shapeshifted into molten lava on NFL defenses throughout the 2015 season — an MVP season, a 15-1 season — McDermott was the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator. One of many individuals to directly benefit from Newton throwing for 3,837 yards, rushing for 636 and scoring 45 touchdowns in leading Carolina to the Super Bowl. In 2016, the Panthers went 6-10. In 2017, McDermott was named the 20th coach in Bills history.

This did not stop McDermott from bashing Newton in staff meetings.

One of the Bills assistants Go Long spoke to for this series said that McDermott’s “frame of reference” as a coach was watching Newton — in his mind — “ruin” the Panthers. “He used to come into offensive staff meetings,” this source said, “and just motherf--k Cam Newton.” Aside from the objective lunacy, this created… awkwardness. Before becoming the Bills’ quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, Ken Dorsey served as Newton’s coach from ‘13 to ‘17. Dorsey was the coach most responsible for Newton’s rise, thus Dorsey understandably wondered if McDermott knew he was sitting in the same room.

[oldmanfan]

6 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

I'll leave you all today with another snippet. This time from part III.  It might even be part of the free stuff, IDK?  But some people might not have found it even if it is.  I'm not actually leaving yet but soon.  You can all sing tears of joy 😃

 

There are two distinct versions of Josh Allen this 2023 season. One is fun. One takes off on the run — “The crowd loves it!” Al Michaels professes — and holds the football over the goal line while staring down a Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback. All at full speed.

This version gets a Cincinnati Bengals safety to leave his feet with a pump fake, points, laughs and runs in for a TD. Flag ‘n fine, be damned. Meanwhile, Sean McDermott, spits on the turf and purses his lips. Fifteen yards lost on a kickoff likely means more to the Buffalo Bills head coach than any momentum gained by his backyard quarterback rediscovering himself.

This version, at rain-slopped Philadelphia, rams through Reed Blankenship at the goal line, chucks the ball against the backstop and — flanked by teammates — swaggers right into the teeth of those trash-talking Eagles fans as if welcoming a dark-alley fight. The TD launched a tour de force for the quarterback: 420 total yards, four touchdowns. 

“No. 17 is just a different bird,” said one friend and former pro teammate. “He’s wired different. He’s not like most of these quarterbacks. He wants to make dick jokes and run into people.”

If Buffalonians could create the quarterback they’ve always desired in a lab, it’s exactly this.

But then, there’s the other Allen. The pale, stupefied, knockoff version who trudges to the sideline after an interception vs. Denver with McDermott screaming in his ear.

Unlike his boss, Allen does not come remotely close to assigning blame. Doesn’t embarrass receivers on national TV. Doesn’t snipe into earholes on the sidelines. Doesn’t kindly remind the public what McDermott said back in March when, in truth, it’s fully within his rights to alert your attention to these trainwreck comments. When, in reality, this is everything a former Bills assistant coach meant when he said this team is forced to “overcome the head coach.” Everything a former teammate meant by McDermott serving as a drop of “poison.”

A smart coach does everything in his power to accentuate the first version of Allen.

Realize you’ve been gifted a Marvel character at the most important position in sports and let him fly.

Then, there’s McDermott sitting down with NFL Network last March. He made it abundantly clear that Allen needed to siphon these sorts of plays out of his game. 

“I don’t think that that’s a healthy way to play quarterback in this league,” said McDermott, in a video posted by the team. “It’s really undefeated that things are going to happen when you play that style, that brand of football. So, we’ve got to get that adjusted. It’s never going to go completely away but it has to get to where it’s workable. I don’t want to take his personality away from him as far as that goes. His signature. But there needs to be an adjustment in that style of play.”

Manually warping the “style” of your most valuable commodity should’ve slotted in as the 2,789th item on the Bills’ offseason agenda. But this was no surprise.

This is a head coach with a low Quarterback IQ.

So when Daboll would scream at him that was OK but not the HC?  Ok.

[Scott7975]

3 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

So when Daboll would scream at him that was OK but not the HC?  Ok.

 

Thats a fair point.  Is that all you took from that?

 

I would counter that Daboll did a lot more than just scream at Allen and they have a very good relationship.  Is there anything out there showing McD and Josh have a good relationship?  I've never seen them hug or barely ever see them communicate whatsoever tbh.

Edited December 10, 2023 by Scott7975

[Warcodered]

2 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

Start with the player who helped him become a head coach: Cam Newton. When the former No. 1 overall pick shapeshifted into molten lava on NFL defenses throughout the 2015 season — an MVP season, a 15-1 season — McDermott was the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator. One of many individuals to directly benefit from Newton throwing for 3,837 yards, rushing for 636 and scoring 45 touchdowns in leading Carolina to the Super Bowl. In 2016, the Panthers went 6-10. In 2017, McDermott was named the 20th coach in Bills history.

This did not stop McDermott from bashing Newton in staff meetings.

One of the Bills assistants Go Long spoke to for this series said that McDermott’s “frame of reference” as a coach was watching Newton — in his mind — “ruin” the Panthers. “He used to come into offensive staff meetings,” this source said, “and just motherf--k Cam Newton.” Aside from the objective lunacy, this created… awkwardness. Before becoming the Bills’ quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, Ken Dorsey served as Newton’s coach from ‘13 to ‘17. Dorsey was the coach most responsible for Newton’s rise, thus Dorsey understandably wondered if McDermott knew he was sitting in the same room.

So the guy that just got fired and has been watching the offense immediately turn things around without him is one of the sources?

[Scott7975]

Just now, Warcodered said:

So the guy that just got fired and has been watching the offense immediately turn things around without him is one of the sources?

It could be.  Sounds like maybe?  I can't say for sure.

[Governor]

1 hour ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Yeah, it's fine I will just agree to disagree.  If someone is in the office and McD leaves before them then he didn't sleep there.  Could be made up, I guess.

 

Yes, it does matter to me if he says he sleeps at work to try and look a certain way to everyone but doesn't actually sleep at work.  Its fake and phony to me.  I'd prefer genuine.  If he works hard then he works hard.  Just say that. Say I stay up home till 2am watching film and get up at 4am to go back to work, I don't care.  Just don't make up something if it doesn't happen.

 

To be clear, I have no doubts that McD works hard. He for sure does.  Unlike clown Rex Ryan.  I also have no doubts that he is a good dude and really is doing his best to win.  I just don't need anything phony about that.  I hate fake people with a passion.

 

He used sources he has access too.  It's that simple.  Josh Allen wasn't calling him up on the phone to talk about the behind the scenes.  I don't care if people are disgruntled. They can still speak truths.  They can still speak on their perspectives. There were also sources not speaking disgruntled or poorly of McD to semi balance that. Dunne himself did not entirely speak poorly of McD.  But again, I take all this with a grain of salt and treat it for what it is and make my own opinion.  This thread is nothing more than people bringing out pitch forks because they are afraid of McD getting fired.

It’s entirely possible that Josh was a source or verified the info from other sources for this piece. Dunne seems very confident that everything written is legit. If anyone hates McD, it would definitely be Josh.

 

I think there’s zero chance Dunne isn’t talking to active players and if McD is actually the guy portrayed in the article, he will immediately try to identify the snitches in the building so we should pay attention to firings, demotions, cuts, and other retaliations.

 

So, AJ Klein, you’re busted. McD found you out and now you’re cut. lol.

Edited December 10, 2023 by Governor

[Nextmanup]

1 hour ago, Scott7975 said:

I'll leave you all today with another snippet. This time from part III.  It might even be part of the free stuff, IDK?  But some people might not have found it even if it is.  I'm not actually leaving yet but soon.  You can all sing tears of joy 😃

 

There are two distinct versions of Josh Allen this 2023 season. One is fun. One takes off on the run — “The crowd loves it!” Al Michaels professes — and holds the football over the goal line while staring down a Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback. All at full speed.

This version gets a Cincinnati Bengals safety to leave his feet with a pump fake, points, laughs and runs in for a TD. Flag ‘n fine, be damned. Meanwhile, Sean McDermott, spits on the turf and purses his lips. Fifteen yards lost on a kickoff likely means more to the Buffalo Bills head coach than any momentum gained by his backyard quarterback rediscovering himself.

This version, at rain-slopped Philadelphia, rams through Reed Blankenship at the goal line, chucks the ball against the backstop and — flanked by teammates — swaggers right into the teeth of those trash-talking Eagles fans as if welcoming a dark-alley fight. The TD launched a tour de force for the quarterback: 420 total yards, four touchdowns. 

“No. 17 is just a different bird,” said one friend and former pro teammate. “He’s wired different. He’s not like most of these quarterbacks. He wants to make dick jokes and run into people.”

If Buffalonians could create the quarterback they’ve always desired in a lab, it’s exactly this.

But then, there’s the other Allen. The pale, stupefied, knockoff version who trudges to the sideline after an interception vs. Denver with McDermott screaming in his ear.

Unlike his boss, Allen does not come remotely close to assigning blame. Doesn’t embarrass receivers on national TV. Doesn’t snipe into earholes on the sidelines. Doesn’t kindly remind the public what McDermott said back in March when, in truth, it’s fully within his rights to alert your attention to these trainwreck comments. When, in reality, this is everything a former Bills assistant coach meant when he said this team is forced to “overcome the head coach.” Everything a former teammate meant by McDermott serving as a drop of “poison.”

A smart coach does everything in his power to accentuate the first version of Allen.

Realize you’ve been gifted a Marvel character at the most important position in sports and let him fly.

Then, there’s McDermott sitting down with NFL Network last March. He made it abundantly clear that Allen needed to siphon these sorts of plays out of his game. 

“I don’t think that that’s a healthy way to play quarterback in this league,” said McDermott, in a video posted by the team. “It’s really undefeated that things are going to happen when you play that style, that brand of football. So, we’ve got to get that adjusted. It’s never going to go completely away but it has to get to where it’s workable. I don’t want to take his personality away from him as far as that goes. His signature. But there needs to be an adjustment in that style of play.”

Manually warping the “style” of your most valuable commodity should’ve slotted in as the 2,789th item on the Bills’ offseason agenda. But this was no surprise.

This is a head coach with a low Quarterback IQ.

That's in the free sample online.

 

 

[Scott7975]

30 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

That's in the free sample online.

 

 

Thanks. Wasn’t sure. I’ll leave another non free one in a bit. At least one I think is not free. I can’t really tell. 

Edited December 10, 2023 by Scott7975

[Scott7975]

Here is a snippet from the paid section.  Remember I am just the person pasting this for you guys and not the writer.  Asking me questions about it are things I can't really answer other than my opinion...

 

Let’s not forget one of McDermott’s first dalliances into scapegoating. After the Bills defense surrendered 47 points, 482 yards and 32 first downs to the New Orleans Saints his first season on the job, he benched Tyrod Taylor for Nathan Peterman. Disaster ensued. Peterman suffered the worst game by a QB in 40 years and the fourth-worst in NFL history: 6 of 15 for 66 yards, five interceptions in one half. As if scripting his own comedy, McDermott named Peterman the Week 1 starter the very next season. The on-field results were, again, tragic: 5 of 18 for 24 yards, two interceptions.

Boorish handling of the position that should’ve served as an immediate red flag.

McDermott seems intent on fighting against the NFL’s inherent gravitational pull toward the position. Allen is the No. 1 reason the Bills have won three straight division titles. Allen is the No. 1 reason that McDermott not only stays employed but earns millions of dollars. He inked a contract extension through the 2027 season. His base salary has previously been reported at $8.5 million per year.

Nonetheless, when Allen decided to put roots down and build a house with his then-girlfriend in Western New York, his boss was livid. Inside staff meetings, one source said McDermott would bark: “Tell Josh to stop worrying about that !@#$ house! We’ve got the season coming up. When the season starts, that needs to be Brittany’s issue and not !@#$ his.” Coaches, understandably, were stunned. They shared What the…? glances of disillusionment and moved on.

That’s all you can do usually: Shake your head. Move on.

Yes, the problem in Buffalo is the head coach. Most specifically, it’s his cluelessness concerning the most valuable employee of the franchise. He is repeatedly described by coaches and former players as blind to the fact that he was gifted one of the best quarterbacks in the sport. As long as McDermott is the team’s head coach — pinning his own QB in a Half Nelson — the Bills are fighting against themselves more than any opponent.

Forces of good have tried. That 2021 offense that said “!@#$ it” and freed Allen was on track to host the AFC Championship Game and win the Super Bowl. Beane did offer his own public comments on Allen’s game. But one source indicated that he wanted the quarterback to simply slide more often, and never at the expense of what makes Allen special. The GM understands the team runs through its quarterback.

The moment it became clear that Allen was a special talent, the No. 1 priority for the entire organization should’ve been to do everything humanly possible to let Hulk smash. Celebrate his unique game. Don’t punish it. Don’t manually scatter the field with red tape and construction cones and hyper-analyze every breath he takes. Asking Allen to dull his play style, as written, is thwarting art. Take comedy, for example. The most creative minds are unafraid to push their boundaries. They’re not worried about getting cancelled by a legion of keyboard warriors. The best of the best, Carlin to Chappelle, have all made people uncomfortable.

That’s how true innovation is possible in any artistic field. The person with the mic, the pen, the paintbrush, the football takes a chance. Allen may cross a line. He may even — gasp! — throw an interception. But putting such thoughts in his head, period, was insanely counterproductive.

Allen is Brett Favre.

If McDermott hasn’t realized that by now, he never will.

“Go back and rewrite the draft,” said the teammate/friend who was also a trusted leader in this locker room, “Josh Allen’s going No. 1, not No. 7. So you get a franchise Hall of Fame quarterback that six people passed up on. And now all you folks get to make 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 million because No. 17. I’d write him a damn ‘Thank You’ letter once a week.”  

After the Bills’ 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos, Allen was ominous. He admitted “the clock’s ticking.”

This former teammate is more pointed.

“It’s a ticking time bomb, man.”

[PromoTheRobot]

 

 

[Process]

 

[Scott7975]

5 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

 

 

I really don't wanna laugh but it was pretty funny.  What comes to my mind though is, is this any better than McD trying to use the situation as a motivational speech about communication?  Some guy making a joke of the situation?  I'm not sure.

[DrDawkinstein]

10 minutes ago, Process said:

 

 

Oof

[Ralonzo]

2 hours ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Ok and I am supposed to know that how Richard?

 

[PromoTheRobot]

6 minutes ago, Scott7975 said:

 

I really don't wanna laugh but it was pretty funny.  What comes to my mind though is, is this any better than McD trying to use the situation as a motivational speech about communication?  Some guy making a joke of the situation?  I'm not sure.

 

I laughed.