The possibility of Kate Couric leaving the CBS Evening News after the November election or January inauguration wasn’t yet supposed to be considered a real option, but that’s what information leaked from a “wide-ranging discussion” about her future surmised. A Feb. 28 meeting between Couric, CAA agent Alan Berger, CBS News president Sean McManus, and CBS chairman Les Moonves was only supposed to put a list of options on the table; an early exit from her five-year contract was one of them, but certainly not the only possible outcome. But now the media gossips got wind of the story and, supposedly, may have already forced her into lame duck status, assuring her early exit.

As if it was that simple. Let’s make sure CBS takes plenty of responsibility for the direction of the chattering class’ conversation: They confirmed rumors that CBS was discussing the possibility of replacing Couric. And even if there were other options on the table, that’s a typical “throw ‘em under the bus” move from the tiffany network. If anything, it’s CBS’ own fault for framing the conversation that way. And don’t think for a minute it was accidental.