This whole Grantham-to-the-NFL thing… what if it’s not a marketing strategy for recruits, but a shiny toy meant to distract the media from focusing on the disappointment of several of Georgia’s top recruiting targets heading for places other than Athens?
If the AJ-C is any example, it seems to be working.
Regardless of what Grantham eventually decides to do, it has already affected Georgia’s recruiting. Chamblee defensive end Davin Bellamy, who Grantham had a major hand in flipping from a Florida State commitment, has expressed concerns to AJC Recruiting reporter Michael Carvell that Grantham might bolt for the NFL. But Bellamy said Grantham insists he will be around to coach him. Bellamy is due to make his decision Wednesday at 11 a.m. and it was speculated to be Georgia over Oregon and Tennessee. But his family seeking answers from UGA Tuesday night.
“This was our biggest fear,” a family member told the AJC. “We’re going to call Georgia and try to get more information.
…
Grantham is scheduled to meet with the media Wednesday at 2 p.m. – along with head coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo – to discuss the newest crop of recruits. I suppose we could get some answers from Grantham then.
If he shows.
Should make for a fun presser.
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UPDATE: I wonder how close Grantham will come to telling the AJ-C to kiss his ass today.
“Coach Grantham talked to Davin and assured him that he had nothing to worry about and that he was staying at Georgia and he would be Davin’s position coach,” Mrs. Bellamy said. “He’s been recruiting him now for several months and he has his word that he will be there when Davin starts at Georgia in the fall. I was glad to hear that.”
Get The Picture 
Is it over yet?
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ESPN is reporting Rob Ryan to the Saints. I hope there is a redeeming angle to this Grantham story. But, for the life of me, I cant imagine what it would be.
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Love the “If he shows” comment at the end. Does the AJC have some issue with Grantham, other than the fact he is refusing to comment to them? Is that enough for the AJC to provide that snippy bit of commentary, in spite of the fact that other media outlets are reporting the Saints are hiring someone else?
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Seth Emerson has been just as bad as AJC on twitter. And when you post stories with alternative views, he turns into a first class jerk. Bring back David Hale!
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Chip Towers has been on a totally different level from every other beat writer covering this “story”.
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Very true Senator. Chris reporting of the “story” doesn’t surprise me. Seth has.
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Remember when the AJC used to report the news rather than reporting the news that others are reporting?
Chip is pissed because he doesn’t have any sources in the football department anymore. Boo-hoo, the bad man will not give me a quote so I’ll have to tell everyone what the rumours+silence “obviously” means.
Seriously, isn’t his job to collect, gather and report on facts? How can you trust a reporter who says: “But there’s really no need to hear from them. The fact that they have let the rumors flap in the wind unabated for weeks is statement enough. He wants the job.”
If this is the type of ‘reporting’ they want at the AJC…i.e. stating an unsubstantiated opinion as a fact….Henry Grady is rolling over in his grave.
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These stories about Grantham interviewing with the Saints and being the leading candidate for the Eagles’ job aren’t originating with the AJC. They are coming from the newspaper beat writers for the Saints and Eagles. The sources for these writers are people inside the Saints and Eagles organizations. The AJC is simply reporting a story that has already been broken by other news outlets.
Rather than the AJC, our ire should be directed toward the one at the center of these reports and his representation. I wonder how close Mark Richt and Greg McGarity come today to telling Todd Grantham to fire his agent.
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You are right. I saw the story on NOLA.com before it was on the AJC. I think even the Athens Banner Herald (onlineathens.com) had it up before the AJC. Did Grantham ever publicly disavow his interest in interviewing or leaving?
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The only sources they have are that the Saints want a 3-4 defense and that Chip Kelly runs a 3-4. They are rumors period.
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There seems to be no sense to UGA’s current tact in this. If Grantham is definitely staying, why not say so publicly (like you did last year)? No news is not good news, especially when you know it is being used against you at every turn.
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Seth is being his real self…..a Gamecock homer.
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Is Richt going to be able to attend? Didn’t he just have hip replacement?
What if this is Richt retiring and naming either Bobo or Grantham HC?
Not really trying to stir the pot, just having fun thinking what it could be.
It’s likely just a pressed to welcome the new recruits.
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Richt certainly hasn’t denied that he’s retiring. Hmmmm. It’s so obvious!!
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GEORGIA DISCONTINUING FOOTBALL!!
NO DENIALS!!!!
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Can we all get together and designate one person to follow the AJC? The only way they get money is through page hits and followers…frankly, all they do is regurgitate other people’s info most of the time, so there is no reason, for example, to go to the AJC to read a story being reported by the Times-Picayune.
Anyway, I’ve unfollowed Towers and Carvell on twitter and took their blogs off my RSS feed. I suggest you all do the same. Send a message that says we care more about actual reporting than your own prognostications.
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I’m with you, but it’s getting harder and harder to find a reporter that covers the Dawgs. Seth was doing OK, but he definitely dipped into the digs and rumor mongering with this Grantham stuff.
Seriously, who does a good job of covering the Dawgs?
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Gentry @ 247. He’s just about the only one worth reading and decent at his job
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I am with you on that one. Seth really has sunk to a new low on this Grantham thing. As our beat writer he did much more harm than good by contiuously retweeting his story
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Journalism stinks these says. Wasn’t Towers a UGA grad? Shame on him for reporting rumor as fact and stirring this stuff up.
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Thank God the 30 recruits we already had committed apparently don’t give a ship what ‘reporters’ say – they were truly the smart ones who sealed themselves off from the frickin feeding frenzie of imaginary media stories. I’ve been an avid lifelong newspaper reader, but I have no use whatsoever for the news media any longer. When not whoring themselves to any bidder, they make complete fools of themselves by not obtaining one shred of fact to support their articles.
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I agree with the statement “no news is not good news.: Human nature dictates that if Grantham isn’t at least contemplating it, then he or UGA would have jumped right out and said so. Not a good sign IMO
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Would you rather him announce every year whether he is staying or leaving? The very thing that makes him attractive to recruits is that he’s a pro level coach that can help them take the next step.
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Loved how CTG handled the press today.
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