Dana Pennett O'Neil Strikes Again

Looks like the local press commentariat has a new dame of dishonesty.  Daily News' writer Dana Pennett O'Neil first came to the attention of Eagles fans with this story that pretty much argued Andy Reid's kids were going to die because he refused to quit his job and it would be all his fault. 

She's back today with this little gem about wide receiver Reggie Brown.  As you know, Reggie didn't have a big first game.  In fact, he's been pretty much invisible since the team showed up for training camp in July.  And because he plays the mouthiest position on the field, you just know how he's going to react to not being the center of attention:

"Frustrated? No. Frustration is not a word we use around here, as a team," Brown said. "We stay within ourselves and we do what's best for the team, wherever we're needed. If I'm not getting the ball, then I'm blocking my [butt] off."

Oh.  Well that's certainly ... refreshing.  And accurate too, as you could tell by this video clip if the NFL wasn't out to steal everyone's candy (it really was a fantastic block).

But maybe this is a case where the words don't tell the whole story.  Did he perhaps roll his eyes as he said it?  Let's see.  Here's how two other reporters covered the remarks:

Les Bowen, Daily News

Brown, who said he thought he was open at times Sunday, was asked yesterday if he felt frustrated.

"Frustrated? No. Frustration is not a word we use around here as a team," he said. "We stay within ourselves and we do what's best for the team, wherever we're needed. If I'm not getting the ball, then I'm blocking my [butt] off."

Sean McCann, Courier-Post

The other glaringly underused weapon in the Eagles' offense Sunday was No. 1 wide receiver Reggie Brown, who caught just one pass for 14 yards.  "I can't call the plays," Brown said. "(The coaches) have an agenda and they're going to do what they need to do that's the best for the team.  "Whenever my number is called, I'm going to be there to make plays and help out wherever I can."

As has been his custom, Brown had a quiet preseason, promising that things would pick up once the games began to count. But it's not time to panic, he said Thursday.  "Frustrated? No. Frustration is not a word that we use around here, as a team," said Brown, though Smith had used that exact word just a few feet away, a few minutes earlier.

"We stay within ourselves and we do what's best for the team, wherever we're needed," Brown continued, going prickly. "If I'm not getting the ball, then I'm blocking."

So Les thought nothing of it, while McCann thought he got "prickly."  An outside observer might surmise that this sequence of events suggests Brown was much more annoyed with the reporters than he was with the actual issue at hand, but let's see how O'Neil decided to cover the issue (four days after others had already reported on it):

Asked about his statless start, Brown argued there was no use in fretting, that he didn't make the play calls and that the coaches had an offensive agenda (his word) to do what was best for the team. He said he believed he was open at times, but then again, he said, receivers always believe they are open.

But pressed if he was frustrated, the usually placid Brown turned prickly.

"Frustrated? No. Frustration is not a word we use around here, as a team," Brown said. "We stay within ourselves and we do what's best for the team, wherever we're needed. If I'm not getting the ball, then I'm blocking my [butt] off."

And then Brown stomped off to the nether reaches of the locker room where reporters cannot trod, leaving the impression that he was . . . frustrated.

Brown this season has fewer catches than an injured L.J. Smith, who on the same day that Brown said he wasn't frustrated, said that he was.

"Some of that is me," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said of Brown's lack of production. "We certainly had plays called where he was the primary receiver, but they took that away and we went in another direction. There are going to be games when one guy catches a lot of balls and the next, it flips. We understand that."

Maybe Mornhinweg understands it.

See how seamlessly she attempts to sew the seeds of discord?  Almost impressive if it weren't so dishonest.  Interesting that she calls him "prickly" too, several days after someone else has used that exact word.  Must be a complete coincidence.

It's obvious from these stories that:

1. Reggie thought he could have been a bigger factor against Green Bay.
2. He remains the typical team-first guy he's been since the day he got here.
3. If he's annoyed about anything, it's reporters who won't let stuff go.

But then that's not as good a story, is it? 

Here's a question for O'Neil.  Since you didn't cover the team last year, can you tell us how many catches Reggie Brown had in the 2006 opener?  Or in the second week against the Giants?  (Hint: In both cases the answer is "fewer than Greg Lewis.")

Maybe there's a reason he's not that concerned about a slow start getting him the ball.

Comments

It really is amazing how 70% of that is her words and description and not his own. That was clearly editorializing on her part.

Again, I must ask. When does Villanova women's basketball start>!? Presumably we'll be rid of her inane babblings about the Eagles then.