3 AM ET: I will be live blogging the press conference. Come back for the one-liners and full-throated criticism of the new coach’s haircut.
11:53 AM: Things I will be focused on:
- Cliche usage. I’d love to see one of these press conferences that is void of mindless coach speak.
- Hair. Call it “the Trestman effect.” One look at Marc Trestman and any objective observer knew success was an impossibility.
- Dumb questions. Which of the reporters will try to stir a nonexistent pot? My bet is Dan Wiederer is disappointed to learn that once again I’m far better connected in the sport than he is and tries to create some news.
12 PM: Really like the single, isolated podium approach to this press conference. It makes this event about a solitary figure, not the organization writ large. And I love Ryan Poles vacating the podium in 30 seconds. Perfectly executed.
12:01 PM: Ben Johnson sounds like a football coach. Very few platitudes coming out of him. He sounds tough. It is a departure from what we’ve heard around here recently.
12:02 PM: Why is this presser not on the NFL Network right now? When did the NFL Network abdicate their role at this time of the season? They used to cover every firing, and every hiring.
12:03 PM: NFL Network literally just broke into the presser while I was finishing the previous sentence.
12:05 PM: Ben Johnson says the roster is “loaded with talent” and that’s something I had been hearing a lot in the last month.
12:07 PM: “Get comfortable being uncomfortable” is a terrific line from a first-time head coach. I didn’t hear a single cliche from Johnson in his introductory remarks. He sounds like a guy who knows he is ready for the opportunity.
12:10 PM: One thing I love about this press conference: it is super boring. No Trestman hair. No Adam Gase eyes. Nothing but a football guy talking about football. Refreshing.
12:13 PM: Interesting to hear Johnson say how important it was to raise his family in a city they love. That is something fans never understand. (Nobody really wants to live in Jacksonville, and nobody wants to raise their children in Las Vegas.)
12:15 PM: “Most important thing we do here is establish the culture in the springtime.” Pivotal point, and something that I reiterate when folks are critical of interim coaches. The head coach does his primary work in the off-season.
