MEDIA FIGHT! NFL Insiders Jordan Schultz and Ian Rapoport Have a Heated Argument at an Indy Starbucks

Stacy Revere. Getty Images.

If there's one thing every media member ends up saying at some point in their career, it's that they hate it when they become the story. They didn't get that Journo degree just to have the focus be on them. They went to school to learn how to What, How, When, Where and Why so they could speak truth to power and hold a mirror up to the times we live in and write the first draft of history and all that rubbish. 

But sometimes, they can't help but become the story. The personalities are just too strong. The stakes are too high. When you find yourself in the middle of a major news event, fighting for scoops against the competition, trying to survive in an environment of limited resources, it can be a zero sum game. Inevitably, the claws come out. And all those not engaged in the fight are going to stand back, watch the fur fly, and report on you. It's unavoidable. 

PFT Commenter reported this first:

And now PFT itself reports the details:

Source - Per multiple sources who witnessed the interaction, Jordan Schultz of Fox and Ian Rapport of NFL Media engaged in a verbal altercation on Wednesday afternoon at the Starbucks at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis. Schultz, we’re told, accosted Rapoport. …

The fact that it happened at a Starbucks provides an intriguing coincidence; Schultz is the son of former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

We’re told that Rapoport was talking to an agent. Schultz approached Rapoport and said, “We need to talk.” (Or specific words to that effect.)

           

Rapoport replied, we’re told, “We don’t need to talk.” (Or specific words to that effect.)

Schultz then made accusations about Rapoport, we’re told. Rapoport, we’re told, regards the accusations as unfounded. The two men were essentially face to face.

“If you have anything to say it to me, say it to my fucking face,” Schultz said, or specific words to that effect. “If this continues we’re going to have a fucking problem.” (… Schultz does not recall using profanity.)

Rapoport then asked Schultz to step back. 

“If this happens again, we’re gonna have fucking problem,” Schultz said, or specific words to that effect. “Now I’ll step back.” …

Rapoport told a witness that NFL Security was informed of the exchange because it was regarded as a threat of physical violence.

It's been said that the NFL Combine is a journo-eat-journo world, and there's your proof. In that atmosphere, where young mens' futures are on the line, older mens' careers can be made, and very old, extremely rich men are deciding how their fortunes are going to be spent, every day is a pressure cooker. Fueled by ambition, money, power, testosterone, and Cinnamon Dolce Latte. 

I'm not here to judge who's right and who's wrong. Speaking personally, I can't claim to be neutral because I have a long and very positive history with Rapoport. He's my Dawg in this fight. Whereas I don't know this Schultz beyond his reporting. Though it does kind of sound like he was feeling like he was in his home arena since his dad used to run the whole Grande Espresso Macchiato empire. Anyway, for certain he started it. And ended it by walking away. 

What's not clear is how NFL Security is going to handle a situation where two of their most insidery insiders almost coming to blows in a coffee shop in front of much of the pro football world. What we can infer is that nothing the lingering resentment is still there. That bad blood between them is still pumping. Nothing was resolved. These two could still finish what Schultz started before this weekend is through. Plus we know what we've long understood. When two media types fight, everybody wins.