Tomase to cover Red Sox (probably)

No, this doesn't mean that John Tomase is leaving the Herald. But according to Herald sports editor Hank Hryniewicz, Tomase probably is leaving the Patriots beat.

"That posting is for Rob Bradford's spot," Hryniewicz tells the Phoenix. "I reserve the right to change my mind, of course, but the best guy I see out there to replace Rob on the Red Sox beat is John Tomase.

"John Tomase's still a valued member of the staff here," he adds. "We're just trying to use our people in the best possible place, where they can be more effective. And looking at what's out there, it's most reasonable to replace Bradford with someone of John Tomase's caliber."

If covering the Sox is your dream job, this might seem unfair: Tomase breaks a huge story that turns out to be factually false, then gets rewarded with what might be an even better job. Still, it strikes as a smart move on the Herald's part. His big gaffe notwithstanding, Tomase is a talent--but he wasn't going to be able to cover the Patriots effectively anymore. This way, Tomase gets something of a fresh start. And he's rewarded for his willingness to serve as the Herald's Spygate scapegoat, rather than blaming his editors or the Herald's editorial processes for the story in question.

Best of luck to Tomase in his new gig. Between his unfortunate claim to fame and the general rabidity of Red Sox fans, he'll need it.