Going back to 2015, Fred Segal has been the man behind a very popular social media feed called “Freezing Cold Takes” where he discusses things written and said by members of the sports media. A retired attorney, Segal — who told BSM in 2020 that he’s just a regular guy with a family — has been a guest on many national radio and television shows along with podcasts and has been chronicled in major publications like The Athletic and USA Today.
But there’s only so much you can do in terms of discussing a sports take in 280 characters on Twitter.
So, Segal has written a book “Freezing Cold Takes NFL”, where he dives deeper into some of the most controversial takes from sports writers and broadcasters in NFL history.
“I’m very excited about it,” said Segal. “I spent a long time on it and the response so far from people who have read it has been good. It’s something that people who love NFL history really like.”
The book is a great look at some of the most interesting stories in NFL history and the way that the stories were covered. It’s easy for a journalist to get credit when they are right about something they write or say, but it’s always fun to go back and take a look at takes or predictions gone wrong.
But piling on a journalist wasn’t the impetus for Segal writing the book. He just wanted to compile a unique look at NFL history.
“It’s another way to do what I do on the feed but just in the way that it’s story form,” said Segal who has over 598,000 followers on Twitter.
“I don’t think the purpose of the book is to “gotcha” somebody or to keep them honest. I think it’s just a great way to look at NFL history and it’s a great way to explore things that happened. It’s just another sports history book. People talk about my feed as accountability. It’s really not accountability professionally…it’s more accountability ego wise.”
In the book, Segal delves into 14 memorable storylines from NFL history. During our chat, we discussed a handful of them including a take that was so hot in 2000 but may just have turned out to be the most “Freezing Cold Take” in NFL history.
“THE PATRIOTS WILL REGRET HIRING BILL BELICHICK” (2000 New England Patriots)
When Bill Parcells was hired as head coach of the New York Jets in 1997, he brought Bill Belichick on board as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Belichick had also been on Parcells’ staff with the Giants from 1979 to 1990 and they won two Super Bowls together with Big Blue. After the 1990 championship, Parcells retired and Belichick became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
When Parcells stepped down as head coach of the Jets after the 1999 season, Belichick, by contract, was elevated to head coach. One day later, he resigned and he was eventually hired by the Patriots after a trade with the Jets.
But there were many that questioned why the Patriots would be so eager to hire someone who just quit after one day on the job with the Jets and an unsuccessful run as head coach of the Browns.
“If you think about it without knowing anything else, you can’t believe it,” said Segal.
“But, if you go back and you about the story and what actually happened, it’s not really implausible to understand why people thought that. He had just left the Jets after one day as their head coach and his previous tenure as head coach was with the Browns for five seasons and made the playoffs once and had an overall losing record. So, you’re thinking why are the Patriots going after this guy so much?”
And that brings to another famous trade and the largest transaction in NFL history.
“THE VIKINGS FLEECED THE COWBOYS TO GET HERSCHEL WALKER” (1989 to 1993 Dallas Cowboys)
In February of 1989, Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys and immediately fired legendary head coach Tom Landry when he bought the team in February of 1989. He hired his old college buddy Jimmy Johnson as head coach. Johnson had been the head coach at the University of Miami and combined with Jones, the new hierarchy of the Dallas Cowboys had zero NFL experience.
And then on October 12th , 1989, the Cowboys traded away their best player at the time, running back Herschel Walker, to the Minnesota Vikings. Along with a transaction involving the San Diego Chargers, the deal involved 18 players and draft picks making it the largest trade
in NFL history.
Many thought the Vikings had fleeced the Cowboys, especially after a Walker’s Vikings debut when he rushed 18 times for 148 yards.
But the Cowboys used those draft picks to build a Super Bowl championship team.
It was not a term used back then, but basically the Cowboys plan was to tank in order to eventually win.
“They traded Herschel Walker who was their best player at that time for a gazillion draft picks but at that time, draft picks weren’t really something that people valued as much as they do now,” said Segal.
“The Cowboys acquired four average players that if they cut within a year, they would turn into more draft picks. Really on the face of it, it looked like the Cowboys were getting these three or four players and a bunch of draft picks and everyone is like what are they getting? Nobody understood the concept of tanking back then. If that trade happened now, people would at least understand what they’re doing.
We live in a different world now when it comes to sports journalism and reporters sharing opinions. Back in the day, you had read about something the next day in the newspaper or get just a quick mention of it on the local news and eventually the reporting grew larger with outlets like ESPN SportsCenter.
But today, the takes come fast and furious on social media.
The immediacy of the internet also gives reporters a chance to backtrack and provide new takes.
“It makes it less memorable for sure,” said Segal. “I think now it’s totally different. You’re not going to remember them as much. It doesn’t have as much value. It doesn’t pack much of a punch. Now, it’s par for the course. You’re just going to laugh for a second and move on.”
With Segal’s new book, it makes you wonder what would have happened if Twitter was around for some of the most memorable moments in NFL history.
Peter Schwartz writes weekly sports radio features for Barrett Media. He has been involved in New York sports media for over three decades, and has worked for notable brands such as WFAN, CBS Sports Radio, WCBS 880, ESPN New York, and FOX News Radio. Peter has also served as play by play announcer for the New Yok Riptide, New York Dragons, New York Hitmen, Varsity Media and the Long Island Sports Network. You can find him on Twitter @SchwartzSports or email him at DragonsRadio@aol.com.
