1. Great post by the OP
2. This is why Hard Knocks should not film EVERYTHING. A coach needs to be able to speak to his player(s) about issues without cameras filming it. In fact, I thought it would have been tactful if Philbin had secretly gone somewhere to catch a meal or something with Tannehill to discuss this stuff. All the guy was doing was warning Tannehill about what to expect and giving him advice on how to handle it. Granted, Tannehill seems like a bright kid so he probably wouldve been fine, but its Philbin's job to make sure of it. Its a discussion he has to have.
3. Those writers can take it how they want but, what Philbin said was truth. Many of them were going to question the decision to start Tannehill. All he did was point that out to the young QB. So just as the coach and QB must be able to handle such criticisms from the writer, the writer must be able to take some of his own medicine. Isnt that fair? In fact, the bosses over at the papers shouldve sat his writers down and explained now that Hard Knocks is filming, your jobs are going to be mentioned and the coaches are going to have to talk with the players about handling what you do.
4. It is absolutely true that these writers will paint a picture of a guy to try and either purposely bring heat on him if they do not like him or they will constantly make him out to be a great coach and person if they do like him. Philbin is in a no win situation with the media considering he is being filmed all the time.
And now you should realize Saban's ways of handling the media werent so bad. In fact, I always liked it. He basically gave a big FU to Omar and the gang right away and let them know whos boss. Those guys were going to consistantly try to make him look bad anyway, so why even deal with them. That way he didnt have to bother with the "those guys are just doing their jobs etc etc" that Philbin gave after he pointed out what was coming to Tannehill.
Saban wouldve been classic on Hard Knocks.
He wouldve just told the truth and left it at that. No softening of the blow. He mightve even took it further and just said those guys are clueless.
**** Omar.