I think the analogy of Schrage jumping on the grenade it apt. Here is the quote from the linked article where he explicitly takes all of the blame:
> Who knew about this work, and who signed off on it?
>> Responsibility for these decisions rests with leadership of the Communications team. That’s me. Mark and Sheryl relied on me to manage this without controversy.
Like a pressure release valve for Mark and Sheryl. I do think the pressure for Mark to step aside will grow stronger in the coming year. Even though the class structure prevents a hostile removal, the social pressure will be substantial.
The analogy is very apt but I don’t think him presenting it that way is disingenuous: both Mark & Sheryl have a lot to handle and couldn’t possibly be involved in those decisions, not until it’s on the front page of the NYTimes. I’m not sure that Schrage would be able to pick it up either (as he points out): it was very likely only raised to him as a problem, possibly only after the Times published.
Schrage’s decision would at most to admit to it publicly and pro-actively or not, and when.
> Who knew about this work, and who signed off on it?
>> Responsibility for these decisions rests with leadership of the Communications team. That’s me. Mark and Sheryl relied on me to manage this without controversy.