It’s neither a retraction nor a full-fledged defense, but Adam Schefter has broken his silence regarding his “Bigger than Robert Kraft” report.
The star ESPN NFL reporter, who verbally reported on “SportsCenter” that a more prominent name than the Patriots owner was involved in the Florida investigation into prostitution and sex trafficking, admitted he “maybe” should have phrased the enticing, impenetrable gossip differently, even if he is not willing yet to admit that this shadowy name does not exist.
“Again, I don’t have the name,” Schefter said on the “Pardon My Take” podcast, which was released Tuesday. “I don’t have the name. Because I was not given the name. And, again, maybe I should have framed it a little differently ’cause the story took on a life of its own. And I should have said, ‘There are people down there telling me …’ Now, there are people who tell you things. They sometimes come to be and sometimes don’t.”
It has not come to be. Other names have emerged — Schefter was quick to cite a former Citigroup president who was enmeshed in the scandal — but the report, at least so far, only has helped distract from attention heaped on Kraft. The Worldwide Leader itself did not appear to trust Schefter’s report, as the tidbit was not included in ESPN’s online news story or mentioned again on “SportsCenter.”
“Wasn’t John Havens, who was second in command at Citigroup, a big name?” Schefter said. “Like I had people from CNBC — I could show you the texts — texting me, literally I could read to you right now: ‘John Havens was caught in the sting. He ran Sales and Trading for Morgan Stanley, was the No. 2 at Citigroup. How can people destroy their lives?’”
It’s the first follow-up Schefter has offered since his Feb. 22 report, in which he said, “I’m told that Robert Kraft is not the biggest name involved down there in South Florida, and we will see what police turn up in the report.” Schefter had “politely declined” comment through a spokesman to The Post’s Andrew Marchand last week.
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