[Goose]

Also, going for a FG down three scores with 10 min left...if Shaw doesn't give an answer, then the obvious unspoken answer is the really disappointing and uncharacteristic answer about motivation...

Although nobody seems willing to verbalize it, I think the answer is in the back of everybody's mind. Shaw figured we weren't going to win this game at this point, but that he needs Toner to be good the rest of the year. Show some confidence in him and let him get back on track. Didn't work out that way, but I am pretty sure that was the thinking.

You may be right, but someone should have asked him the question and nobody did

I can see that argument, but if I am correct, Shaw couldn't do anything but dodge the question. It also may have pissed him off, so why risk it?

Oh no . . . he might be "pissed" at me if I ask him a basic question that any decent reporter should ask?!?  

Well, if you know he is going to dodge the question (because the true answer involves saying something everybody knows but doesn't admit to), I don't think it is a question any decent reporter should ask. Asking it is pointless, because you know it can't be answered truthfully so it won't be answered at all. I think there are plenty of more "interesting" questions, some of which you have  raised, that CAN be answered, so I suggest any decent reporter should ask those questions.

[Goose]

Also, going for a FG down three scores with 10 min left...if Shaw doesn't give an answer, then the obvious unspoken answer is the really disappointing and uncharacteristic answer about motivation...

Although nobody seems willing to verbalize it, I think the answer is in the back of everybody's mind. Shaw figured we weren't going to win this game at this point, but that he needs Toner to be good the rest of the year. Show some confidence in him and let him get back on track. Didn't work out that way, but I am pretty sure that was the thinking.

You may be right, but someone should have asked him the question and nobody did

I can see that argument, but if I am correct, Shaw couldn't do anything but dodge the question. It also may have pissed him off, so why risk it?

Oh no . . . he might be "pissed" at me if I ask him a basic question that any decent reporter should ask?!?  

Well, if you know he is going to dodge the question (because the true answer involves saying something everybody knows but doesn't admit to), I don't think it is a question any decent reporter should ask. Asking it is pointless, because you know it can't be answered truthfully so it won't be answered at all. I think there are plenty of more "interesting" questions, some of which you have  raised, that CAN be answered, so I suggest any decent reporter should ask those questions.