that you were considering it if you were still working out kinks in a possible deal.  The only thing doing so could do would be negative.

The official positions absolutely have to be aligned with staying together.  Any deviation risks getting diminished on a possibly positive deal with the PAC, or risking legal interference type claims.

The reason that the news reporter type leaks are interesting is because they often belie the admins true feelings about the situation, and without the risk of creating a tortious interference type issue from the current negotiation.

Reporters have nothing to lose by repeating whatever they hear.  Admins have nothing to gain by leaking negative info.