Mortensen Finally Admits Rush to Publish Deflategate Story

[DaBronxPats14]

"But technically I'm still right guys, 11 out of 12!"

And I'm hammering every caller that says otherwise.
- Mike Francesa* WFAN

 

[The Brandon Five]

He should, but he never will. Mortensen didn't make up the "2 PSI under" story, he was just a pawn used to get the story out to a wide audience. As an NFL Insider at ESPN, he was well suited for that role.

When he found out that he had been used to spread a lie as part of smear campaign, he could have blown the whistle on his sources. Instead, we've learned that Mortensen is fine being a pawn as long as he still has his access and his "insider" status. The fallout of his actions isn't his concern. He mentions how, in the old days, he would taken a few more days to work on the story, but there was a rush to get it out there. He never explains why there was a rush in this case, the same way he never asked why the NFL wanted to plant a false story.

The last paragraph in that story shows me Mortensen will never get it:



No it wasn't, you dummy! There were only 11 footballs to measure. Blount had thrown one into the crowd. "11 out 12" implies 12 footballs were measured, 11 of them were below the minimum PSI and the 12th was fine. That wasn't the case, just like they weren't 2 PSI under the limit, either. The line Mortensen was fed, the thing he is now most known for, was false. That's a story he should write about, but it might cause his NFL sources to dry up, so it's easier to pretend it was true.

Not only that, but the Patriots asked to league to publicly correct the record and the league refused (with a smirk).

 

[Jackson 2]

We know who the sources were.

Report: Mike Kensil was Mortensen’s “main source”

Yup.

 

[XLIX]

Much to the surprise of no one, the gutless wonder stated that the whole controversy would have happened anyway without his report.

We will never know if that's true, but his report did indeed take a local curiosity and blow it up to national proportions.

 

[Koma]

Not only that, but the Patriots asked to league to publicly correct the record and the league refused (with a smirk).

Right. Also, I had forgotten an important nugget that part of Mortensen's original story and subsequent reporting for the next 5 months (heck, you'll still see people say this today): All of the Colts' footballs were fine.

This was also 100% untrue, but Mortensen was just repeating what he was told. He and a lot of his fellow journalists don't see any significance in the NFL lying about this.

 

[Joker]

Do I even have to post a reply to this nitwit's "apology"?

 

[fnordcircle]

Gotta wonder if facing his own mortality has made him want to clear his conscience a little.

TBH I'm not gonna be particularly mad at the guy and never really was. He should have fixed the report but in the end if the league tells him 11 of 12 were uninflated I don't know how he'd confirm it, it's not like the NFL is as leak-filled as the White House.

And if they hadn't gotten him to run with it they would have found someone else. Too much anger is directed by Pats fans towards people who were pawns or didn't handle Deflategate properly. It should pretty much all go towards the ****wads in NY and a few owners, imo.

 

[rochrist]

Doubt it since he hasn't got too long to live.

What's to disagree with? He IS dying. His cancer has recurred and spread to his lungs. I doubt he has a year to live.

 

[Kontradiction]

It has to be asked: is this the Mort Retort?

 

[QuantumMechanic]

What's to disagree with? He IS dying. His cancer has recurred and spread to his lungs. I doubt he has a year to live.

I'm not going to go as far as wish him dead, but (as I've said before), I wouldn't take the time to piss on him if he were on fire.

 

[IcyPatriot]

I do not wish any ill will his way - but it would be nice if he came clean.

ESPN could use some honesty right about now - the way they're going it might help.

 

[captain stone]

I wish him well with his fight against cancer. But when it comes to how he 'reported' this story, he is still a douche.

Sorry not sorry, but I don't wish him well - at all - with his fight against cancer.

There are far too many people who are fighting cancer who deserve our sympathies ahead of this lying, stealing, cheating piece of garbage.

Feck him, and Feck the company who pays him.

 

[jan08]

Sorry not sorry, but I don't wish him well - at all - with his fight against cancer.

There are far too many people who are fighting cancer who deserve our sympathies ahead of this lying, stealing, cheating piece of garbage.

Feck him, and Feck the company who pays him.

Don’t think you’re on your own in this thread, but personally I find the above extremely distasteful and certainly don’t think it’s at all representative of what the majority on this message board would think. I’d hope so anyway.

 

[Kontradiction]

Don’t think you’re on your own in this thread, but personally I find the above extremely distasteful and certainly don’t think it’s at all representative of what the majority on this message board would think. I’d hope so anyway.

Football is serious business.

 

[DarrylS]

A big FU to Mort and his ******** reporting of this incident..

Equally complicit are all of the media outlets who chose to follow along instead of doing their own reporting, seems to be a trend among many of the modern day mediots.. do not think just sensationalize.

Mort was the catalyst for much of the subsequent hysteria, but those who jumped on this bandwagon are equally responsible..

 

[RobertWeathers]

Don’t think you’re on your own in this thread, but personally I find the above extremely distasteful and certainly don’t think it’s at all representative of what the majority on this message board would think. I’d hope so anyway.

I don't want Mort to die but I sure as hell wish Tom would sue his ass for millions and win. That might curb some this destructive behavior by the media and be more responsible in their reporting .

 

[PatsDeb]

Too little too late Mort. I hope you've had the decency to call Tom Brady privately and apologize to him for your role in the smear campaign against him (and worse) that ensued, but I doubt it.

 

[RedSleevesPinkStripes]

Too little too late Mort. I hope you've had the decency to call Tom Brady privately and apologize to him for your role in the smear campaign against him (and worse) that ensued, but I doubt it.

Ironically, the people that harp on integrity the most are usually the one's who have the least.

It probably hasn't even crossed his mind. Granted he has a lot on his plate, but the mere fact that he's trying to deflect responsibility shows what type of person he is. I don't wish him death, but his culpability in all of this is undeniable.

If you put out false information because you were used as a puppet, well shame on you.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Not a lawyer but seems that Mort never implicated Brady directly and it would be challenging to convince a judge or jury to say Mort's report directly influenced the NFL's investigation into the NEP and TB12 as they could cite Kravitz as reporting led to it.

I don't believe a word I said but legally that seemingly would be their argument.

Brady is a public figure, so he'd have to prove that whoever he sued either knowingly published false info, or acted with "reckless disregard" for the truth (the two prongs of the so-called "actual malice" standard).

 

[IllegalContact]

I hope he's in a lot of pain