Athletes Vs. the Media: Do You Care?

Since the Marshawn Lynch vs. the media storyline continues to overshadow anything related to the actual Super Bowl, I put this out on Twitter yesterday:

Serious question: DeAngelo Williams essentially boycotted talking to the media this season. Did you notice, and if so, did you even care?
— Black & Blue Review (@BlackBlueReview) January 28, 2015

For reasons he never fully explained, Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams declined nearly every interview request he received this season. He talked to Carolina media three times: After the Week 1 win in Tampa Bay, ahead of the ‘blood and guts’ bowl with the Ravens, and before the Week 13 loss in Minnesota.

As we’ve seen with Lynch, there are no shortage of opinions when it comes to athletes and their dealings with the media. Here’s a sampling of how Panthers fans answered my question:

@BlackBlueReview Didn't notice/care. No disrespect to DWill but he wasn't a captain/leader this year. If I hear from Cam/Luke, I'm good.
— Kurt Zamora (@FriscoKTank) January 28, 2015

@BlackBlueReview Only noticed because saw media mention it a few times. Didn’t care.
— Bennett Hipp (@BennettHipp) January 28, 2015

@BlackBlueReview Did not notice, did not care. Prob didn't notice cuz he's very active on social media
— Kurt Bopp (@kbopp6) January 28, 2015

@BlackBlueReview i didn't notice cuz he tweets and Facebook posts so much it's like he never went anywhere
— Trey Seagroves (@TSeagroves83) January 28, 2015

@BlackBlueReview To be fair. If Cam didn't talk, that would be blown up. Marshawn tied with Wilson in terms of importance. D-Will less impt.
— Noah Jampol (@NoahHJampol) January 28, 2015

@BlackBlueReview I think the QB position (rightly or wrongly) has to be different, but for a regular player, why get worked up?
— James Dator (@James_Dator) January 28, 2015

@BlackBlueReview He was irrelevant this season, thus few cared.
— Adam Butler (@AdamButlerTV) January 28, 2015

@BlackBlueReview No I don't care, he talks to his fans. And he doesn't grab his crotch.
— Teresa Stone (@tata9064) January 28, 2015

For what it’s worth, it never bothered me all that much when Williams didn’t talk this year. It was unfortunate because he can be engaging and insightful, and there’s the whole ‘bad precedent’ fear, but if he didn’t want to chat, fine. And as a couple of you pointed out above, it wasn’t like this was Cam Newton going silent.

If you want to share your opinion on all of this, shoot over a tweet or drop a comment below.

bauerdavidson

I watch the sport, I am interested in the team. Who’s coming, who’s going. Quality analyst can tell me what went wrong or right on a play if I can’t see it myself. Players tend to skew the truth anyway, dodge responsibility, blame teammates or question play calling. Not that that’s the case. If I’m interested in a players personal life, social media can and does handle that.
DiscountCleric

If they have something to say, they’ll find an outlet. Otherwise they’re usually just spitting out canned answers.
ir0nli0nzi0n

BlackBlueReview On press conferences it is a rarity when journalists ask good Qs or players provide interesting answers. 1
ir0nli0nzi0n

BlackBlueReview usually when they do it is something controversial. 2 many journalists complaining r same that ask “talk about…” non Qs.
Michael523

You know, that ski mask bit was some of the funnest stuff I’ve seen, but until today I didn’t realize that he wasn’t doing interviews. With Lynch, the man doesn’t have much to say, and personally if I was a media day member I’d lobby to have no one question him.
Cat_Chronicles

He’s been super reserve All season, even with fans. No autographs at retraining camp on two days I was there. I also saw he asked Jonathan Jones what he though of Lynch….so it’s clearly on his mind. not sure what to make of it honestly. I always believed him to be pretty accessible, but maybe that’s just what I wanted to believe
MrBernz

Had DeAngelo got up in front of the cameras and did what Lynch did, I would be ashamed of him.
The reporter talking to Cam, in the other article on this site, made a good point. The Media pays a lot of money to show the games and interview the players. Without that media money, these players wouldn’t make anything close to what they make now.
DeAngelo wasn’t doing anything worthy of media attention this season anyway, so that is no big deal. He goes on Facebook and other things and interacts with the fans every day.