Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Jon from Goleta, Calif., writes: Your assumption that MIKE SINGLETARY will be or already is a "punch line" in his locker room is absurd...maybe only more absurd is you referencing your "experience in NFL locker rooms" as your primary source of this way of thinking. Are you serious? YOUR experience?
Did you ever happen to watch MIKE SINGLETARY during his hall of fame career on what most people consider to be the best defense ever? Maybe you didn't, so obviously you did see his post game rant on sunday - i can only laugh at someone who thinks that MIKE SINGLETARY is the punch line of anybody's joke.
MIKE SINGLETARY is the kind of person you would never have the stones to say these sorts of things to face-to-face without the force field of a microphone.... YOU sir need to get more acquainted with MIKE SINGLETARY and really see what he is all about.
Mike Sando: Mike Singletary would never be the punch line to one of my jokes. I get goose bumps watching the footage of him dominating games. He represented in his playing career everything that is good about the game.
That does not buy him a free pass from you, me or anyone else who might question the wisdom of calling out players in public or dropping one's drawers during halftime speeches. I haven't found a single person associated with an NFL team as a player or coach who thinks Singletary is on the right track with his handling of the postgame talk or his decision to pull down his pants during a halftime speech.
The feeling I've gotten from speaking with dozens and dozens players over the years leads me to believe some players might laugh at these types of tactics.
Warren Sapp touched on this during an interview on WQAM in Miami. He was laughing at Singletary and predicting no one would ever hire him as a head coach. That seems harsh, but it probably reflects the mentality of the modern player better than I ever could. Click here and look for the interview labeled, "Warren Sapp W Goldstein 10-31".
Jeff from Boston writes: Dear Mr. Sando - Apparently, you are too young to have learned respect for your elders. You write that Mike Singletary risks becoming a laughingstock among his players because he pulled down his pants at halftime. What the 49er players know, which apparently you've forgotten, is that Mike Singletary went to the Pro Bowl every year of his career except one. That is why they respect him, and that's why he could pull his pants down every game and they'd still respect him.
For you to disrespect Singletary in this way while bragging about your "experience in NFL locker rooms" - as what, a towel boy? - makes you, Mr. Sando, look like a laughingstock. Maybe you need to go watch some old Bears film and educate yourself before you flap your gums again.
Mike Sando: Mike Singletary says he has no regrets over how he has handled this situation. My only regret is referring to experience in locker rooms as some sort of qualifier. That seems to be the thing people seize upon when defending Singletary's approach in relation to the questions I raised. I don't think my phrasing is relevant to the issues at hand.
If being a great player was what it took to be a great head coach, the Larry Bird-coached Pacers would be facing the Isaiah Thomas-coached Knicks each summer for the right to face the Magic Johnson-coached Lakers in the NBA Finals.
We'll have to see how many teams line up to hire Singletary if he comes available as a head coaching candidate in the future.
Dave from Hawaii writes: Hey Mike, wasn't it an AZ beat writer who broke the story? Hmmm, who is on the Niners that has ties to AZ and is now languishing on the bench backing up a 6th round pick rookie? Motive + opportunity makes BJ a prime suspect. Judging Coach Sing's dedication to team I don't expect many people will be picking BJ for their fantasy team as his ass will be full of splinters.
Mike Sando: Mike Jurecki of XTRA Radio in Phoenix broke the story. I seem to recall him breaking a story about Itula Mili re-signing with Seattle after visiting the Cardinals.
I would not automatically point to Bryant Johnson. The Singletary story could have traveled from any number of 49ers players or coaches or administrators to any number of people in the Cardinals organization or other organizations. Players and coaches from different teams speak with one another all the time. They text each other even more frequently.
That story about Singletary could have made its way around the league and back by the time Jurecki found out about it.
Dsykes from New Carlisle, Ohio, writes: Look, Singletary's way it might not have been the most professional way to address the situation, but it does get your attention.
As a fan of the Niners, I am glad to see someone in the organization is taking this "losing" concept personally. This is a proud organization with a rich, recent history.
The embarrassing part of this situation that I think the media is missing is not Singletary's pants around his ankles but the poor, week-to-week play of the team. Hey Niners, how about you pull your pants up and start taking losing to teams within the NFC Worst division a little more seriously?!? Singletary, please keep it up! One fan out here "gets it"! Don't lose the intensity! This team needs it!
Mike Sando: I understand the sentiment entirely. At the time of the hiring, however, I was clear in questioning whether intensity was the main problem for this team. I think turnovers at the QB position have been the main problem. And that is tied into the broader problem of the personnel not matching the system on offense in a few important areas. Not having a proven quarterback also ranks high on the list of issues. I thought the team played hard for Nolan.
Jose from Virginia writes: This whole situation been discussed as if we know what happens in a football team and in the locker room. I think we have been catering the players too much by not saying what's really on our minds for too long. They make a lot of money and they need to understand that the head coach has the last word on what happens between the lines. Mike Singletary was right in doing whatever he needed to do to get the players attention. Maybe they need to treat them like in pre-season until they start showing that they do care for themselves, the team and the coaches. Just my .02 cents
Mike Sando: Thanks for sharing.
Jim from Columbia, Mo., writes: Hi, Mike. As far as the Singletary situation goes, the rant and pant demonstration don't bother me as much as the timing. This was his first game, so it just seems magnified. Had he been there a few years or maybe even a few weeks, OK, but it just seems bizarre to do on the first day. I don't think some of us would be as surprised if someone like Joe Pa (who, by now, we all know is a little crazy) did a similar demonstration.
Mike Sando: Bizarre? Did someone say bizarre?
Robert from Denver writes: SANDO: GET A LIFE, how can you say a HOF'r like Mike S. is a lockerroom joke. The only joke you heard in locker rooms was probably, look at the pasty white boy with no talent, pretending to be a big NFL WRITER. GET A LIFE.
Mike Sando: Appreciate your passion, sir! Hopefully you understand where I'm coming from here.
Kenneth from Chicago writes: In regards to your comments that Mike Singletary dropping his pants may result in his not being taken seriously, I'd like to say that you would have to be a fool not to take Mike Singletary seriously. The man could break you in half.
Mike Sando: Whether I take Mike Singletary seriously is irrele
vant. Whether the players take him seriously and perform to a high level for him is all that matters.
Marc from Phoenix writes: We know that Mike is super intense, but he is also known as a smart player. Maybe taking his pants down for a second to show his intensity was intense, but giving a speech with your pants around your ankles for 4 minutes is just pretty dumb.
Mike Sando: I can tell you never played the game, Marc.
Nelson from San Jose writes: Singletary is a punchline? The Yorks and Nolan are the ones who led this team to disaster, the types who allows the TOs and Pacmans to run the asylum... If nothing else, he has restored some order to the universe. You're the punchline if you keep attacking him.
Mike Sando: I wouldn't attack him, but I would point out the potential risks associated with unconventional behavior. That was the intent.
Ed from Cali writes: I SEE VERY CLEARLY YOU NEVER PLAYED FOOTBALL W/ THE PASSION THIS MAN HAS DISPLAYED ON THE FIELD..........SO WATCH, LEARN AND LISTEN TO A CHAMPION; THAT'S HOW YOU BECOME A WINNER
Mike Sando: Let's see if it works for the 49ers.
Larry from parts unknown writes: Mike, You, like a lot of people out there who have never played football, nor coached, nor doesn't know Mike Singletary at all seem to love to give your 2c worth on his 1st game. Take a longer term look at things Mike, will 'ya? Give him 8 - 9 weeks and then see what's going on. Oh, I'm sorry. You won't have anything to say (eg. crap on about). Good luck. LJD
Mike Sando: I've been pretty clear in saying winning will determine Singletary's fate.
How well I know Singletary or whether I played football isn't really relevant to an analysis. You need not have been a reporter to criticize one. You need not have been a politician to criticize one. You need not have played the game to know a great player when you see one. You need not have scored a touchdown in an NFL game to criticize the way a player celebrates after scoring one.
Badge95 from Rhode Island writes: Mike, I understand where you're coming from, but I remember when Singletary played for the Bears, and that was the way he played, insanely! He demanded the best from himself and those around him. I always remember those EYES, he was somthing else. Now,sometimes shock value is good, but I agree with you, what do you do for an encore. I think Mike wanted to shake up the players, especially Davis, and let them know that team is first. I know you probably don't want to hear it, but that has been Bill B's way, forever. Team first! Even though i'm a N.E. fan, I enjoy most of your columns, keep up the good work.
Mike Sando: Thanks. I very much support the things for which Mike Singeltary stands, from hard work to intensity to honoring the game. I also feel an obligation to be honest in assessing whether he is taking the right approach toward supporting those things for which he stands. There is certainly room for reasonable people to disagree. Thanks for all who have weighed in on this. I always look forward to the discussion.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.