Patriots: Kirk Herbstreit rips Dan Orlovsky for Justin Fields ‘report’
When ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky revealed on the Pat McAfee show that he “heard” some unsavory inside rumblings about Ohio State quarterback and top draft prospect Justin Fields, it was met with outrage.
In fact, some even felt it was a ploy to make Fields’ stock slide so he ended up with the New England Patriots at No. 15.
Then it created an entirely different argument about the treatment of Black quarterback prospects, who have largely been overlooked or heavily criticized throughout the pre-draft process.
But forget about all of that for a moment. At the very least, this was irresponsible reporting on Orlovsky’s behalf.
He talked to a few “sources” who told him that Fields’ work ethic was lacking, but didn’t feel the need to seek out other potential sources to confirm those accusations.
Orlovsky eventually apologized and did seek out additional coaches/those close to Fields and ended up debunking his previous findings. That wasn’t enough for colleague Kirk Herbstreit, though, who laid into Orlovsky for being irresponsible in the first place.
https://twitter.com/KirkHerbstreit/status/1377688700965036033?s=20
Kirk Herbstreit laid into Dan Orlovsky for his Justin Fields take.
Herbstreit was a former Ohio State quarterback himself, so it was even more of a reason for him to say something in opposition to Orlovsky, who, if we’re being honest, has had more outrageously bad moments during his time at ESPN than respectable ones.
For a guy who did absolutely nothing with his NFL career and then spent time over-hyping QBs like Carson Wentz and Sam Darnold, it’s understandable why many would be frustrated that he wouldn’t look to clarify the comments he heard before spewing them over the airwaves, especially now that he works for the Worldwide Leader in Sports.
Reckless. Absurd. Embarrassing. Hard to argue with Herbstreit there.
The ease with which Dan Orlovsky was able to talk to 2 guys with close dealings with Fields who gave him the exact opposite take to the hearsay he put out yesterday is exactly why it was so reckless to put it out in the first place.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) April 1, 2021
You have to know the gravity of that take
When you’re receiving information that is damaging to someone else’s reputation, it’s your duty as a journalist/analyst/talking head to do all the legwork possible to verify whatever it is you were initially told.
Patriots fans understand that more than most football fans out there. After their experiences with Deflategate and the countless “reports” that came out of New England alleging “irreparable” friction between Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft despite the three building the greatest dynasty, they should’ve known not to take Orlovsky’s bit of information on Fields as gospel.
That said, it’d be great if the Ohio State QB fell to the Pats (or if they traded up for him), because Belichick can certainly help mold him into a top signal caller. Then Orlovsky really won’t be able to live this down.
