While the rest of the world barely batted an eye, the media bubble was buzzing with the fact that Rachel Maddow might, MIGHT be looking to leave MSNBC when her contract comes up.

First off, Maddow’s contract does not end until next year. So, if this does indeed happen it would still be months away.

Second, Maddow has been in contract renewal talks with MSNBC for awhile now and apparently those talks aren’t going as well as Maddow’s people had hoped.

So, it appears that those same people have floated the idea that she might be looking to leave the network.

This ploy is as old has television itself and it often works to a charm.

CNN’s media critic Brian Stelter joined in on the hype:

MSNBC rid themselves of Chris Matthews on a few hours notice and quickly plugged the hole with Joy Reid. I’m fairly certain that with months notice, they will figure out how to fill the hole if Maddow leaves the cable net.

But, what about Maddow’s future if she does decide to walk?

I don’t think Fox News is really going to be interested.

Sure, she could go to CNN, but isn’t that a step backward?

Before Maddow and her people start thinking about her putting MSNBC in the rearview mirror, they might want to talk to another cable news “star” that supposedly left for a “bigger and brighter future” outside of cable.

Can someone try and find the phone number for Megyn Kelly?