Editorial on the way Bisciotti/Cass handled firing of Billick !

[66-70-83-??]

http://www.wnst.net/Home/tabid/36/EntryID/4217/Default.aspx

By Nestor Aparicio.

I know because it is Nestor many will condemn his article before reading it. But you should read it.

It is a good editorial. Even if you don't like Nestor or agree- it is a good read.

He doesn't criticize the firing of Billick but questions how it was handled by Cass/Bisciotti and hopes it isn't the start of a trend for Bisciotti.

The title of the article/editorial is

The Honeymoon Ends for Steve Bisciotti

Here is one excerpt-


But, geez, to blindside everyone in the organization by taking a straw poll down the hallway by Dick Cass and friends, and to take a 30-year public relations man whose information is trusted by virtually everyone in the community and blindside him with it five minutes before walking in to tell Billick, who must’ve been speechless, is well – just not cool.

Every single media member from Peter King to Jamison Hensley, from Drew Forrester to Steve Davis, from Gerry Sandusky to Scott Garceau to Adam Shefter to Chris Mortensen were all lied to and/or misled with information that we trust is honest from Owings Mills.

Wow. This is not a dark day because of the Billick firing per se (put the list of legitimate reasons here…offense, QB, 5-11, lost players, etc.), this is a dark day because Steve Bisciotti has committed his first, almost unconscionable sin – he went back on his word and threw everyone under the bus to some degree.

[BaltimoreTerp]

Dude, remind me to NEVER piss Nester off again.

[66-70-83-??]

Dude, remind me to NEVER piss Nester off again.

Ok. :p

It is possible that some of what Nestor writes is sour grapes because he was a Billick supporter.

But, the way it went down with Steve telling Brian two weeks ago he would be back and the timing of the firing after a win against Pitt (players sure played hard) could reasonably give the impression that Bisciotti was wishy-washy. No one wants to be blindsided by our boss.

Bisciotti did say it was the hardest decision that he ever made.........so that means it likely wasn't a last minute knee jerk.

One thing in the editorial that makes you wonder is the influence that Cass has on Bisciotti. Good or Bad ????? I don't have any idea.

[BaltimoreTerp]

My one problem with the article is Nestor's characterization of Cass as a "neophyte". I mean, he was a finalist for commissioner a couple years ago. He has been here just as long as Bisciotti, and probably knows just as much.

Maybe Owings Mills is just as dysfunctional as the Warehouse. I mean, if Bisciotti is making decisions on a whim, with pressure from people who might know little about the sport...

[ravensd5255]

We will never know everything that went into the Billick firing. But im sure somehow Biscotti was informed that most if not all the players had lost faith in Billick. That right there is the biggest cause for change. And I really think that was the biggest influence. Of course Biscotti is going to seek the opinions of others. And I think he made the 100 % right choice.

[section18]

There probably won't be many replies to this post because everyone knows what the relationship was between Nestor and Brian Billick. Was it smart for the coach to get close to a media personality/station owner? Probably not but for Nestor to write this detailed editorial attacking Bisciotti and his front office is a poor business move for him and his station. I like Nestor's station and listen to it along with 1300 and WBAL. Unless he is selling his station soon I don't understand why he would want to put his employees in a bad light with the Ravens. His comments will be assumed to represent his announcers opinions as well...... privately or publicly.

Nestor needs to start thinking smarter pretty soon. They say the Cal Ripken led group will not buy the Orioles for 3-5 years. He is on the outs with the Orioles having made bad business moves with them and is now making a major blunder with this Ravens attack. Is he selling his station? If he sells it maybe Brian will buy it from him and start his retirement as an on air personality. Brian can easily afford to buy the station. There must be something in the works or Nestor has totally lost it. I think Bisciotti and Kass have both been in his studio for interviews in the past but it's safe to assume that will never happen again.

[Objectivity]

There probably won't be many replies to this post because everyone knows what the relationship was between Nestor and Brian Billick. Was it smart for the coach to get close to a media personality/station owner? Probably not but for Nestor to write this detailed editorial attacking Bisciotti and his front office is a poor business move for him and his station. I like Nestor's station and listen to it along with 1300 and WBAL. Unless he is selling his station soon I don't understand why he would want to put his employees in a bad light with the Ravens. His comments will be assumed to represent his announcers opinions as well...... privately or publicly.

Nestor needs to start thinking smarter pretty soon. They say the Cal Ripken led group will not buy the Orioles for 3-5 years. He is on the outs with the Orioles having made bad business moves with them and is now making a major blunder with this Ravens attack. Is he selling his station? If he sells it maybe Brian will buy it from him and start his retirement as an on air personality. Brian can easily afford to buy the station. There must be something in the works or Nestor has totally lost it. I think Bisciotti and Kass have both been in his studio for interviews in the past but it's safe to assume that will never happen again.


If people stop showing up for interviews because they don't like what opinions people spout on the air and in print, then we'd have a lot of blank pages and dead air.

[Sports Guy]

Newsome said yesterday that they had been discussing this for weeks...This wasn't some decision that Bisciotti made overnight and did it for the hell of it.

A few weeks ago, his intention was to keep Billick. He said he didn't make the decision until Sunday morning.

What's wrong with Bisciotti using other in the organization to go out and find info about what is going on behind the scenes?

[section18]

There are right ways and wrong ways to question peoples decisions. Name calling and attacking someones decisions over how they run a $600 million dollar plus investment is not good business if you are planning to do business with them in the future. There is plenty to write about on here whether interviews are given in the future. Why burn bridges?

[The Wedge]

Editorials, I know, are opinion, but one from an obviously biased source (no matter who) can be screwy. Len Pasquarelli's is so much better because it's from an objective writer. His comment about Bisciotti's silence not being unusual, but the rest of the FO's was deafening when Billick proclaimed himself safe is particularly telling, and spot on.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=3175189

Also, Ob, I'd agree with you if it weren't the station owner who was writing/saying it. If it's an employee, they are kind of 'protected' by the "these views don't represent" clause that editorials are assumed to come with. But Nestor's the owner. His views DO reflect the station by virtue of being the guy who owns it.

[Migrant Redbird]

You're getting a skewed portrayal of what happened. How skewed, or how close to reality it is, only a couple of people know.

Firing someone is not easy. You don't want to destroy the person's effectiveness before you've actually made the decision to let him go. Billick knew that his job was in jeopardy. Anyone who was around knew that. The only question was to what degree.

It still beats the way that Don Coryell's dismissal was handled by Bill Bidwell in St. Louis. Coryell got back from a short vacation to discover that the locks had been changed on his office doors.

[beaner]

Editorials, I know, are opinion, but one from an obviously biased source (no matter who) can be screwy. Len Pasquarelli's is so much better because it's from an objective writer. His comment about Bisciotti's silence not being unusual, but the rest of the FO's was deafening when Billick proclaimed himself safe is particularly telling, and spot on.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=3175189

Also, Ob, I'd agree with you if it weren't the station owner who was writing/saying it. If it's an employee, they are kind of 'protected' by the "these views don't represent" clause that editorials are assumed to come with. But Nestor's the owner. His views DO reflect the station by virtue of being the guy who owns it.

I wouldn't call Pasquarelli objective, his disdain for Billick is well known. His analysis is dead on, but he's far from objective when it comes to Billick.

[The Wedge]

I wouldn't call Pasquarelli objective, his disdain for Billick is well known. His analysis is dead on, but he's far from objective when it comes to Billick.

Okay, fair enough. And I knew that, I guess what what I meant to say was "more objective." Not completely objective. Pasquarelli's disdain isn't like, hatred, though. It's more of a "I don't see it" kind of disdain. It's definitely not on the scale of Nestor's affection for Billick, though. Wouldn't you agree?

[beaner]

Okay, fair enough. And I knew that, I guess what what I meant to say was "more objective." Not completely objective. Pasquarelli's disdain isn't like, hatred, though. It's more of a "I don't see it" kind of disdain. It's definitely not on the scale of Nestor's affection for Billick, though. Wouldn't you agree?

I'm not sure my Mother's affection for me is on the scale of Nestor's love for Billick to be honest. So I'll agree with you 100%.

The Pasquarelli/Billick things goes back a few years, apparently Billick was the only coach who didn't let Len into Training Camp, something along those lines. Always seemed to me (not knowing the whole story of course) that both men were a bit immature regarding their "feud".

[The Wedge]

Again, fair enough.

What about Don Banks? His take at cnnsi.com is pretty spot on, too.

[beaner]

Again, fair enough.

What about Don Banks? His take at cnnsi.com is pretty spot on, too.

Absolutely spot on. I'm not really a Ravens fan, but could clearly see he had "lost the team" recently. The way those players looked at him in Miami when he didn't go for the win was telling. He had a really good run here and I think some fans should be a little more grateful for what he was able to accomplish. The old "be careful what you wish for" theory could come into play somewhere down the line.

[clapdiddy]

I wonder if Nestor was actually watching the press conference yesterday?

You could see that Bisciotti was upset by this whole situation and that it wasn't a "split-second" decision. Bisciotti's a businessman, and he has to make some decisions like this...some probably much harder than this, that affect people's lives that aren't getting a $15 million dollar severance package.

I don't feel sorry for Billick in the least.

[OriolesFan1991]

Nestor was at the press conference. He asked the last question. It's on tape. baltimoresun.com/sports

[66-70-83-??]

I wonder if Nestor was actually watching the press conference yesterday?

You could see that Bisciotti was upset by this whole situation and that it wasn't a "split-second" decision. Bisciotti's a businessman, and he has to make some decisions like this...some probably much harder than this, that affect people's lives that aren't getting a $15 million dollar severance package.
I don't feel sorry for Billick in the least.

So. "rich" people are worthy of sympathy when they are fired ?

Money is the be-all, end-all ? :(

If (not saying he is right but it is a possiblity) Nestor is corrrect and Billick was indeed misled and blindsided- that ain't cool. That will be noticed by those inside the Ravens organization. And it won't help morale.

And if Cass (not saying Nestor is right here either but ????) is the guy with the most influence over Bisciotti- then what IF he is a neophye with agendas ?


Again- Nestor brings up some good points that may or may not be right, but need to be filed for future reference nonetheless.

[The Wedge]

Meh, it comes off as sour grapes, and sort of panicky (oh no, I may not have the same access with a new coaching staff!).

Also, I have to ask...why do you put a space between the last word and the exclamation mark?

[Tony-OH]

Editorials, I know, are opinion, but one from an obviously biased source (no matter who) can be screwy. Len Pasquarelli's is so much better because it's from an objective writer. His comment about Bisciotti's silence not being unusual, but the rest of the FO's was deafening when Billick proclaimed himself safe is particularly telling, and spot on.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=pasquarelli_len&id=3175189

Also, Ob, I'd agree with you if it weren't the station owner who was writing/saying it. If it's an employee, they are kind of 'protected' by the "these views don't represent" clause that editorials are assumed to come with. But Nestor's the owner. His views DO reflect the station by virtue of being the guy who owns it.

Great article by Pasquarelli here. From an objective source no less..

As for Nestor, he certainly has the right to say what he wants, but I think everyone knows his relationship with Billick was close. You have to imagine it has affected his thought process here because he's already on the outs with the baseball team in town, it's probably not too smart to get on the bad side of the football team as well.

[Tony-OH]

I'm not sure my Mother's affection for me is on the scale of Nestor's love for Billick to be honest. So I'll agree with you 100%.

The Pasquarelli/Billick things goes back a few years, apparently Billick was the only coach who didn't let Len into Training Camp, something along those lines. Always seemed to me (not knowing the whole story of course) that both men were a bit immature regarding their "feud".

I didn't know that story but I still think his take was right on the mark.

[66-70-83-??]

Great article by Pasquarelli here. From an objective source no less..
As for Nestor, he certainly has the right to say what he wants, but I think everyone knows his relationship with Billick was close. You have to imagine it has affected his thought process here because he's already on the outs with the baseball team in town, it's probably not too smart to get on the bad side of the football team as well.

:eek:

Pasquarelli an "objective source" ?

You have got to be kidding.

It is well known that he and Billick have been at odds for years.

Pasquarelli is as objective as....... Nestor. Just the polar opposite.

[The Wedge]

:eek:

Pasquarelli an "objective source" ?

You have got to be kidding.

It is well known that he and Billick have been at odds for years.

Pasquarelli is as objective as....... Nestor. Just the polar opposite.

I think I made a pretty good case that while Pasquarelli isn't completely objective, his slant is significantly less biased than Nestor's. Pasquarelli has no personal stake for one. And honestly, the only way it comes across in his column is the slightly gloating tone.

[Sports Guy]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/don_banks/12/31/billick/index.html

Banks is from Columbia and is saying glowing things about the Ravens.

[The Wedge]

Whoops...I mentioned it, but forgot to link to it.

[66-70-83-??]

I think I made a pretty good case that while Pasquarelli isn't completely objective, his slant is significantly less biased than Nestor's. Pasquarelli has no personal stake for one. And honestly, the only way it comes across in his column is the slightly gloating tone.

He has the same "stake" in it that Nestor has- both want access to cover the team.

That is why I compared the two as equals from opposite viewpoints.

Both make good points. Both speak the truth as they see it.

Despite their individual bias- I wouldnt discount either article.

[Tony-OH]

:eek:

Pasquarelli an "objective source" ?

You have got to be kidding.

It is well known that he and Billick have been at odds for years.

Pasquarelli is as objective as....... Nestor. Just the polar opposite.

I didn't know about the feud to tell you the truth. Still, his opinions were right on in my opinion.

Of course I know you rather get you opinions from Nestor and Kevin Byrnes for your objective sources. :p

[Tony-OH]

He has the same "stake" in it that Nestor has- both want access to cover the team.

That is why I compared the two as equals from opposite viewpoints.

Both make good points. Both speak the truth as they see it.

Despite their individual bias- I wouldnt discount either article.

Seriously man, you believe that? Nestor like usual is speaking from the heart. I like that in him because he's honest, but his opinion is a little skewed because of his relationship with Billick.

[The Wedge]

He has the same "stake" in it that Nestor has- both want access to cover the team.

That is why I compared the two as equals from opposite viewpoints.

Both make good points. Both speak the truth as they see it.

Despite their individual bias- I wouldnt discount either article.

Nestor has way more cause for concern about access than a national writer, for ESPN no less. Plus, when I read each of their pieces, I just pick up much different tones. Pasquarelli, predictably because it's his job really, comes off more professionally, even if he does have some gloating tone in there. Nestor sounds like a guy pissed off because his friend just got fired.

[66-70-83-??]

I didn't know about the feud to tell you the truth. Still, his opinions were right on in my opinion.

Of course I know you rather get you opinions from Nestor and Kevin Byrnes for your objective sources. :p

Yeah, we all like to get our opinions from those who agree with us.

However, I have not bashed Pasquarellis article, I just pointed out that he is far from objective.

Despite there bias- both Len and Nestor speak the truth as they see it.

Both make some good points in my opinion.

I used to hate Nestor the way many here do. While he is still a blowhard to a large extent with a large ego- I gave him a chance by reading his columns and listening to him over the years. I have to admit that he grew on me a little. He isn't the demon that he is made out to be.

Like him personally or not- he does really care about Baltimore sports and does often make good points.

Banks article is a good, fair one too.

[The Wedge]

I still am curious about:




Also, I have to ask...why do you put a space between the last word and the exclamation mark?

[Tony-OH]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/don_banks/12/31/billick/index.html

Banks is from Columbia and is saying glowing things about the Ravens.

Anpther great piece. Loved the last paragraph:

Billick is out of work. But he's not out of luck. He'll get paid handsomely for another three years, and he can take satisfaction in knowing he lasted much longer with one team than most head coaches ever do. Nine years is a lifetime in the NFL. But in Baltimore, Billick had become the status quo, and it was time for the Ravens to let the status quo go.

He does a much better idea of saying how I feel about why no one should feel bad for Billick. I guess I'm just classless though because I'm happy that he's gone. :rolleyes:

[66-70-83-??]

Seriously man, you believe that? Nestor like usual is speaking from the heart. I like that in him because he's honest, but his opinion is a little skewed because of his relationship with Billick.

I was referring to the two from their bias standpoint.

Nestor is local- of course his editorial will have more emotion and girth to it. He is immersed with the team on a daily basis and his audience is 100% local.

Len's audience is 95% national. The casual fan in SF or KC could care less about the "inside" stuff that Nestor prints.

[66-70-83-??]

I still am curious about:

:confused: :confused:

Care to explain ?

[The Wedge]

:confused: :confused:

Care to explain ?

Wait...you're asking me to explain why I'm asking you to explain?

Yesterday when you posted about Billick being fired, the subject has a space at the end before the exclamation point. I thought it was a type, just because you were rushing. But you did it for this subject too and I'm curious why you do it.

[Tony-OH]

Yeah, we all like to get our opinions from those who agree with us.

However, I have not bashed Pasquarellis article, I just pointed out that he is far from objective.

Despite there bias- both Len and Nestor speak the truth as they see it.

Both make some good points in my opinion.

I used to hate Nestor the way many here do. While he is still a blowhard to a large extent with a large ego- I gave him a chance by reading his columns and listening to him over the years. I have to admit that he grew on me a little. He isn't the demon that he is made out to be.

Like him personally or not- he does really care about Baltimore sports and does often make good points.

Banks article is a good, fair one too.

As someone who has met and had some long conversation with Nestor, I pretty much agree with this statement. You can say a lot about Nestor, but he cares deeply about the city and the sports scene here and he wears his heart on his sleeve when he writes. That gets him in trouble sometimes, but at least you know he's not a fake.

Actually, I think he would do better if he were just a personality instead of an owner. I think the owner part gets him in trouble.

[The Wedge]

Actually, I think he would do better if he were just a personality instead of an owner. I think the owner part gets him in trouble.

That's what I was thinking, too. He's got split interests sometimes because of being the owner of the station.

[66-70-83-??]

Wait...you're asking me to explain why I'm asking you to explain?

Yesterday when you posted about Billick being fired, the subject has a space at the end before the exclamation point. I thought it was a type, just because you were rushing. But you did it for this subject too and I'm curious why you do it.

I didn't know I even did it ?

This one was posted at 1:00 am on New Years eve, so I wasn't 100% sober.

Are you kidding me ? :confused: This issue was worth repeated posts ? I was wondering why you kept bringing this up.

It was a mistake.

Is it fun to play "gotcha" with the grammer/punctuation ? I have seen this type of thing done several times here.

I hope you enjoy feeling superior now. :rolleyes:

[The Wedge]

I didn't know I even did it ?

This one was posted at 1:00 am on New Years eve, so I wasn't 100% sober.

Are you kidding me ? :confused: This issue was worth repeated posts ? I was wondering why you kept bringing this up.

It was a mistake.

Is it fun to play "gotcha" with the grammer/punctuation ? I have seen this type of thing done several times here.

I hope you enjoy feeling superior now. :rolleyes:

I'm not trying to feel superior for god's sake! Don't always assume the worst, I was curious. And I still am because you did it throughout that entire post, too! It's an interesting quirk because you don't do it with periods (full stops), and I was genuinely and honestly curious about why you do it with exclamation points (and now question marks). You don't have to be a jerk about it.

[clapdiddy]

So. "rich" people are worthy of sympathy when they are fired ?

Money is the be-all, end-all ? :(

If (not saying he is right but it is a possiblity) Nestor is corrrect and Billick was indeed misled and blindsided- that ain't cool. That will be noticed by those inside the Ravens organization. And it won't help morale.

And if Cass (not saying Nestor is right here either but ????) is the guy with the most influence over Bisciotti- then what IF he is a neophye with agendas ?


Again- Nestor brings up some good points that may or may not be right, but need to be filed for future reference nonetheless.
OK...maybe me saying I don't feel sorry for Billick in the least is not the right thing to say, but no one knows what really happened in this situation. And...yes...I know money doesn't always buy happiness.

I never heard anyone outside of Byrne (who gets paid to put a positive spin on the organization) say that Billick was coming back next season.

If he was blind-sided by the whole thing, I'm sure its not the first time its happened in professional sports. Is it a good thing? No. But, it sure sounded as if this was building up after listening to the press conference yesterday.

[longflyball]

I don't the impression at all that Billick or anyone else was blindsided or betrayed by the organization. Billick thought he would return, and said so. The front office was mostly silent but apparently gave "indications" that Billick would return. They thought about it some more, acquired new information and changed their mind at the end of the season. So what?

Is there any evidence that the front office explicitly told Billick that he would return? The tone of Billick's statement does not suggest that he was stabbed in the back.

It looks to me like some journalists were taken off guard and aren't happy about it. Big deal.