Three standing ovations followed Leo Downie Jr.'s announcement to his Washington Post newsroom that he'd be stepping down as the newspaper's executive editor, a post he's held for the past 17 years. Downie was notable for being unnoticeable — no regular TV or party circuit appearances for this guy — while leading the newspaper to 25 Pulitzer Prizes. His exit, at least in recent weeks and months, is nothing except expected; new publisher Katharine Weymouth has made no secret of her wanting to name her own choice to the position, and though she told the Post she was "in no hurry to rush Len out of here," damn near showed Downie the door herself. That his announcement was finally made means one thing: He and the Post agreed on the terms of his buyout deal, which should provide plenty of funding for what he says he wants to do — spend time with his wife.