Curran article on Jets tampering

[Ivan]

Like Spygate?

Goody and his team are erratic at defining what is/isn't fair. In some instances punishment has been beyond severe. In others the league has been very casual.

What is fair punishment for an owner who has demonstrated a track record of implying how much he is willing to pay for players that are under contract with other teams? How does the league define fairness?

I would suggest that Percy Harvin should get to bang his wife but that probably took place the week he got there.

 

[Ivan]

A fair punishment would be a good scolding, but Goodell should use his inside voice, raising it would be a bit too much.

 

[Rob0729]

The fact of the matter is this : They have to be sanctioned based on the 2 rulings during the Goodell era. In all reality the Jets should be barred from trying to sign him period just because of this fact. All contracts must be approved by the league.

How in the world could they not sanction the Jets regarding one specific player being lobbied for in an open public forum by an owner and then turn around and OK a contract to the same player being signed by the same team that committed the infraction? After the evidence of previous rulings as an example being out there it would be absolute hypocrisy of the highest order.

First, they haven't ruled yet on this. People are getting up in arms for the League not punishing the Jets before they even rule on it.

Second, this would be unpresidented. Even when the 49ers were caught sending e-mails to Lance Briggs' agent to gauge his interest in joining the 49ers when he became a free agent and inquiring about what type of contract he was looking for, all Goodell did was strip them of a 5th and had the 49ers and Bears switch 3rd rounders. They still were not barred from signing Briggs when he became a free agent.

Anyone looking for more than a Jets getting a late round pick stripped of them and the Pats and Jets swapping mid round picks are kidding themselves.

 

[Ivan]

Let's see. Woody Johnson already had a tampering transgression on his rrecord, and it was in the past year, he got off easy and was warned, he ignored the warning and tampered with a first ballot hall,of famer under contract to a division rival. Sounds like the loss of their first rounder to the Patriots and a $500,000 fine to me.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Don't speak for all Pats fans. I want to see the Jets crash and burn every year, but I don't want to see the league dole out unfair punishments even to the Jets.

I think that Kensil just outed himself here on his secret screen name

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think Spygate was unfair . Bountygate was unfair. I don't want this trend to continue.

I think a fair punishment for the Jets is like what the Lions got. The Jets should lose a 7th and swap a midround pick with the Pats. That is the price for Johnson's stupidity. Because he could be negotiating a contract right now with Revis' agent with no punishment even though it is tampering. That is what every other team that is interested in Revis is doing. From the sounds of it, the only team not negotiating with Revis thus far is the Patriots.

Thats the thing. I'm 100% confident that you and I can put a process in place and best determine what "fair" compensation would be owed to the Pats for Woody going off at the mouth and compromising/complicating the Pat's negotiations with Revis.

7th and a swap mid-rounders could be reasonable. I guess I have zero confidence in the commissioner's office in following through on a process that is structured, has governance, discipline and won't go off the rails and be arbitrary in it's outcome.I'm sure the I'm sure the league has a process, it seems to me that it is heavily politically influenced by the owners.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I would suggest that Percy Harvin should get to bang his wife but that probably took place the week he got there.

LOL. Is there a backstory there?

 

[OhExaulted1]

First, they haven't ruled yet on this. People are getting up in arms for the League not punishing the Jets before they even rule on it.

Second, this would be unpresidented. Even when the 49ers were caught sending e-mails to Lance Briggs' agent to gauge his interest in joining the 49ers when he became a free agent and inquiring about what type of contract he was looking for, all Goodell did was strip them of a 5th and had the 49ers and Bears switch 3rd rounders. They still were not barred from signing Briggs when he became a free agent.

Anyone looking for more than a Jets getting a late round pick stripped of them and the Pats and Jets swapping mid round picks are kidding themselves.

I agree, but the problem is that it's coming down to the wire. I'm aware "legal" tampering is permitted starting today @12. That being said, there should, by all rights, be a ruling to come down before Tue @4.

If no ruling is metered out before that point and Revis is a Jet on 3/11 that would completely fly in the face of the league FO's mantra of maintaining integrity (not that anyone believes they have any at this point).

As for the compensation to be doled out, yes a swap of mid-rounders would be in line with previous rulings. I would actually assume the league will wait until the Mar. 22-25 annual meetings as Goodell has basically gone into seclusion and is harder to find than Waldo at this point. That's when comp picks will be announced and the draft order will be set. The timing of FA as opposed to when sanctions are presumably going to be announced at the meeting is questionable at best. I think we'll also find out about the Browns and Falcons punishment at this time as well, but I'm betting the Wels report will come out the next few days or so after the meetings have concluded so Roger can avoid any questioning.

That dude needs to be removed if things play out like that. That whole office needs a house cleaning to jettison the leakers en masse, honestly.

 

[patfanken]

Thats the thing. I'm 100% confident that you and I can put a process in place and best determine what "fair" compensation would be owed to the Pats for Woody going off at the mouth and compromising/complicating the Pat's negotiations with Revis.

7th and a swap mid-rounders could be reasonable. I guess I have zero confidence in the commissioner's office in following through on a process that is structured, has governance, discipline and won't go off the rails and be arbitrary in it's outcome.I'm sure the I'm sure the league has a process, it seems to me that it is heavily politically influenced by the owners.

I think we can all agree that cameraplacementgate was a vast overreaction, however it wasn't without some provocation as well. The Pats were warned on a number of occasions to cease doing the taping from the banned areas. There in lies the problem for the Jets. The Jets have had a long history of PROVEN tampering going back to Parcells and beyond. Given Johnson's earlier transgression and WRITTEN warning, you'd think the league couldn't afford to allow him to get away with a mere slap on the wrist.

If the rules mean anything and the league's has any desire to enforce those rules, they HAVE deliver a punishment that hurts, otherwise why have the rule. So I would think it would have to be harsher than losing a 7th and swapping a mid-round pick, it would have to create more pain.

Losing their first or swapping firsts with us would unfortunately be too onerous, so in that context I would agree with Rob. However swapping 2nd and 7th round picks WOULD send the appropriate message. It would be sufficiently painful to go from 38 to 64, without crippling their draft for merely having an idiot for an owner.

History would warn us that it's unlikely that the league is going to anything, regardless of the fact it was a textbook case of tampering. And once again I expect the league FO will show us how inept they are at policing their own laws, by continually overreacting to some things or turning a blind eye to others.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

The League FO is comprised of New Yorkers & Jets sympathizers. I predict that that bias and a visceral hatred of NE's success influences their punishment DESPITE historical precedent of draft pick swaps and confiscation and DESPITE the fact that the JETS have been warned in writing about the same tampering offense.

 

[Koma]

I think we can all agree that cameraplacementgate was a vast overreaction, however it wasn't without some provocation as well. The Pats were warned on a number of occasions to cease doing the taping from the banned areas. There in lies the problem for the Jets. The Jets have had a long history of PROVEN tampering going back to Parcells and beyond. Given Johnson's earlier transgression and WRITTEN warning, you'd think the league couldn't afford to allow him to get away with a mere slap on the wrist.

If the rules mean anything and the league's has any desire to enforce those rules, they HAVE deliver a punishment that hurts, otherwise why have the rule. So I would think it would have to be harsher than losing a 7th and swapping a mid-round pick, it would have to create more pain.

Losing their first or swapping firsts with us would unfortunately be too onerous, so in that context I would agree with Rob. However swapping 2nd and 7th round picks WOULD send the appropriate message. It would be sufficiently painful to go from 38 to 64, without crippling their draft for merely having an idiot for an owner.

History would warn us that it's unlikely that the league is going to anything, regardless of the fact it was a textbook case of tampering. And once again I expect the league FO will show us how inept they are at policing their own laws, by continually overreacting to some things or turning a blind eye to others.

I don't mean to single you out by asking this, but what additional warnings did the Patriots receive beyond the September 2006 memo that went to all teams? I ask because I've seen this story repeated in the media and on other boards, but no one ever offers any details about these other warnings. For example, a Patriots cameraman was removed from the sideline during a game at Lambeau during the 2006 season, but I don't recall any reports of the league warning the team then. Even if it was done privately, I don't believe Goodell ever mentioned that when speaking about the situation in 2007. I'm always open to learn more about that incident, so if you can point towards any articles about additional warnings, that would be appreciated.

In terms of the punishment for the Jets, I agree with your thoughts about a penalty for tampering. As you noted, they have a track record of ignoring the league rules on this. It may have occurred under different GMs, but it keeps happening, from Parcells to Branch to Crabtree to Revis. This is an opportunity for the league to either show they are serious about their rules (per Rodger, they are a "league of rules," after all) or to provide an example of a reactionary and make-it-up-as-you-go approach to discipline.

 

[Koma]

I agree, but the problem is that it's coming down to the wire. I'm aware "legal" tampering is permitted starting today @12. That being said, there should, by all rights, be a ruling to come down before Tue @4.

If no ruling is metered out before that point and Revis is a Jet on 3/11 that would completely fly in the face of the league FO's mantra of maintaining integrity (not that anyone believes they have any at this point).

As for the compensation to be doled out, yes a swap of mid-rounders would be in line with previous rulings. I would actually assume the league will wait until the Mar. 22-25 annual meetings as Goodell has basically gone into seclusion and is harder to find than Waldo at this point. That's when comp picks will be announced and the draft order will be set. The timing of FA as opposed to when sanctions are presumably going to be announced at the meeting is questionable at best. I think we'll also find out about the Browns and Falcons punishment at this time as well, but I'm betting the Wels report will come out the next few days or so after the meetings have concluded so Roger can avoid any questioning.

That dude needs to be removed if things play out like that. That whole office needs a house cleaning to jettison the leakers en masse, honestly.

Just to provide some context on an earlier tampering case, the 2008 investigation into the 49ers tampering with Lance Briggs was first reported on February 21 and the punishment was handed down on March 24. Briggs ended re-signing with Chicago, but I don't know if the league took that into account when they decided on a punishment. They did wait until well after free agency began that year to do anything, though.

 

[rochrist]

Don't speak for all Pats fans. I want to see the Jets crash and burn every year, but I don't want to see the league dole out unfair punishments even to the Jets.

That's the crux of the matter. You think it would be unfair punishment. (most of) the rest of us don't agree that it's unfair. Teams have been punished before for tampering. This is the second time in a year for the Jets. They were warned. What Woody said was literally almost word for word from the NFL rulebook example of tampering. There is NOTHING unfair about punishing the Jets for this. If Woody is too stupid to even speak without violating well known rules, they maybe the team could convince him to keep his mouth SHUT.

 

[shmessy]

Second, this would be unpresidented. .

I would hope so!

 

[rochrist]

I would hope so!

Probably grounds for impeachment!

 

[Joker]

I think Rob may have been multitasking on a political forum when he wrote that....

 

[Ivan]

LOL. Is there a backstory there?

Possibly, if he's into that.

 

[Ivan]

That's the crux of the matter. You think it would be unfair punishment. (most of) the rest of us don't agree that it's unfair. Teams have been punished before for tampering. This is the second time in a year for the Jets. They were warned. What Woody said was literally almost word for word from the NFL rulebook example of tampering. There is NOTHING unfair about punishing the Jets for this. If Woody is too stupid to even speak without violating well known rules, they maybe the team could convince him to keep his mouth SHUT.

That's not very nice. How about this- the jets get Revis and Woody has to pay for the blue ribbon the Patriots get for coming in second in the Revis Derby?

That would be very fair, and most importantly it would be fair to the Jets. And that's what really matters.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I think Rob may have been multitasking on a political forum when he wrote that.

Please don't...those on the political forum are those who don't play well in the sandbox..and probably took the short bus to school...

 

[Rob0729]

That's the crux of the matter. You think it would be unfair punishment. (most of) the rest of us don't agree that it's unfair. Teams have been punished before for tampering. This is the second time in a year for the Jets. They were warned. What Woody said was literally almost word for word from the NFL rulebook example of tampering. There is NOTHING unfair about punishing the Jets for this. If Woody is too stupid to even speak without violating well known rules, they maybe the team could convince him to keep his mouth SHUT.

So apparently you feel the punishment the Pats got for Spygate was fair. Just like this case, the league knew the Pats were filming defensive signals and they warned the Pats to stop and they did it anyway. By your logic, the Pats losing a first and their massive fines were justified.

I personally don't. And I wouldn't for the Jets just because they are the Jets and the player in question is a Patriot.

If you want argue the deserve a punishment like the 49ers rather than the Lions because of repeat offenses, I am support that. But people are really making way too much of this. It really was not that big of a deal and will have no bearing on whether Revis stays or not.