Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald launched his career as a head coach with a win over Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos. The game from September 2024 moved back to the front burner on Tuesday, thanks to footage from Macdonald’s recent interview with Graham Bensinger.
The excerpt, which wasn’t released when the first clips and quotes began to be circulated, relates to a squabble that emerged regarding the use by the Seahawks of fan-generated video from Broncos training-camp practices. It got ugly, as Macdonald told the story to Bensinger.
It could get ugly between the Seahawks and Bensinger’s camp. As we understand it, the conversation was not intended by Macdonald for public consumption. The Seahawks, we’re told, didn’t even know that portion of the “more off than on” the record discussion had been recorded until Tuesday morning.
The situation is another reminder that everything is potentially on the record, absent a clear agreement between the parties that it’s not. And while Bensinger’s people didn’t breach any journalistic rules by using it, the fact that it was posted could make future subjects more leery about agreeing to be interviewed.
On or off the record, others are befuddled by Macdonald’s decision to air gripes from two years ago. And there’s a question as to whether the various things Macdonald said to Bensinger (regarding Payton and others) are the product of arrogance or naiveté.
“What’s the point?” said one source connected to neither the Seahawks nor the Broncos. “It was reckless.”
The Broncos declined comment on the situation. Undoubtedly, Payton will be asked about it when he conducts his usual Wednesday press conference.
Either way, the kerfuffle adds a little extra sizzle to a spicy Week 6 Thursday night game between the two teams.
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