Reporter's praise for Liam Coen after Jags loss sparks massive media firestorm

Liam Coen did a heck of a job in his first NFL season. The former Kentucky two-time offensive coordinator went 13-4 in his first year as a head coach, completely reversing their record from just a year ago when they went 4-13 under Doug Pederson. He got the Jags into the playoffs, but that run ended yesterday.

The Jags ran into "Playoff Josh Allen," who had 306 total yards and 3 TDs, including the final touchdown of the game that put the Bills up 27-24 with just 1:04 to go. The Jags had one more chance, but a throw from Trevor Lawrence bounced off a receiver's hands and was intercepted by Buffalo's Cole Bishop to seal the victory. Season over. While the game was a classic, the real story happened after the whistle.

Jacksonville Jaguars-Buffalo Bills postgame press conference splits fans and journalists

During the post-game press conference, Lynn Jones of the Jacksonville Free Press broke protocol to offer Coen some encouragement.

"I just want to tell you congratulations on your success, young man. You hold your head up," Jones said. "You guys have had a most magnificent season. You did a great job out there today. So you just hold your head up, O.K.? Ladies and gentlemen, Duval. You da one, alright? You keep it going, we've got another season."

It was innocent enough, and something that Sports Illustrated called "sweet." Coen, for his part, smiled and said, "Thank you." However, the interaction sparked a massive online debate about the role of the media and what should be done at a press conference.

The "human moment" side

Many fans and some media members loved the interaction, viewing it as a moment of kindness in a brutal industry.

Adam Schefter (ESPN):

Anthony DiGuilio ("Tone Digz" from The Pat McAfee Show):

The "professionalism" side

However, many credentialed journalists took umbrage with the moment. The argument is that the press room is a workplace for objective reporting, not for cheering or consoling. Critics argue that allowing this undermines the fight for women to be taken seriously in sports media.

Jenna Laine (ESPN) led the criticism in a now deleted tweet, stating:

"This reporter sounds incredibly sweet and thoughtful. I can tell she comes from a place of love. But if one of us — her female peers — did this after a postseason game in 2007, we would not have been allowed back. Women have fought really hard to be in these spaces."

Brooke Pryor (ESPN)

Mark Long (Associated Press) was even harsher:

And that is the battle in a nutshell. You have one side arguing that the press conference is a sacred space for objective journalism. One where women have fought for decades to be taken seriously. The other side argues that it was a moment of human decency from a reporter at a local, community-focused paper spreading a little love after a heartbreaking loss.

Where I land is somewhere in between. As someone in a press conference, your job is to ask a question and gain some kind of insight. So I get the pushback, I totally do. If you had Jon Hale lifting Mark Pope after a loss, it would be roasted. It blurs the line and makes it harder for the media to appear as objective observers who just report the news.

But the human in me says it really was harmless. Lynn Jones works for a local paper; her job is help bring the community and the team together. She took a few seconds and congratulated a coach on a job well done. A little warmth is always welcome in a too-cold world.

Was it a "rule break?" Yeah, it was, but it is one worth forgiving. Maybe it shouldn't even be a rule in the first place. In the end, Lynn Jones reminded us that sports media can report the facts and show a little soul. Maybe the real win isn't objectivity at all costs, it's remembering the humans behind the headlines and that we are all human.