Frankly after what we have seen from the photos to claim the bama players didn't know what was going on is an insult to their intelligence.

I've been emailed tips and photos in the past that I have not posted because a) I didn't know who was sending them, b) I didn't have the time to do any type of verification or fact-digging on my own. (Unlike the sites mentioned, we don't do one story per day.) I have, however, used tips if I could verify them independently.

The only way I would use messageboards for "source" material is if I stated clearly "This is from a messageboard." Any anonymous person can post any made up thing on a messageboard. Many people trust them. I do not. To each his own.

Again, thanks for reading,
John

ESPN has discussed the story, but they haven't jumped in with both feet. They usually don't — see Ben Roethlisberger and Brett Favre scandals — unless they have a way to make the story their own.

The two sites you mentioned are simply posting photos and saying, "What's up with that?" Naturally, Bama fans say, "nothing." Auburn fans say, "It proves they're cheating." (Hilariously, both sides acted in the complete opposite way when it came to Cam Newton or HBO allegations… showing that there's very little objectivity coming from the fans. At least the fans who take to messageboards, emails and talk radio.)

As we've done in both cases, we've shown the evidence, said it's circumstantial evidence, and called for some form of smoking gun. As of yet, there is none.

That doesn't mean there won't be one. In either case.

Thanks for reading,
John

Would you vet your sources in a story like this?

He hasn't interviewed anyone in the situation, done any investigating himself, or went to Tuscaloosa to find evidence. In fact, it just looks like he just waits until his inbox gets full and then posts. There's been no indication he's even left his computer during this whole thing.

Meanwhile, Chase Goodbread has been doing great work as a legitimate journalist would. He interviewed people close to the situation, asked questions and actually has done some legwork…besides sitting by a computer.

And would you also use messageboards and blogs as sources like Travis has?

Do you think the reason no legit/major news outlet has picked this up is because there has been no proof that the players received compensation or that they knew items would be used for promotional reasons?

It seems the only ones making accusations are the gossip sites of Travis, and Brooks seems to just link to Travis.

Do you think the legit news outlets have asked questions already and just feel there isn't anything there, just pictures of players sigining autographs?

Also, you've been making a distinction the past few days between what you do and what Travis and Brooks does. Do you think people like Travis and Brooks are hurting your industry and giving everyone in your industry a bad name?