As i said in another thread, my guess is it all happenned like this and after the events of yesterday and the Herald's apology I feel stronger than ever about it:
For years the walkthrough tape rumor has been out there according to Felger. The rumors came from Walsh lying to people to make his tiny role with the Pats more important. I believe he also did so on his resume. It really isn't that uncommon for people to exagerate to impress others. He tells some friends/acquaintances some tall tales and the rumor starts.
He starts getting calls from reporters - now he again gets to feel important. He doesn't deny the story but also won't go on the record confirming it becasue he fears lying about the Pats and getting sued. This is again consistent with how he continued to act until yesterday.
So Tomase and the Herald are giddy - this is a career story. A Pulitzer winning story and they are thisclose. One other source or one moment of weakness for Walsh were he says it on the record and everyone involved on the Herald is famous.
Then the Times puts Walsh's name in the paper. Then ESPN puts more info about him. The Senator from Comcast is on the case and he is going to want to talk to Walsh. Tomase and his editors are frantic. Others are on to their career story. If they don't act fast, their 5 months of work and their mansions on the beach, their appearance on Larry King, etc. all goes up in smoke. All the Coaches Cameramen won't have Russell Crow playing Tomase. So they run what they have because well, it has to be true. Where there is smoke, there is fire, right and they did not pursue it for 5 months to have their dreams stolen. They need to run it Saturday because they fear one of the big guns (NYT, ESPN) has the story nailed and is holding to Jackie MacMullen it on Super Sunday.
The walkthrough story is nothing more than a bunch of nobodies (Walsh, tomase, Herald editors) wanting to be bigger men than they are. It is lying to a girl at a bar to the 10000 power.
Who is Tomase's source? Indirectly it is Walsh. Tomase's source is a guy who heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy who knows Matt Walsh and says Walsh not only did it, he has the tape.