The media who cover the CFL is a small group and they all know each other so the constant whining and complaining about Mack by Penton, Friesen, Lawless, etc would very likely have influenced their perception of Mack just like it influenced the perception of some Bomber fans.
I've seen so many comments from fans who talked to Mack either at the fan forum or at practices and I can't recall anyone (even the ones who didn't like the job he was doing) saying anything but good things about him personally.
Personally I think the Winnipeg print media have this sense of entitlement and if someone says no to them they behave like toddlers in the throws of a temper tantrum.