There's a rumor going around MSNBC that Howard Kurtz's unfriendly article about the network, "MSNBC, Leaning Left And Getting Flak From Both Sides," was a David Gregory-orchestrated hit job against his colleagues.

Kurtz's piece, which followed up earlier items about the (invisible?) controversy brewing now that NBC News and MSNBC are both housed at 30 Rock and sharing resources, slammed the network for the convergence of hard news reporting and opinion.

We're hearing that when the article hit yesterday, Keith Olbermann and his camp began raging over Kurtz's printed criticism about Olbermann manning the anchor chair during primary coverage, a time when, one might suggest, a newsman without obvious bias should be running the show.

Of course, this isn't the first time Olbermann has directed his anger Gregory's way.

But what really sent Olbermann over the edge was this line: "Some top NBC journalists say privately they are troubled by the overlapping identities."

All eyes have been on Gregory as one of those "top NBC journalists" who spoke with Kurtz. And to those who think so, one of the next lines, a pro-Gregory plug, wasn't a surprise: "Andrea Mitchell and David Gregory, both well-regarded NBC correspondents, now anchor hour-long programs on the cable outlet. Gregory replaced Tucker Carlson, leaving former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough as the channel's only conservative host."

And if Olbermann needed more evidence that Gregory helped steer Kurtz's item, it came here:

"But news and opinion often seem to merge on primary nights. MSNBC's coverage is anchored by Matthews, a onetime Democratic operative, and Olbermann, the Countdown host who recently finished one anti-Bush commentary by instructing the president to 'shut the hell up.'"

One source tells us that top MSNBC management is convinced Gregory "must have been involved" with Kurtz's reporting. And that it's time for them to begin reigning Gregory in.