Jets tampering w/Asante

[BPF]

Did someone replace Florio with one of us??

www.profootballtalk.com

POSTED 1:14 p.m. EST, February 26, 2008

JETS TAMPERING WITH SAMUEL?

Hey, kids . . . interested in a little irony? How about this one: The team that sparked all of this Spygate hoo-ha by nailing the Patriots for doing something to the Jets that, as Jimmy Johnson tells it, plenty of teams have been doing for a long time is now apparently doing something to the Pats that virtually every team does.

Specifically, the Jets apparently are tampering with Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel. Consider this gem from Newsday:

"I just spoke with Samuel's agent who (predictably) said that interest is mutual and high from both the Jets and Samuel. How high? 'The interest level is where it needs to be for them to either a) make a run at him or b) get him.'"

But how does Samuel's agent know that the interest is mutual or high or both? The Jets aren't allowed to say or do anything that would demonstrate any interest while Samuel is still the property of the Patriots. And Samuel is still the property of the Patriots until midnight on February 29.

Yeah, we know. Everyone tampers. But doesn't breaking the rules to secure dibs on a desired player potentially create a competitive advantage, just like taping defensive coaching signals does? If tampering wasn't useful, would the Jets or any other team do it?

There's no dispute that the Patriots were stoopid and arrogant for continuing to engage in a practice that violated the rules at a time when it was clear that other teams were trying to nail them. Still, the failure of the league to do anything to address the issue of widespread tampering is creating the impression to the trained eye of a double standard.

We're not saying the Patriots should get off the hook. We're only saying that those who might be tempted to pontificate about the Pats should think a little more broadly about the issue of compliance with the rules before doing so.

 

[PAPatsjunkie]

That's it, someone definitely hacked into his website, right? Who's got Florio locked up in their basement?

 

[jcdavey]

i guess you guys only believe what an agent is saying when it fits your agenda lol

 

[BradyFTW!]

Somewhere, Florio's family is being held hostage.

 

[Rob0729]

It is a little ridiculous that the Pats are getting slammed by all angles for even unsubstantiated rumors, but there are evidence of cheating all over the league and no one seems to care. I think tampering is more of a harmful crime than videotaping signals from the sidelines. Both are against the rules, but stealing signs is not illegal just videotaping it from the sidelines.

I don't know if the Pats should file tampering charges. Eventhough they do have a case, I doubt anything will happen and it will be spun into that the Pats are just being vindictive about Spygate or trying to deflect attention off of their "cheating" problems.

 

[Keegs]

so we should have the #6 pick then.

 

[vyrago]

The league will definitely crack down hard on tampering as soon as they can come up with a case against the Pats. Then it's Katy bar the door! No holds barred! Look out below! and all those other silly cliches, but until then, those other teams can just tamper away with impunity.

 

[Rob0729]

Actually, Florio has actually been consistent in that he has always been asking why haven't other teams been gone after with the same vigilence as the Pats. He did the same thing when Kerry Collins inadvertantly accused Jeff Fisher and Tony Dungy of colluding to fix the outcome of a game. He did the same thing when the story of the Jets getting caught videotaping in an area they shouldn't came out.

 

[BelichickFan]

i guess you guys only believe what an agent is saying when it fits your agenda lol

Well we have someone on record as saying it happened - that's a lot more than there is to the Walsh story isn't it.

Now go away, troll.

 

[Clonamery]

Tampergate

 

[A.C Vegas]

Tampergate

That'll never happen because the Patriots are not the one's doing it. look what happened with Branch nothing, look what happened to the Jets version of Spygate nothing. untill we start to suck again we will never get anything in our favor and you know what i'll trade playoff trips and super bowls runs to being the leagues favorite any day of the week

 

[Pats726]

Desn't matter..it's NOT the Patriots...It's sad that Goodell is such a joke..and I think MANY called him out when he said he wanted to have a level playing field and fair..THAT is a total joke..Why cab't he go out quick like he should...be GONE!!!

 

[signbabybrady]

Where is the proof....If there was some proof than maybe we can get the tampering to stick.

Right now we just have an egent saying there is intrest....We don't know for sure there is. Could just be an agent saying that so anyone who calls Friday Morning 1201 am will feel they have to make an offer bigger than the Jets.

we need the video.....let's be honest that was one of the big parts of our story...there was video and when it got leaked we got to see it. Why is Spectre around because he didn't get to see the other video. We are a TV world and news just makes more sense to us on TV/Video.

Case of see no evil.

 

[Metaphors]

I don't know if the Pats should file tampering charges.

The agent is admitting on the record that a team is tampering. The Pats shouldn't have to file a complaint. The league should investigate and take action.

The Jets should be fined and warned that future violations will result in a loss of a draft pick. Having rules that you know are being broken and you just look the other way builds a culture of skirting the rules to gain an advantage. I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing. It just makes the Pats punishment all the more silly.

 

[Joker]

anyway...just called the NFL offices in NYC...Goodell has NO e-mail address, there are ZERO options to e-mail ANYONE in the league offices and basically there's this bunker mentality surrounding the whole sordid mess that is the NFL front offices these days...and it all stems from the placement of this ex-Jet, life long elitist NY Republican as head of the NFL. This positively stinks...this crudbag needs to be removed for the good of the game and the league.

 

[Patdown93]

The Niners have also been accused of tampering with Lance Briggs by the Bears yet you don't hear a thing about it.

 

[signbabybrady]

Apparently tampering is as OK as video taping.


You just can't do either from the sidelines. you must be in an enclosed environment.

 

[upstater1]

Apparently tampering is as OK as video taping.


You just can't do either from the sidelines. you must be in an enclosed environment.

And then people wonder why Belichick chose to disregard the memo when the actual rule allowed him to do what he did.

It's because the NFL doesn't follow any rules nor enforce anything.

The whole situation is like the UN disarmament programs during the cold war. Sure, follow the rules, then unilaterally disarm. Meanwhile, all your competition will eat you for lunch.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Apparently tampering is as OK as video taping.


You just can't do either from the sidelines. you must be in an enclosed environment.

Why the hell else have the Combine in Indy other than it's domed environment... If you tampered in Hawaii or San Diego or Miami... no wait, Tuna did tamper in Miami. Well, you get the general drift.

The problem the league has with tampering is they could only prove it via phone records and because agents represent multiple clients they would lie and say they were talking about them. Ditto most GM's. If confronted today Asante's agent would probably fall on his sword and claim he's just making comments up to fuel his players market and Mangini would swear he couldn't pick Asante's agent out of a lineup...

So unless someone was called in to Goodell's office and pee'd his pants, there is nothing you could do. But that would require a pro active commissioner. The kind who would have called the clubs whose video procedures he had issues with back in 2006 and made clear to their GM/HC that he was not going to allow them to do that anymore. In which case there would not have been any scandal of note this season in the NFL.

He could stop tampering today by announcing that teams and agents who create the impression of impropriety will face future investigations and consequences that exceed fines.

 

[The Dog]

This rivalry between the pats and jets would be way more entertaining if the jets weren't pathetic.