TripGate Breaks Wide Open: Cimini of ESPN-NY Alleges It Came From The Top

[shmessy]

The beginning of the next stage - - the inevitable has happened. The cover-up is now being called exactly that by a top Jets beat writer in the know - Rich Cimini (their version of Mike Reiss).

New York Jets coach Sal Alosi acted alone? Not buying it - ESPN New York

"........Coach Rex Ryan and special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff both tried to distance themselves from the controversy, claiming that Alosi acted unilaterally. So they expect us to believe that a strength and conditioning coach, a guy at the bottom of the coaching-staff food chain, was doing something illegal and they knew nothing about it.

Sorry, but that doesn't pass the smell test.

In the everything-is-choreographed world of the NFL, it's hard to believe a strength coach was a solo rogue. One of Alosi's Gang of Five, a rookie tight end named Jeff Cumberland, said good 'ol Sal had been ordering the inactive players to stand that way since the beginning of the season.

And his superiors didn't know about it?

"Where it came from, I have absolutely no idea," Westhoff said with a straight face, refusing to admit he ordered the "Code Red." (Sorry, just some Col. Jessup humor from "A Few Good Men.)........

......And yet the Jets plead ignorance. Right. There's a term for this; it's called institutional knowledge."

 

[ausbacker]

I double dare old Roger to strip their 2011 first round pick and fine them 250,000 big ones.

 

[JSn]

Honestly, I'm over it. The forming of the line doesn't bother me, that gunner wasn't supposed to be out of bounds.

The knee is bothersome, but I doubt that came from the top down. Just a stupid move he probably wished he could take back.

We're bigger than this, guys. We're just starting to sound like all the other haters. I even had a spurt earlier. Really not worth the energy. Let's just watch the Jets implode from their teams problems. Much more entertaining, imo.

 

[shmessy]

Honestly, I'm over it. The forming of the line doesn't bother me, that gunner wasn't supposed to be out of bounds.

The knee is bothersome, but I doubt that came from the top down. Just a stupid move he probably wished he could take back.

We're bigger than this, guys. We're just starting to sound like all the other haters. I even had a spurt earlier. Really not worth the energy. Let's just watch the Jets implode from their teams problems. Much more entertaining, imo.

Ya know, I was about to let it go also, until Westhoff hit the airwaves in Chicago yesterday afternoon.

In the meantime, the cover-up is the problem. The NFL did a cursory investigation Sunday night and was told by the Jets organization that it was all Alosi and that neither Ryan nor Westhoff had anything to do with it. At that point, the NFL agreed to let the Jets handle it in-house.

.....then a few folks came out of the woodwork and began to talk.....

Deceiving the league offices is the problem and no, Jsn, that won't be forgiven by them - - - THAT is what can cause Goodell and the lawyers to take action.

 

[JSn]

Ya know, I was about to let it go also, until Westhoff hit the airwaves in Chicago yesterday afternoon.

Yeah, but in a more critical viewing of his comments, I think he's going between talking about the wall and the actual tripping as two separate things. I dunno, it just doesn't bother me anymore. I don't care if anything more than MAD distraction comes from it and they continue to implode.

The NFL won't do anything more, I wouldn't expect.

 

[ALP]

Honestly, I'm over it. The forming of the line doesn't bother me, that gunner wasn't supposed to be out of bounds.

The knee is bothersome, but I doubt that came from the top down. Just a stupid move he probably wished he could take back.

We're bigger than this, guys. We're just starting to sound like all the other haters. I even had a spurt earlier. Really not worth the energy. Let's just watch the Jets implode from their teams problems. Much more entertaining, imo.

let me get this straight, its allright for us to get punished for doing something b/c we were using an incorrect location for it, but not for the jets for this? nope, i dont think so

all should b fair, and fair says an NFL punishment is required

 

[JSn]

let me get this straight, its allright for us to get punished for doing something b/c we were using an incorrect location for it, but not for the jets for this? nope, i dont think so

all should b fair, and fair says an NFL punishment is required

Ok, but it was the player who was breaking rules by running out of bounds. The dudes were being dinks for standing that close to the line, but they weren't breaking any rules, as far as I can tell. Sal broke a rule (I assume) by kneeing the guy and he's been SEVERELY punished. I think it's over.

 

[Joker]

you guys have been "letting it go" for three years now...because, mainly, you are all GOOD people and as good people think the rest of the people in this world are good, basically. Well, they are NOT. How many names do I have to drop, starting with the Ivan Boesky's and the Nixon cabinet....if there is ONE thing certain,it's that power corrupts...that's not hackneyed, trite or overused..it's TRUE.

Take a long look at Woody Johnson, look at the life history and behavior patterns of Roger Goodell...look at the coincidences I've brought up again and again, in an unceasing line going forward from 2006...look at all the media lies, the fabrications, the poisoned "leaks"...trace their roots...it's all green and it all starts in NY.

BY all means keep this alive ,Smessy...it is vital and necessary...and for the love of God, PLEASE...do not feel guilty for having these suspicions.

 

[mesoslo]

Honestly, I'm over it. The forming of the line doesn't bother me, that gunner wasn't supposed to be out of bounds.

Players run out of bounds all the time. Players that are involved in the game during a live play should have more priority than sideline players, coaches.

So the fact that you dont try to get ou off the way is wrong no matter how you look at it.

If he shouldnt be out of bounds, then that just means opposing player shouldnt be abe to push him out of bounds.

 

[shmessy]

Yeah, but in a more critical viewing of his comments, I think he's going between talking about the wall and the actual tripping as two separate things. I dunno, it just doesn't bother me anymore. I don't care if anything more than MAD distraction comes from it and they continue to implode.

The NFL won't do anything more, I wouldn't expect.

Rich Cimini, the beat writer for ESPN NY (formerly 14 years with the NY Daily News) isn't as "over it" as you are.

He obviously thinks it's a big deal. Jsn, do you think someone who LIVES in NY, covers these people and needs access to the team actually WANTS to write a piece like this????? Think for a second, Jsn - - doesn't it dawn on you that there must be a huge amount of substance to this for someone like Cimini (not an attention whore like Felger, but a respected and top reporter like Reiss) to come out with this complete going out on a limb piece?????

Rule #1 is to consider the source. If Felger or Tomase wrote something like this about the Pats it would hold no water. If Reiss did, then that would be a huge deal. This is now a huge deal in New York, believe me. The ballgame has changed with this article.

You and I are certainly entitled to our opinions. However, someone who is much closer to the story and with much more experience and contact with the principals feels very differently about it.

 

[sbpatfan]

To bad the Patriots couldn't have just suspended some random without pay and then rehire him after Spygate was swept under the rug.

Belichick - "Never saw those videos. Joey Johnson took 'em so we've decided to suspend him for the rest of the year. Problem solved."

 

[JSn]

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. However, someone who is much closer to the story and with much more experience and contact with the principals feels very differently about it.

I had plenty of contact with Principals. Or did you mean something else...

I'm not arguing that you or Rich are wrong for pressing the issue, it just doesn't feel important to me. It didn't even happen to the Pats. Just voicing (kinda) my feelings on it, is all.

 

[shmessy]

I had plenty of contact with Principals. Or did you mean something else...

I'm not arguing that you or Rich are wrong for pressing the issue, it just doesn't feel important to me. It didn't even happen to the Pats. Just voicing (kinda) my feelings on it, is all.

That's cool. However, if it's not important to you, why do you have 4 posts in this thread?

 

[JSn]

That's cool. If it's not important to you, why do you have 4 posts in this thread, however?

I think it has something to do with it being 2am and my sensibilities all being used up. I'll leave you to it now, though. Enjoy!

 

[Joker]

That Cimini piece looks like THE brick in the wall that will lead to a total Jabba collapse...man, is THAT a damning piece or what?...and it's all NY on NY violence

 

[shmessy]

That Cimini piece looks like THE brick in the wall that will lead to a total Jabba collapse...man, is THAT a damning piece or what?...and it's all NY on NY violence

And THAT is why it is significant - - the person who wrote the article. THAT is what gives it weight. Nothing written here, or on Barstoolsports.com or even Bostonsportsmedia.com could have the true impact that a Cimini condemnation of this sort has. Basically, Cimini is the first of the big-time New York sportswriters to break the seal. That is a seal that cannot be fixed - - the genie is now out of the bottle.

And THAT is why everyone will see a much different tone to the story tomorrow nationwide.

 

[RHbT76]

I had plenty of contact with Principals. Or did you mean something else...

I'm not arguing that you or Rich are wrong for pressing the issue, it just doesn't feel important to me. It didn't even happen to the Pats. Just voicing (kinda) my feelings on it, is all.

It's not about a trip or a knee or lining up players. It's about the f@#ing Jets! Making them listen to the hacks call them cheaters and sling mud at them. Making their coaches deal with tripgate instead of preparing for games. Making Goodell investigate them and punish them, simply to make the story go away. Making the fat jerk Ryan publicly take responsibility and apologize. Making those same jerkoff Jets fans who went on about spygate and tainted records and crap for 3 years now get the same treatment thrown back on them as well as having a ****ty team that shouldn't even make the playoffs.

Yep it's overblown. But we should enjoy every second of it!

 

[JSn]

Well, it's tough to argue with you when you put it like that...

It's not about a trip or a knee or lining up players. It's about the f@#ing Jets! Making them listen to the hacks call them cheaters and sling mud at them. Making their coaches deal with tripgate instead of preparing for games. Making Goodell investigate them and punish them, simply to make the story go away. Making the fat jerk Ryan publicly take responsibility and apologize. Making those same jerkoff Jets fans who went on about spygate and tainted records and crap for 3 years now get the same treatment thrown back on them as well as having a ****ty team that shouldn't even make the playoffs.

Yep it's overblown. But we should enjoy every second of it!

 

[TulanePats]

I was about to let this go, but then I glanced through all the cameragate threads and the articles that are still being written to this day. For three years we've been constantly battered by this BS.
Thighgate is even less of a big deal, but the Jets and their fans should be forced to suffer through the media and public scutiny that we have for the past three years.

They reap what they sew. I say pile on.

 

[shmessy]

Look it all comes down to this:

What the Jets did with the gauntlet (aside from the knee thing) wasn't WWIII. It really is a minor thing for which they should get a minor penalty.

The lying to the league investigators and the cover-up is a MAJOR thing, however. THAT is the big story. If they had merely come clean on it from the outset, they could have avoided what will be a bigger than necessary story. You don't lie to the Commish or his investigators - - that's a big no-no.

Rich Cimini is writing about the deception and the cover-up to the league - - not so much about the minor gauntlet thing - - something we will all see a similar video starring BB tomorrow getting in Marvin Harrison's way in 2004. Not a big thing, unless lied about when asked by the league.