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PFT gets the New York Times treatment

There have a been a few “wow” moments this year at ProFootballTalk. 

Hearing Al Michaels pimp the site during a Sunday Night telecast was one.

Seeing Mike Florio’s mug on NBC with Peter King and Jimmy Roberts was another.  (As was learning in person that Florio’s hair is real.  I think.)

Now here comes one more:  Florio got the New York Times treatment in a profile for the paper that will print Saturday. 

The article includes quotes from Jay Glazer, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, and Kevin Monaghan, the senior vice president for business development at NBC Sports.  It breaks down some of the making of the PFT sausage and the new union with NBC.

“Others were looking to buy us,” PFT co-owner and man behind the scenes Larry Mazza said, speaking. “But we wanted a true partnership.”

As someone who read the site every day for six years before writing for it, it’s amazing how far it’s come.  So thanks to everyone who supports it, even the ones that leave angry comments. 

We’ll try not to screw things up too badly. 

[Editor's note:  Speak for yourself, Rosenthal.]

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36 Responses to “PFT gets the New York Times treatment”
  1. Diggs says: Nov 20, 2009 12:58 PM

    “Want to rub our face in our poopie? Want to give us props? Drop us a line.”
    ——
    You gotta be f’n kidding me.

  2. cbrianwatkins says: Nov 20, 2009 1:01 PM

    Florio’s hair is not real

  3. tdwapollo says: Nov 20, 2009 1:02 PM

    Florio – when are you going to start calling Gregg by his real name of Fred Savage?

  4. The Wishbone says: Nov 20, 2009 1:03 PM

    @ Florio,
    Do you at least realize it’s far safer to fly than it is to drive four hours and then take a train?

  5. Ottawa49ers says: Nov 20, 2009 1:03 PM

    the site and opinion is awesome, the only thing i hope for is that you resurrect the site’s “independent” view as you once had on the original pft. Since the union with nbc I’ve found that some articles have a bias and kiss ass to nbc. I really hate your pimping of shows (especially leno because he sucks) and the sponsored posts. They make the site seem mickey mouse and less credible for what people come here for, which is football stories and none of that other crap.

  6. NashvilleSeahawk says: Nov 20, 2009 1:08 PM

    Congratulations guys! Nice work.

  7. Asswipe Johnson (Pronounced Az-Wee-Pay) says: Nov 20, 2009 1:15 PM

    Who is this Florio and why is he getting the New York Times treatment?

  8. PFFFFT says: Nov 20, 2009 1:25 PM

    The site broke more news and was far more provocative when it WASN’T tied to NBC. Now it seems like PFT reacts more than breaks things — something that was likely to happen once NBC paid Florio mucho dinero to bring it under its mast.
    I’m still reading though.

  9. hotchick says: Nov 20, 2009 1:25 PM

    It would have been impressive if the NY Times treatment was not synonymous with incorrect or unsourced stories.
    Why the joy with being written about in a has been fish wrapper?

  10. Ranoversquarells says: Nov 20, 2009 1:25 PM

    Don’t forget the people who helped you along the way Florio.
    With that said. Can I borrow a dollar?

  11. hadaad says: Nov 20, 2009 1:25 PM

    So, you’re saying he said it, speaking? That Larry Mazza has some true talent.

  12. wils says: Nov 20, 2009 1:28 PM

    “Florio, 44, an erstwhile Vikings fan living in Steelers country, began his blog in 2001 as a sideline to his law practice.”
    I freaking knew it.

  13. slipkid says: Nov 20, 2009 1:43 PM

    florio is in this respect like john wayne.
    it was well known he wore a toupee.
    reporters used to ask him if his hair was real. he would reply sure it was real. it wasnt his, but it was real…
    //////////////////
    some articles have a bias? how about damn near all.
    florio wants to ride on olbermann’s knee during FNIA!

  14. EskinSux says: Nov 20, 2009 1:45 PM

    I’m tellin ya…..Florio’s hair in itself will be a reality show…..It won’t be about dancing, modeling, cooking, parenting or surviving even….It will be a reality show, based on the ever popular Flowbee, and who can wield it with the most aplumb….AND it will get better ratings than ANY Notre Dame Losing Irish football fiasco…..

  15. mustbechris says: Nov 20, 2009 1:51 PM

    “”Want to rub our face in our poopie? Want to give us props? Drop us a line.”
    I don’t know, it doesn’t sound like the site has come that far after all, Gregg.

  16. TheDPR says: Nov 20, 2009 1:53 PM

    Love the throwback link there, Gregg. Good stuff.

  17. Eric Kidd says: Nov 20, 2009 2:11 PM

    Haha… For years, Florio wouldn’t tell us who his favorite team was… Now we know why he has so many issues with “Chillyball!”

  18. Kevin from Philly says: Nov 20, 2009 2:12 PM

    Gregg,
    Did you yank on it to see if it’s real? The hair, I mean.

  19. rockotica says: Nov 20, 2009 2:20 PM

    that throwback was intense! good thing the chiefs didnt get mccardell!

  20. Greg B. says: Nov 20, 2009 2:33 PM

    Holy cow, Mikey! You’re in the Newspaper of Record! Congrats! Way to hit the bigtime.
    Just don’t let it go to your head… take a look at this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv37yqw-92s&feature=related
    Seriously, well done.

  21. ZombieRevolution says: Nov 20, 2009 2:33 PM

    Congrats PFT and Florio- you have earned all of the success. Some of us criticize the site because it still remains in so many ways- despite its popularity- very much an amateur product. When you are paid to be a professional, be one. Use spell check once in a while, read the article more than once before posting it, check your stats before submission and rather than 90% of the time commenting on what someone else produces- do some more investigative work and some up with something original.
    Amazing success story though- all due to Florio. Bask in it dude, but don’t buy into the hype and let your ego balloon.

  22. Eric Kidd says: Nov 20, 2009 2:37 PM

    Haha… For years, Florio wouldn’t tell us who his favorite team was… Now we know why he has so many issues with “Chillyball!”

  23. Richm2256 says: Nov 20, 2009 2:56 PM

    Some thoughts on the NYT piece:
    “I’m a product of the age,” he said. “I can sit in my basement and be in touch with everyone.”
    Just like most of the posters here, eh?
    “He’s been a much bigger help than we imagined.”
    So, NBC didn’t think much of you either, going into this?
    Terry Bradshaw is DEAD???????
    “We’ve created a monster,” he said, “and we have to keep feeding it.”
    MUST HAVE SEINFELD REFERENCES …… ARRRRRGGGGGHHH!!!!!
    Lastly, I wasn’t aware of Florio’s reluctance to fly (must have had some traumatic experience trying to get that rug through a security screening), but one might see a bit of Madden-esque in Florio’s futrue, say perhaps a bus to travel around the NFL in? Of course, in Florio’s case, it would be the “short” bus.
    Sorry Mike, but as someone once said “he gave me good ammunition” ….

  24. Citizen Strange says: Nov 20, 2009 3:07 PM

    Seeing Mike Florio’s mug on NBC with Peter King and Jimmy Roberts was another.
    And I’m still trying to clean all the spit off of my TV!

  25. FumbleNuts says: Nov 20, 2009 3:10 PM

    Great partnership and all but…………. what about the funny Taco Bill pictures and the ratings system for comments?
    You should go back to what made this site “The Best” profootball site on the planet.

  26. texasPHINSfan says: Nov 20, 2009 3:22 PM

    what is the “new york times treatment?”
    is that like “walking down the other side of the street” to ralph wilson?
    congrats to PFT. love the site, but could do without the gratuitous advertising for NBC. also bring back cookies so we don’t have to log in every other day. and remove the ads/popups with audio/video. other than that, peachy.

  27. bonecity7 says: Nov 20, 2009 4:26 PM

    This is one of the better threads in a while…..some good stuff!!!

  28. HAUS says: Nov 20, 2009 4:37 PM

    Must have been a major dissappoint that the Vikings extended Childress, along with Mat Millen and coach Kevlar you could have been the new triangle of power in Minnie. Maybe Ziggi will keep you in mind come 2013.

  29. 56lightsout56 says: Nov 20, 2009 6:51 PM

    now all Florio needs is to welsh on a bet with a new york bookie……
    then he’ll REALLY get to experience the “new york treatment”

  30. Splash Saturn says: Nov 20, 2009 7:01 PM

    I totally second Mr. FumbleNuts regarding the Taco Bill pictures. With so many blogs and the like out there Taco Bill’s pictures actually helped to make a connection with the hard hitting news. I seriously don’t think I would have followed all the legal talk regarding the Michael Vick case as closely if it weren’t for all the Taco Bill pics that accompanied it. They beautifully illustrated the absurdity of it all.
    I really miss that “Caddyshake World” feel to the NFL that PFT gave me along side all the rumours and commentary.

  31. Splash Saturn says: Nov 20, 2009 7:06 PM

    oh yeah… almost forgot. I know everyone’s got their lists of things they don’t care for with PFT, like the ads… having to always log in… yadda yadda. I personally don’t mind any of the NBC pimping and Spring…. all that stuff. It’s part of being able to bring PFT to the masses. I appreciate it. Really. But please… please…. I beg of you… if you have even the tiniest shred of human decency… please PLEASE ditch that d@#$ auto reload to the road! I absolutely can’t STAND the freakin’ page auto loading on me while I’m trying to read. Unless someone out there knows how to kill that d@#$ thing with a prefence set on the browser or something.. I don’t know… just hate it. hate it hate it hate it. Where’s the alcohol???

  32. Otis Taylor 89 says: Nov 20, 2009 8:02 PM

    Not one Seinfeld reference….

  33. cleanface says: Nov 20, 2009 10:50 PM

    Florio, congrats. You look good by backwoods West Virginia standards….which is basically saying you look like a homeless New Yorker….or a tourist from Little Rock, Arkansas who “would get eaten alive by this city”.

  34. bluestree says: Nov 21, 2009 2:33 PM

    hotchick says:
    November 20, 2009 1:25 PM
    It would have been impressive if the NY Times treatment was not synonymous with incorrect or unsourced stories.
    I take it you’re refering to the Judith Miller scandal.

  35. Mike in Fuquay NC says: Nov 21, 2009 3:55 PM

    Sorry boys. No matter how you shake it – you still sold out. Pumping yourself up does not change that.
    Next Please.

  36. SmackMyVickUp says: Nov 21, 2009 7:23 PM

    One liberal news site pimps another, no story in that.
    Al Michaels bit was better.

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