Mangini Getting All Spy Game On Us
This morning Hutch noted in the Star-Ledger that the Jets have brought Mike Elgin former Patriot 2007 draft pick to add to the last spot on their practice squad. Sure the Jets might have been interested in the youngster via the draft, but bringing in Artrell Hawkins, Mike Elgin and Reche Caldwell. Convenient, no?
Although I had some thoughts about the ethicality of this process, there aren’t rules to prevent this sort of behavior, are there? Even so, there is a slippery slope once you start down that road of logical reasoning to win at all costs to using performance enhancers, etc.
The real question is, what’s your stomach for trying to help your team win? Where’s the line drawn on what’s fair and what’s unfair.
Thought this little excerpt from the 2001 movie Spy Game was appropriate here:
Nathan Muir (Robert Redford): He was your asset, somebody you use for information.
Tom Bishop (Brad Pitt): Ah … you just … You don’t just trade these people like they’re baseball cards! It’s not a f***ing game!
Nathan Muir: Oh, yes it is. It’s exactly what it is. And it’s no kid’s game either. This is a whole other game. And it’s serious and it’s dangerous. And it’s not one you want to lose.
Tom Bishop: Nathan, we killed this man. We used him and we killed him. Okay, than you got to help me understand this one. You got… Nathan, what are we doing here? And don’t give me some bulls*** about the greater good.
Nathan Muir: That’s exactly what it’s about. Because what we do is unfortunately very, very necessary. And if you’re not willing to sacrifice scum like Schmidt for those that want nothing more than their freedom, then you better take a long hard look at your chosen profession my friend. Because it doesn’t get any easier. You wanna walk? You wanna walk, walk.
The funny thing is, if anyone gives Mangini crap about it, just keep looking at his all-wonderful mentor, he’s the one who he learned this from.
Filed under: Main Page, Opinion/Bassett
Where do I draw the line. Somewhere around impregnating the star QBs girlfriend so that she ends up having the baby right in the middle of training camp. To plan it for the middle of the season is just cruel.
I was really thinking about this whole thing and asking myself how much information can we really get from a guy like Caldwell or Artrell Hawkins, who was brought in last week for a visit. I could understand trying to get into a kid like Mike Elgin’s head, whose been with the Patroits the entire offseason and is now a part of our Practice Squad. But if we’re just bringing in Caldwell or Hawkins for a visit, how much time do they really spend out at Hofstra? And if the Jets aren’t really that serious about signing either of them, why would they or there agents let the Jets staff pick there brains? Who knows, I’m just throwing it out there. As far as ethics go, hey whatever it takes to win right, I mean we’re not breaking any rules….. “All’s fair in love and war”
I don’t see anything unethical about it at all. Philly signed Kimo and we play them, we traded Kedall to the Skins and we play them, too. It’s just part of the game.
Maybe its not to pick brains, but to throw some kind of smokescreens. Coaches(especially like BB) tend to overthink and overanalyze when these things happen, and would waste more time on changing good plays instead of implementing them.
Its all good.
Until there’s a rule against it, you have to push the envelope.
Whilst everyone would like a roster filled with 53 Chrebets to heroically overcome the odds and win a Superbowl in movie style-fashion, sport is a business and I love that our guys are prepared to do anything within the rules to gain an advantage. How much of an advantage is debateable, but any advantage at all is worthwhile.
That’s why nobody can have a problem with some baseball teams spending more money than others…because they can. Even in the NBA, where there is a cap, certain teams get round the cap legally by over-using exceptions or by paying minimum salaries to ring-hungry vets…if it’s legal, why not?
If it was found out that a team had been doing something illegal after the fact (say a team was all found to be on steroids or something), then that’d be different.
So say your Caldwell (what big eyes you have!) and the Pats pick up 4 WR in the offseason. Then after going thru all of training camp they cut you. If a rival team then picks you up and asks you, what type of plays you were running and what the audibles were, would you answer? truthfully? I’m not really sure what I would do. I could see myself being pissed I got cut and tell all the secrets hoping that the team that cut me gets romped. But I could also see myself thinking this new team is just using me and they have no intention of signing me so screw them.
Sign the paper then talk.
I guess we don’t think that Caldwell can be a useful player? Can he play LG? Yes, he would be signed for one reason only: to find out how the Pats intend to use Randy Moss. If Caldwell can help the Jets get a little edge, then so be it. I’m tired of seeing the Pats beat us on our home field.
The real question is why the team let Caldwell leave without a contract. According to FO, he was better last year than any of the receivers the Pats brought in this offseason, and he’s undoubtedly better than Brad Smith or anyone below Smith on the depth chart. He would be quality depth and would likely come pretty cheap.
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