Could CNET not have relocated these articles to a distinct directory and then used robots.txt to prevent search engines from indexing them? This move seems like

Could CNET not have relocated these articles to a distinct directory and then used robots.txt to prevent search engines from indexing them? This move seems like an excuse to offload subpar content by placing the blame on external factors. It's sort of like saying, "we withdrew a significant amount of cash from the bank and torched it to make space for fresh funds."