Rumor Site Done Right

Back in February 2005, a website broke the news of a fairly big trade between the Vikings and Raiders. Randy Moss was going to Oakland. I wasn't sure what to make of this website. Pro Football Talk (PFT) is a rumor mill. They would throw news at the wall and see what sticks. They nailed the Randy Moss trade before anyone else. Every other news site ran with PFT's breaking news of the Moss trade. I was impressed but I was not sold on the site. It struck me as far too "tabloid-like". I could do without it. I would stick with the supposed legitimate sites. Well, five years later, I realized that I was wrong. PFT is the creation of lawyer Mike Florio. He is also a life long Vikings fan. That can only help his standing in any circle. When I learned of Florio's law background, I decided to pay PFT a return visit a couple years ago. Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams were wrapped up in the ridiculous Star Caps fiasco. I needed someone to make sense of it all. Florio's law experience and excellent ability to explain it was a great help in understanding that hot mess. The same goes for the current labor storm. His writing is also entertaining. That alone can go a long way in explaining the law. He also will throw some jabs when some of the league's untouchables are being idiots. He's pulling no punches when viewing these labor issues from his point of view as a fan first. PFT is still a rumor mill as it pulls news from sources across the land. This consolidation of news and rumors is helpful, saves time. Florio and contributors, such as Greg Rosenthal, frequently add their own editorials to these news bits. It's often good stuff. Florio and his little site hit the big time when NBC bought into it. This brought the life long Vikings fan into the glare of television. He's a regular guest on NBC's Sunday Night Football. Florio is big now but he still keeps it small. NBC did the right thing for all and kept PFT as it's always been. Prestige has come with PFT's improved economic neighborhood. PFT Live has regular interviews with the power players in the league like Roger Goodell, DeMaurice Smith and Leslie Frazier. Dismissing PFT and Mike Florio back in 2005 was a mistake. Any fan looking for a quick glance at current NFL news would do well to check out Pro Football Talk.