Many will follow the Felger method: Jump to a conclusion, and even after it's proven false (or at least shown to have no basis), they'll just keep trotting out the same "evidence". All day yesterday, even after Bedard basically told them the facts of the report weren't accurate, Felger's only opinion was, "Yeah, but, the Pats asked him to take a pay cut which is ridiculous." True facts are not as important as first impressions it seems.
That's exactly right, my Italian friend. I happened to catch the interview Felger had with Bedard on the radio and your description is right on the money.
Bedard tried in vein on several occasions to explain to Felger that the Pats were not cutting his salary only changing the structure, and this wasn't a new event. That it had been an agreed to fact of life for months. Felger didn't want to hear it. He simply chose to ignore the facts and continue to run with the original speculation that the Pats had punitively and capriciously decided to cut Waters pay.
Here's what pisses me off.....and its not Felger. He is who he is. His self described DB persona has gotten him far in this market (for some unknown reason), so why deviate now. The Herald un-story allowed him to go where he likes it the best...in full righteous indignation mode. Who cares if the FACTS don't match the story. It wouldn't be as interesting if he went with the truth. The truth wouldn't have been as good radio.
What pisses me off is how the a half truth was spun out to the rest of the media and the speculation is again being reported as FACT. And worse yet, as the truth is finally being leaked out, there will be absolutely NO consequences to the reporter who felt it was more important to be first with the story than get it right, and all the rest of the cattle who continued the disinformation even when they had to know they didn't have the full story.
Without any consequences there isn't any reason for them to go out today and not do it again. There are no apologies, no mea culpaes. Not even 'an excuse me'
Now correct me if I'm wrong. The facts are that the Pats worked out a deal with Waters that would allow him to skip all of the off season conditioning, the OTA, and TC, and still come back before the season and make an mutually agreed upon amount of money plus incentives. (whatever those numbers are)
That at some point Waters was finding it more difficult to pull himself away from his family. He may or may not have asked for money. The Pats may or may not have offered him more. But the Bottom line was the Pats had every reason to expect him back around the beginning of September and at the last minute Waters got cold feet.
That's where we stand right now, except the Pats are getting pissed and Waters STILL hasn't let anyone know exactly what HE wants and where he stands. H have I got at least that part right?
Everything else like pressure being put on Waters by the Pats or pressure put on the Pats by Waters is pure speculation now.....and hopefully will be reported as such.....for a change
