The Spygate scandal grows curiouser and curioser.
Tom Rock and I reported in the newspaper today that a Jets employee attempted to videotape a game in Foxboro last year but was removed by Patriots security after he was observed filming the action from an endzone location at Gillette Stadium.
As we reported, the Jets admit one of their employees attempted to tape the game, but was escorted away from his position by security. The Jets contend they had permission from the Patriots to videotape from that location; league sources contend that was not the case.
Exactly which game the taping incident occurred at is also in dispute. The Jets said it was in their playoff game against the Patriots in January. Other league sources claim it occurred in the team's regular season game in November.
Either way, this juicy subplot only enhances the drama heading into Sunday's game.
And, perhaps more importantly, it may change how people view both Bill Belichick, who was fined $500,000 and forced to surrender a first-round pick next year, and Eric Mangini and GM Mike Tannenbaum, who blew the whistle on the Pats in the regular season opener but now look as if they might have engaged in their own videotape shenanigans, too.
Your thoughts?
Comments (15)
I'll I can say is Bob, you've got to get on the WFAN in the mornings with Boomer and Carton. Man, it's a Bob Glauber lovefest over there again. 9:45 am, direct quote from Carton: "This Bob Glauber is kicking every New York sports' reporters' tush around here again." A reference to "skit.
tish" was thrown in for good measure too.
Then he said, "I don't know him but you do, right Boom?"
And of course Boomer said he did. It's like you 2 are best buddies. Somehow, someway you need to parlay your recent string of exclusive stories into an appearance on the NFL Today.
Awesome story! But from your report it really does seem like the two recording were of a different nature. Clearly New England was trying to steal signals. This may sound naive, but perhaps the Jets had different intentions, seeking to get added video from a different angle. The other major difference is the league got hold of the tape from the Patriots, yet the Jets video was never confiscated or reviewed in that way.
Bob, great job. I am afraid you will forget the little people from the blogs in your rise to fame.
Anyway, here is why it's so confusing. What did the NFL learn from the Patriot video tapes? Why was all the evidence destroyed quietly and privately? Why haven't they said what they found out? Is it because many teams have done it/ doing it presently?
One thing we did learn. I always wondered what a VP of Security Operations was in charge of. Now I know.
Of course the Jets video wasn't confiscated, the Patriots aren't lowlifes like the Jets.
Most NFL teams had previously used videotape in the manner that the Patriots did, Mangini broke one of the NFL coaching manlaws by ratting out the Patriots, thats why he will never get a job in the NFL once the Jets fire him.....
As a Jets fan wow...dissapointing. The Jets certainly were filming in the same fashion as the Patriots. I think the whole thing has blown out of proportion especially on the Patriots side.
Hopefully, if the weather's bad this Sunday we can cover the spread.
harrisp,
No, you can't.
Karl:
Do I know you? :) :)
Will never forget.
It was not in the NFL's interest to find out what was in the tapes, although no one really knows how closely they looked at them. The league felt the punishment was severe for the Patriots, and they wanted the case closed.
I think your story is an attempt to cash in on Spygate with MORE hype.
If the Pats just stopped them from filming in the end zone, didn't confiscate the film, and did nothing to pursue it with the League, it was not equivalent to the Pats spying.
This whole spying stuff bores the heck out of me and I bet many others. Who CARES about it at this point other than reporters who are desperate to find subject matter by their deadlines? We just want to see the games. But be my guest with your blah blah blah blahs - just don't expect most of us to oooh and aaahh about this great story you uncovered.
The league penalized the Patriots. The Jets weren't penalized.
If that's because the Pat's didn't turn the Jets in when they found them violating an NFL rule, that would only go to show the Pats were stupid. (And we all know that isn't true). So I doubt there's much to the story except maybe that I'd be more inclined to believe the Jets version of what happened.
Either way, why has Harrison's suspension for taking steroids been swept under the carpet? Harrison's suspension proves that the Pat's cheating isn't confined to video camera's.
BeliCheat will always have an asterisk next to his name in my book.
I am thinking the Patriots are shooting for the NFL record of points. Good news: Packers vs Rams on Fox 5 opposite Jets game.
Who cares that they stole signals. You could give the Jets a copy of the Pats playbook and let them know exactly what play they were about to defend. The outcome would not change because the Pats execute better.
As far as Harrison goes, HE DIDN'T TAKE STEROIDS. He took Human Growth Hormone. Used for two different reasons. Yes both are banned substances, but you don't get muscular from HGH.
Sorry, Bob, I feel like this is a non-story.
The Jets were filming from the end zone upper deck for practice and film review purposes. The Pats were standing on the sidelines filming Jets coaches for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage. As Mangini noted, every team in the league films their games from the upper deck, and every team grants permission to do so (except in this case, for whatever reason).
Apples and oranges, plain and simple.
PS: Cosign Black N Gold.
If this was equivalent, why didn't the Pats bring it up to the league last January? Or in September, when they were under the magnifying glass?
Just an example of Belichick playing mind games. Smart move on his part, but this is a non-story.
Just more about nothing. If Mangini had permission, and he must've since the league didn;t intervene, then it's a non-story. The fact is Bellichick BROKE THE RULES by taping DURING A GAME from the SIDELINES..PERIOD. Teams do stuff all the time, and go right to the edge of legality sometimes, to gain an advantage. So for blatently breaking the NFL's rules after having been warned by the league, Bellichick deserved to be reprimanded. Does it have anything to do with beating the Jets or any other team during his tenure? I doubt it. The Patriots have out game planned and out executed their opponents, with the emphasis on EXECUTED. When division rivals meet, each team pretty much knows what's coming 80% of the time. It's about execution..the Pats are very good at it and that's why they are who they are.