Eight years ago today, we launched this thing with one not-so-lofty objective: To cover the NFL differently than anyone else.
We hoped to inform, but we also wanted to periodically entertain. Indeed, people follow sports to be entertained. So the coverage of sports should provide some entertainment, too.
With a fairy fairly modest (to say the least) network of sources and a knack (at times) for breaking down complex legal and business issues and making them somewhat understandable, every morning we posted three or four stories, usually based on things we were hearing, and a list of links to items from newspapers and other media.
It was a shoestring operation, with $500 to set up the site, $50 per month to keep it running, and little or no revenue for nearly three years.
Traffic grew gradually but steadily. For reasons still not completely clear, folks in the football business began congregating here. And many of them began to reach out to us, which helped us expand dramatically our base of information.
The thing went from hobby to part-time real business in February 2006, when Sprint became our first major sponsor. And it went from part-time business to full-time operation on July 1, 2009, when our partnership with NBC launched.
Just in time to save the hamsters.
There are plenty of other details that I don't have the time or the energy to list right now, since I just got back from 30 Rock a little while ago. One of these days, maybe we'll write a book about how in the hell this thing got started and unexpectedly grew.
For now, I'll simply say "thanks" to everyone who has had a role in making this thing do something other than fail miserably. From Dante (who we're told has joined Greenpeace) to Taco Bill to Larry Mazza to all of the past and current (or, in the case of at least one of them, past and current) writers -- MDS, Tom Mantzouranis, Tim MacMahon, Sheil Kapadia, Josh Alper, Mike Tunison, Aaron Wilson, Tom Curran, Evan Silva, and Gregg Rosenthal -- to the folks who have invited us onto their radio stations for what essentially amounts to free advertising to all the writers and broadcasters who treat us as peers to those who still don't (it keeps us motivated and focused) to our good friends at Sporting News and at Sprint and, most importantly, to all the folks at NBC who have blown us away with support, guidance, and friendship. Dick Ebersol and company have allowed us to continue to be what we've always been while genuinely welcoming us into the NBC Sports family.
Four months into our partnership with NBC and fresh off our third straight single-month traffic record, it's getting better all the time, and the best is truly yet to come.
And thanks to all of you for carving out a slice of your busy time every day to give us a couple of page views. We know we'd be nothing without you, and we'll never take you for granted. (Now go get your shine boxes.)
Finally, I've got to thank my wife, Jill, and my son, Alex, for tolerating the long hours and everything else that goes along with this thing. The last year has validated much of the past hard work, but the reward has been even more of the same.
So let's close out this self-congratulatory post with some old-fashioned parental pride. Here's Florio Jr. from earlier tonight.
Florio Jr. is a bandwagon Yankees fan?
First time commenting....huge Bills fan(season ticket holder as long as I could afford them....and I am a drunk....hence why I registered and why I am a Bills fan...) Thank you Mike......I am a member on all the Bills message boards, but when I NEED to know info on them I come straight to PFT....always have...I know this site has blown up this past year (NBC), you are still the best site to come to when I look forward to anything NFL....thanks Mike and associates!!!!
Yankees Suck
Did any of the names you listed get any cream from the buyout? Or did you only tell them about the "partnership"?
You really like dropping that "30 Rock" stuff don't you?
I hate you.
Grats, Florio. You've earned your spot in the sports world. Thanks for your efforts.
You couldn't even get a congratulations youtube video from Pat White?
Congrats. Wish you guys many more years of success. God bless.
congrats on the 8 years and here's to continued success florio ....even though your power rankings are a joke.
great job florio....been following you for about a year now and i love your site
congrats mike this site is #1 in the nfl/sports world, as u know. if u are an real nfl followee, PFT is it. i was there when sprint came aboard, and those hamsters! u handled that well. heres to 8 more years but hot damn man jay leno sucks!!!
p.s.-there are many millions of nfl fans that have no idea this site exists
Congratulations. You should celebrate by buying Florio Jr. a custom set of dw's.
I'd give you a hard time, but I appreciate your effort....oh, and the fact that I'm not the only one married w/kids and up past midnight!!
Bully for you, sir, I can only hope my small business grows to such.
Bully, I say, bully!
I love this website, and I couldn't be happier that NBC brought you aboard. Now I don't have to worry about the site failing and having to rely on lesser sites for news, and sarcastic comments(I love your Sunday night chat). Great work Mr. Florio, and congratulations on all your success...and you should write a book, I bet a lot of people on here would be interested to learn about how you got this thing going.
he's getting better :-)
and so are you ... most of the time ... just don't forget your roots ...
Tell your kid to work on his footwork with the kick drums. He totally neglected them!
Is Taco Bill on strike?
How come we never hear from him?
Congrats Florio and PFT. Your site is required reading for NFL fans. I have visited daily for several years and really appreciate all you offer.
Don't let it go to your head, ya bum.
;)
Long live PFT. Thanks, Mike (and all names mentioned above).
Congrats and hats off to the wife, kid, and dog for putting up with it all these years. Do your faithful followers each get a slice of anniversary cake?
I'm really glad it's been 9 years. I started reading about you when I was in college back in March of 2006, and I never stopped. Keep up the great work, congratulations. Keep breaking the mold.
And congrats to Florio Jr. Hey, was that his mom cheering him on at the end?
Tell your boy he's going worldwide...Prestige Worldwide....
Mr. Mike FLORIO Jr,
hello!! Great site. I when i was at school LSU I became friends with DOMANICK DAVIS, now Domanick Williams. He played at LSU and the TEXANS. We ran is first website in 2004 www.doubledtalk.com. Than we started www.playerztalk.com. It close to profootballtalk.com But me and friend who i ran with had to get jobs cause the website was paying the bills. We would focus more on what the players are doing and whats going on in there lifes outside of football.
other clients we had was-grady jackson, claude wroten, Tev faulk,
later,
curley
hold up it is WAY past your bedtime florio
congrats on the octo-versary
PS not going to watch that video
Hey there, Mike, I managed to catch your halftime segment for the first time lastnight and was impressed.
The Golden Goofer Football team has stunk, :::immitates Waylon Jennings::: "Since the day I was born!" So I don't watch much when it comes to College Football, but since it was Halloween and not much else was on, I decided to tune it after witnessing that great catch before the half. It reminded me of Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Those where the days. You just let it fly and they'd go up and get it. = )
Congrats Florio and God bless
wait i DID watch the video. holy shit he can bang them drums. hook him up with some guitarists and a singer
Awesome job.
I'm not sure if I have the story totally correct, but from what I understand, you left your job as a lawyer to follow your passion: the NFL. And after starting out from your humble small site beginnings, you now have one of the most visited NFL sites on the web.
I actually cite your story to friends when I want to share an inspirational story lol.
In any case, great job and I will continue to read multiple times each day!
After reading the 'parental pride' thing I was thinking he'd be rubbish, but the dude can drum. Congratulatons Mr Florio.
YOU are a Hawg....For LIFE!
"With a fairy modest (to say the least) network of sources"
-------------------------------------------------------
You just went all Larry Johnson on your sources.
*It's not even 6am yet? Damn farmers.
tell your kid to get a haircut
Well done and congratulations florio.
Been a pleasure following this site for the last many years!
The next Dave Grohl over here
Congratz PFT
Who knew the Bubble Boy would actually add something to society ?
Good looking kid, who is his daddy ?
WOW! To make a living for eight years by stealing the hard work of other people and making up fake rumors. God bless you, Mike Florio.
I love the sound of cymbals in the morning, sounds like victory.
Congrats on the anniversy Mike. The boy sounds good, his fashion sense; not so much.
Don't you have one of these anniversaries 3 or 4 times a year?
I first heard you on the Junkies. I`ve been hooked ever since.
Congrats.Best football site around. Thanks for mentioning the radio stations,you and Paul Allen of KFAN are a fun listen. That is how I learned you existed. Showing Jr. with pride tells me you are a good guy!
Just keep it real Florio. I go back to the 'original' site so, you know what I mean. Good luck keeping this thing going. Junior needs a cowbell.
Happy Birthday. But, does Brett Favre really have polio ? Just askin.' GO BEARS !!!!
Great job Florio, I have been with you from day one, even back when you and JT were doing the NFLTalk.com thing. Love it! Keep up the great work
JDK
This site without a doubt, is the greatest pro football site anywhere! Found it just going from site to site & got lucky. I have shared it with all pro football fans I come in contact with (that don't know about it already) & they also love it. It stays up on my desktop both at home & at work constantly. CONGRATS Mike for doing such a GREAT job here, never listen to the haters that constantly b*tch & moan, once they get their GED's hopefully they can take their heads out of their a*ses long enough to appreciate what you provide on these pages. Thanks again.
FLORIO IS THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT PAUL ALLEN'S SHOW ON KFAN IN MINNEAPOLIS..TOO BAD ITS ONLY ONE DAY A WEEK
Good job and indeed the Yankees suck.
florio, your site is the best.....thanks for all the hard work
Don't accept the gift baskets from Greg Aiello or the NFL. Too many NFL mouthpieces running around.
Nice to see someone step up and criticize them now and then.
Another book? Yikes. Consider hiring out for that, Florio. You write like we do.
To the guy who ripped Greg Aiello, ease up - Greg Aiello has been pure class.
As for PFT turning 8 years old, it's been a great ride for us too. MDS, Taco Bill and Rosenthal (Joe Bracado too) are favorite contributors, so huge thanks to them - plus of course, Florio himself. No Florio - and no PFT. Florio brings the irreverance, the humor, the legal breakdowns, the Seinfeld references, the Deadspin juice, and did I mention the irreverance and the humor.
This site has rocked since I stumbled on to it wayyy back in 2001 --- and saw this cyber-animated green sports agent trucking forward with a briefcase. It was edgy and "different" then, and it still is - just lots more people tuned in, and some big boy sponsorship.
Personally, my belief is this site grew largely grassroots style - from simple "word of mouth." Since back in '01, I've been pimping this site to my boys ---- who then get word out to their alternative entourages ---- and to coin something kind of oxymoronic, the site went "slowly viral-esque."
From a nostalgic perspective, I miss those days, and that funky sports agent era --- but it's also great that this site blew up huge, has so many connected NFL insiders, players, a huge continually growing following and sponsors with some high-powered clout.
It's all good - thanks Florio and crew.
Florio, you work really hard and you're honest. Just stay humble, and keep on going, and you'll keep achieving more and more.
Congratulations on eight years. Your biggest fan base in the future hasn't even heard of you yet.
"First time commenting....huge Bills fan(season ticket holder as long as I could afford them....and I am a drunk....hence why I registered and why I am a Bills fan...) Thank you Mike......I am a member on all the Bills message boards, but when I NEED to know info on them I come straight to PFT....always have...I know this site has blown up this past year (NBC), you are still the best site to come to when I look forward to anything NFL....thanks Mike and associates!!!!"
-that dude sounds just like me! he's right though, good job Florio, and I like how you give your son props on the site. that's cool.
"If it slip in Week 1, it slip in Week 8."
Can I get my donations back from the early years?
I think the reason the players started coming here was the fact that you were explaining contracts that even they could understand. No doubt they don't understand their own.
Florio Jr. is really coming along! He's got great confidence back there, which he should teach Ted Ginn Jr. to take to his craft. Seriously! The most important aspect of drumming is to be relaxed, and Jr. got it. It's only a matter of practice and time before he's a star.
A piece of advice from one drummer to another:
Tighten up the felts on the ride for less wash. You've got two crashes already, use the ride for "ping" by taking some of the wash away. I understand it might be a stylistic thing you're going for (since you're not hitting the ride with the tip of the stick), but sometimes you'll be playing with singers in venues with bad PAs and/or no sound guy where if you hit the ride that way you'll drown out the vocals. Cymbals and vocals sit in the same frequency range. I keep my felts as tight to the cymbals as I can twist that bolt so they don't move around so much. That way if you have to hit the cymbal quickly in succession you have more control over a consistent hit. It's hard hitting the cymbal with controlled dynamics while it's swinging around wildly.
Can't wait to see you on tour, buddy!
Hey, eight years and you only killed off one hall of famer...that ain't bad!
Damn, i just couldn't say congratulations without jabbing you a little.
Congrats on all the success, and thanks for all the hard work..keep hating!