This is a new low from ESPN, IMO

http://twitpic.com/4wq8l4

The post has since been added to (http://twitpic.com/4wqa6v), with the depth chart bring a smaller note in the overall post. But the original? That's just not OK where I come from.

EDIT: I'm not saying the new post is any better.

EDIT: The original (photo 1) states: Possible starter found dead in Jacksonville, opening door for five-star signee Cyrus Kouandrjio.

EDIT: The second posting (photo 2), which has been removed from ESPN.com, states: "Looks as if Nick Saban was prescient when he gave rising senior OL Alfred McCullough and rising junior RG Barrett Jones snaps at LT this spring. In what qualifies as devastating news on the heels of the tornadoes that flattened Tuscaloosa, juco OL Aaron Douglas, who was recruited specifically to replace James Carpenter at LT, was found dead in Jacksonville on Thursday.

"Although it's far from the most important result of this development, Douglas' death leaves the door wide open for five-star OT Cyrus Kouandijo to seize the job when he arrives this summer. If Kouandijo is slow to pick up the offense, Jones could open the season as the start, as Saban said that MCcullough is more of a natural guard (he's only 6-foot-2,"

 

Re: This is a low from ESPN, IMO

Well, since I can't read the new link because I'm not an insider, I can only comment on the first one.

A friend sent it to me just a few minutes ago. It apparently comes from something called Rumor Central. I don't know shit about RC, as it was headed up by a different group than I worked for. But, working under only assumptions (which I'm sure you'll all point out how wrong I am about it), it seems to be from THAT POST ALONE a largely recruiting segment. So ... while it might not be worded the best, I think it hits their target audience, yes?

 

For those of us who can't open either, what is it?

 

Sorry, I assumed it was a public Twitpic since it was from someone I don't follow. I posted the original text in my original posting and I will work on the second.

 

Again, let's clarfiy: This is not something on the main site. It's not a front-page headline, and it's not the focus on their main story, which is here: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6534274

It's in Rumor Central, which again I can't speak to, but could very well be a blog-type thing where reporters/posters post things without them being vetted.

Saying it's a new low for ESPN, like it appeared as a news story without any kind of explanation that it's NOT, is misleading at best.

 

Well I, and many professionals on Twitter, strongly disagree.

Also, I called it "post" from the get-go, not a story, so I don't think I am trying to mislead people into believing it was an actual story on the front page.

 

Regardless, thought the wording was poor and it could have been handled better.

Depth chart changes and death are two entirely different things...

 

If you're talking about what a player's death does to the depth chart, you should be slapped.

 

It's a death chart.

 

It's been removed, apparently.

 

Do you think one of the three-star guys gets elevated to four stars as a result? I don't have an Insider subscription, so I can't tell yet.

 

Predictable and lame.