During Thursday’s opening segment of ProFootballTalk Live, I touched on the debate that emerged regarding the question of whether the allegation that Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather fired a shot that hit two men constitutes a “story.” In today’s media, it surely is. Journalism isn’t an art, it’s a commodity. And people want to consume that commodity not when the writer declares the commodity to be ready but when any information is available.
In this case, the allegation is a story, and every development thereafter becomes a development, too.
The latest development? Our corporate brother at CSNNE.com Tom Curran has obtained a “background statement” indicating a desire to talk to Meriweather, who based on an eyewitness report from a relative was at the scene of the alleged crime. (The relative also claims Meriweather didn’t pull the trigger.)
“We are not prepared at this time to characterize or disclose Mr. Meriweather’s status in this case, though we do seek to interview him,” the statement reads. “This past Wednesday investigators received a call from an attorney identifying himself as representing Mr. Meriweather, who stated he was looking to facilitate an interview with his client. We are receptive to this overture (opportunity) and detectives are seeking to further this interview if it can be arranged.
Thus, Meriweather has “lawyered up,” and he did so even before the story broke. Where it goes from here remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for the next development.