Purple Reign wrote:
Zimmer also called Barr out saying he has a tendency to coast. I don't care how you sugar coat it, when a coach specifically calls out players in the press like that they feel that they are being humiliated. It's just a human reaction dude.
As everybody knows, I love Zimmer. But I have to agree ... that was wrong.
Yes, players are kind of soft these days. They ought to be able to take a little criticism. But he seemed to call out Barr's motivation, his passion, his heart. That's a different animal than when he said Anthony Harris "let a guy cross his face" during his presser following the win over the Jags. Nothing wrong with a coach questioning a man's desire, but something like that should be said to the man, not the media.
Here's my take on this ...
I think Zimmer has the sense to know not to call out a man's heart in the press. Where I think he's not very good is dealing with the media. He gets up there in front of the cameras, and it's obvious he doesn't want to be there. It's the part of the job description that he seems to detest. I think the reporters press him and press him, and he finally gives them something. But because he's blunt and honest, he gives them something he probably shouldn't. That's all speculation, but it's pretty obvious he doesn't like doing pressers.
Of course, Mike Zimmer is not paid to mollify the media. He's paid to win games. But in a way, they're interconnected. If he pisses off his guys with the things he says in the media, it hurts his chances of winning. Somebody needs to get Zimmer to understand that doing a good job of dealing with the media is actually in his own best interest.
(McCarthy won the SB with 15 starters on IR btw, you wont get much sympathy from me in that department)