•Bad week for Jets: While the notion of the Patriots as the model franchise in the league certainly suffered a dent this week, the team that turned them in didn't exactly have a great week either. The whole spy stuff raised questions about second-year coach Eric Mangini, who clearly knew the practice was going on when he worked on Belichick's staff, and who apparently did little or nothing to stop it. If nothing else, the New York staff was guilty of being a bit disingenuous. And the Jets also were culpable for a terrible game plan on both sides of the football, one that contributed considerably to the 38-14 waxing they suffered in the opener.
The irony in the fact the Patriots were trying to pilfer signals is that the New York approach to the game was so flawed that merely being on the field with the Jets last Sunday was like stealing. The Jets didn't do themselves any favors in their own locker room either, with the three-year contract extension they awarded starting right guard Brandon Moore, the longest-tenured member of their offensive line. Moore already was signed through the 2010 season, albeit to a contract he certainly had outplayed. But the same front office that wouldn't give former left guard Pete Kendall the $1 million bump in base salary he wanted for this season handed over such a raise to Moore. The flap with Kendall eventually precipitated his trade to Washington and left an obvious hole in a New York offensive line that was overmatched in the opening game.
Players don't often get caught up in the distractions the media often tries to create. But players are smart enough to know a double standard when they see one. And in the cases of Kendall and Moore, the Jets' brass will have a tough time persuading some players that the situations involving the two guards were resolved equitably.
