The Courier-Mail is this morning saying what yesterday's Channel 9 media statement implied - that Rick Burnett was sacked from Extra. ("Spending more time with his family" is generally regarded as a coded statement.) The C-M says Burnett failed to get assurances from the network about his future after speculation raised first by the C-M's Dianne Butler on Saturday. Former Nine sport reporter Chris Bombolas is quoted as saying he fears there'll be more blood-letting at the station. Inevitably, speculation about the long-term future of the one-of-a-kind Extra will now resume.