Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
In case you haven't read the Boston Herald over the past couple of days, the comments section on Patriots beat writer John Tomase's blog has been shut down. Apparently New England fans are taking out some of their frustration over Spygate on Tomase, and in some ways, that's to be expected.
A few days ago, I had a tough time mustering much sympathy for someone who took, as he put it, a "devastating leap" in order to break a huge story. But as I've had more time to reflect, I don't think the Herald is helping Tomase by leaving him on the Patriots beat. First of all, why haven't we heard more from his actual editor on the story?
Tomase's taking most of the blame, but he desperately needed someone to keep him in check as he fought to write the story. I think we heard from the Herald's editor during the three-day retraction series, but the NFL editor should also bear some of the blame.
Noted author Seth Mnookin, who wrote a book on the scandals at The New York Times, offers a defense of Tomase on his blog. He makes some interesting points, although its should be noted that he and Tomase are friends and once collaborated on a Red Sox book together.
"Ironically, at the end of the day, the net result of Tomase's story is likely positive for the Patriots," writes Mnookin. "The larger storyline -- that the Patriots had been caught breaking NFL rules multiple times -- has become one about media malfeasance and how the team was unfairly accused of breaking NFL rules on one single occasion."
If I'm the Herald, I would instruct Tomase to take a month off to clear his head. The man has suddenly become a household name for all the wrong reasons. Asking him to continue covering the team in this current environment borders on cruelty. I'm sure Tomase thinks that he can restore his reputation by doing a solid job on the beat, but that's not going to happen. Patriots fans know that their Super Bowl titles will always be tainted from a national perspective, and they need someone to blame for that -- other than Bill Belichick.
The best thing the Herald could do right now is re-assign Tomase to another beat. It would benefit him, and more importantly, the newspaper's audience.
