Two players even said privately that they thought the team would have won at least 10 more games with a better coach.
But Administration officials say privately that the thinking may be changing.
As a result, industry officials said privately, they were left with few choices.
"You have to assume at this point she is dead, as even the police will say privately."
The Mayor said privately that he would back the home, then came out against it.
Any compromise on health care, they say privately, is better than no bill at all.
The real issue, however, media executives said privately, was management control.
City officials said privately they expected a settlement in a few weeks.
The best chance for that, he said privately, was in Germany.
But perhaps her mother would have something to say privately, after this session.