Pats O-Lineman is Pill-Popping Informant
Rat. Rat-gini. Snitch. Narc.
These are the just a few of the nicer names that Jets Coach Eric Mangini has been called here in the last year by Patriots fans who take the time to read the site and then tell us what they think of our coach the informant, worst of all sins that can be committed.
So my question this morning is, how do those who’ve taken the time to tell us why ratting is so bad, feel when when it comes to players on their own team working for the DEA?
Starting New England Patriots offensive lineman Nicholas Kaczur was arrested in April on a charge of illegal possession of prescription painkillers and then secretly cooperated with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in a sting operation that resulted in the indictment of his alleged drug supplier, according to a lawyer and two people briefed on the investigation.
Kaczur – a 28-year-old, 315-pound offensive tackle – wore a hidden recording device during three different drug transactions in May at gas stations in Foxborough and North Attleborough and a supermarket parking lot in Sharon, according to the lawyer, the two people, and federal court documents. At each of the three transactions, Kaczur paid $3,900 in cash to buy 100 OxyContin pills, a potent prescription pain reliever.
I almost drove off the road at the irony when I heard this on the radio. Dude wore a freaking wire, not once, not twice, but thrice. That must officially make him a C.I. even in McNulty’s book.
Drug dependency is no laughing matter and when it comes to stuff like this I’m pretty libertarian, but I’m pretty sure that there are pain killers in this country that are still legal and if he really needed them for pain (which he very well might) I’m sure the team doctor could have given him a prescription. Clearly this was the “above and beyond” variety, which is a shame and he needs to deal with.
But now with all the disclaimers out of the way, I have to say … the irony of this is so delicious.
If some Patriots fans are so outraged by informants, it’ll be interesting to see where those who were so morally opposed to snitching last fall stand on the argument for or against informing — I can pretty much guarantee for the yahoos, it won’t be the logical one.
Hat tip to Ryan Wilson at FanHouse for getting this story on lock.
UPDATE: All this talk about informers had me singing Snow’s classic early 90s hit.
Was he too stoned to block in the superbowl? They are a winning version of Cincy. How does the league continue to bend over backwards for these people. Is it just because they know the right things to do and say after they get busted?
tsk tsk Narc
I don’t know. I despise the Pats and their fans (I lived with all Pats fans for 4 years in college – their win over the Rams was in my freshman year) but I don’t see how trying to get drug dealers busted and busting a football team for video taping signals have any correlation.
The Jets busted the Pats for illegially doing something during a game. Football is a game. Drugs on the streets is not a game, that’s real life. This guys was snitching on drug dealers, people that belong in jail.
As wrong as spygate was, it wasn’t dangerous to the community and I doubt that Belichick belongs in jail (would be a nice thought though).
You can say that spygate could influence kids to believe that cheating is ok, but I think drugs are a much larger issue than a team cheating at a game.
As much as I hate Pat fans you can’t rub this in their faces. One of their guys made a mistake and is now trying (at the will of the authorities) to clean up the streets.
We’re better than saying, “Haha, you have a snitch on your team too!” If anything this guy should be applauded for owning up to his mistake and trying to bust the people who helped facilitate his drug addiction. Society has no place for those people. It’s much different than a football game.
This guy was snitching for all the right reasons. (so was Mangini, but in a completely different realm).
Bassett, I hear what you’re saying, but comparing snitching on a rival team for spying with cooperating with a federal drug investigation is a serious stretch.
I see nothing wrong with Mangini and the Jets bringing to the League’s attention the whole Spygate mess, but I can understand the sentiment among many (especially Pats fans) that the whole issue should have been handled differently.
What choice did Kaczur have? Not cooperate and stand trial for possession of a controlled substance? When the DEA gets involved, you cooperate, no questions asked.
Really, this is kind of an absurd comparison, and the irony is minimal.
On a less serious note…. $4k for 100 Oxy? Dude was getting ripped off.
I just hate this story because it is going to give the Pats fans yet ANOTHER excuse as to why they lost in the Super Bowl. Kaczur was on OC’s and thats why our OL just got totally dominated.
For clarification purposes my statement is based upon the idea that it is another Pat getting busted for a crime and nothing coming of it.
Kaczur did have a choice, and I think that both incidents, though on different of the “cosmic levels of seriousness” spectrum still resonate with the same underlying tone.
The underlying tone for shaming Mangini’s actions was that telling on others is wrong, and that “a real man” would just bear up under whatever the consequences of not telling would be, whether that means allowing another team to tape signals or in this case to bear the brunt of illegal activiites …
one’s own illegal activities, mind you.
No one forced Kaczur to wear the wire, he could have been caught and gone straight to trial, informing on those up the chain can be seen as the right thing (for his own self preservation) just like Mangini informed for his and his team’s own self-preservation. Did Kevin Faulk wear a wire to lessen the offense after his doobage bust? Not that I’m aware of.
The problem is, self-preservation in the face of bearing up under suffering looks different, and both look noble in different lights from different observers.
Drug penalties are serious offenses, and in the same boat I would likely do the same thing Kaczur did. All I am saying is that the yahoo subset of Pats fans who thought Mangini’s actions were so deplorable can’t have their cake and eat it too.
You can’t tell me how wrong Mangini was for doing something to benefit himself and his own interests (whether the right thing to do or not) and then turn around and say Kaczur doing something to benefit himself and in his own interests (whether the right thing to do or not) aren’t on some levels similar actions, DEA involvement be damned.
Some Patriots fans have decried the practice of informing, and now one of their own has done the same thing that those very fans told us was such an abominable act, less than a year ago. Maybe I am taking this argument too far and just looking to stir up controversy for controversy’s sake (and in that you’ve seen through my intent in the post) but I want to hear those who shamed Jets fans and the coach of the Jets actions as so deplorable explain the difference … that is if they can.
OK, before we go giving Kaczur the medal of honor or anything here lets clarify something, he isn’t cooperating in this out of any moral responsibility or sense of civic duty, he’s doing it to get a better deal for himself on his own arrest, same as thousands of other other drug taking and peddling skells do every day. Lets slow down the work on his monument outside city hall.
So, when Pats fans praise Kaczur for “doing the right thing,” we as Jets fans can highlight the irony that’s present.
But to dedicate a post to the “delicious irony” in what amounts to a preemptive strike against Patriots yahoos, really just makes us look bitter, jealous and like fans of a truly second class organization.
Just my opinion, I’m sure many (or most) will disagree.
TFP,
I think you’re off-base here. Kazcur wasn’t doing some noble act like, “I’m going to go fight crime!” He got busted for buying extremely addictive painkillers and was trying to save his own ass.
The term snitch or rat is used in two different ways: (1) when a person gets caught and tells the police to save himself; and (2) when a person is aware of cheating (or is involved in it) and exposes the cheating.
In the second case, the moniker is misapplied. If you cheat in checkers all the time and your friend knows, you can’t very well try to cheat when you’re playing him and expect him to sit there and say nothing. Mangini did exactly what a reasonable person would do.
Kazcur is the first kind – a person who, when caught doing something illegal, turns against those very people that were “helping” him. Mangini on the other hand, only did so we his supposed friend tried to cheat him.
Nuff said.
Excellent post, and the snow video was icing on the cake! haha… F the pats… they breed snitches over there…
nyr2k2
fair enough, agreed it does look bitter … which is probably something that i feel more intensely living in New England. I’m not saying I don’t feel it, cause I most definitely do … maybe I should be a little more classy about the matter (but as a bad excuse it’s hard when I pretty much hear it from people i see every day).
One interesting note here , if he was a CI, his identity is supposed to be kept under wraps. But if he was the main customer of the dealer, then its pretty easy to figure out for the defense who the rat was. Now the cats out of the bag it will be interesting to see how the league reponds to this.
Forget the ratting out debate.
THERE IS NO REASON TO EVER PUT THAT SNOW VIDEO ON ANY BLOG!
EVER!
Screw all the “we look bitter” arguments.
The Patriots organization and Belichick himself have proven over and over again that they have no compunction bending and breaking the rules, whether those are rules of fair play on the football field or rules of law in the real world. Then they attempt to blame their accusers and sell out their accomplices and lie and distract and cry victim to cover up their transgressions.
The Pats are the biggest bunch of cheating loser jerkfaces in sports today. I don’t give a crap if someone accuses me of being a bitter Jets fan. My team didn’t have a headhunting safety universally acknowledged as the dirtiest player in the sport suspended for using performance enhancing drugs. My team doesn’t have former players coming forward with guilty consciences saying they knew their team was bending the rules. MY TEAM DIDN’T CHEAT ON A CONSTANT AND SYSTEMATIC BASIS FOR THE PAST DECADE.
I dislike the Dolphins. I dislike the Bills. I dislike the Raiders. But I respect all those franchises. There is no way that anybody can respect the Pats. Am I bitter? I don’t give a sh-t if you think I am. I’m bitter that George Bush lied to the American people for years, and for years people dismissed me for it, but in the end, I was right.
I’m willing to be labeled bitter, because in the end, everything we thought about the Pats was right. They’re dirtbags.
Patriots fans are complete moron’s. Mangini did not rat anybody out. Belichek came to the meadowlands and decided he would like to cheat. Was mangini supposed to say hey bill since we were such great friends I have no problem with you disrepecting me and my team by cheating in my home stadium? The arrogance to even attempt to do that is unbelievable.
STOP SNITCHIN’
We should look differently on people who turn in evil doers, as though there is a badge of honor amongst the dishonest. If someone informs on the mafia, he is a rat, although these vermin are responsable for murders, prostitution, drugs, illegal gambling, just to mention a few, how twisted we are when it comes to right and wrong. Be it Mangini or whoever, bringing these cowards to light is the responciblilty of all people. Informing on Hitler, is a noble act, or on the Mafia, or any evil doer. If radical person were ready to commit an act of distruction, would a person with conscience inform on him be a rat or a patriot. Man lets get our head right, anything illegal which hurts another should be brought to light, ooooooooohhhhh right those are called whistle blowers. Damn who’s side are we on? As for the Pat’s fan’s “who cares” what they say or think.
LOL bassett its been a funky fresh minute since ive seen that snow video where’d you dig that up
The Pats are cheaters in many different ways. Couple of the players were caught doing steroids too. I agree, F Belicheat and the cheating Pats!
I think this transcends football and sports in general. I don’t see any parralles between this and spygate.
Drug addiction is no laughing matter, it should not be used to even a score. The guy has a problem, he also has a wife and kids. I feel sorry for him as a person, and can’t even relate it back to the Jets/ Pats rivalry.
I try to put myself in other peoples shoes, so imagine yourself being in a DEA office and given the ultimatuim of informing or doing seroius time. I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t think I am tough enough to do a prison stint. Not to mention that he has to put his family first, I think most people would inform. Now add in the fact that he is a pro athlete playing for one of the most recognized teams in the world and you know that your picture will be all over the news.
Bassett I wish you never brought this up. I think it was totally inappropriate.
I don’t care if pats fans are mad about the jets snitching. They started it by trying to get us in trouble over Dieon Branch
Gotta love that track…
I hope he gets into a car accident and dies…
I would not be upset one bit if this “SNITCH” died this second.
This is a classless organization that is run by a classless coach with classless players… and this act examplifies my point.
I just hope that he gets some kind of punishment from the league for his off-the-field behavior. He should be fined and possibly suspened for this.
Unless he tells the commissioner that he “missinterpreted the law”….
neauone
i agree…how or when did it become uncool to call the cops on crimals i dont know…
but,what i dont understand is how this KACZUR wasn’t fined or suspended by the NFL for buying illegal drugs…or did the DEA tell the NFL to hold off on any type of punishment due to the fact they had KACZUR snitching on the drug dealers…WHICH IM IN FAVOR FOR GETTING DRUGS OFF THE STREET…
neauone,
As long as the story remains consistent. If you believe in doing what is right and bring wrong to justice, then so be it…
The Patriots and their fans cannot condem the jets for blowing the whistle on Belicheck with the cheating and then approve and applaud Kaczur for his noble act.
Its one or the other….
I bet this piece of shyt was on the SNYTCH-GINI boat along with all the other bigh mouths in New England after spygate… and now look at him.
He is Snytching and wearing wires.
is KACZUR a snitch…yes
did he stand up against crime and call the cops on these drug dealers becuz he was doing a good deed or a noble act…no
the only reason these drugs are off the street now is because he wants to save his own asss…true
in the end these hard hitting drugs are off the streets and lets hope that there aren’t any kids addicted to them…im glad he snitched for this reason…
as for the filth that keeps pouring out of BOB KRAFT’S org…the NFL stands by doing little or nothing to them…why is that…
is GOODELL gonna throw the book on KACZUR like he does on every1else outside of NE or is he gonna slap his wrist like he did for bellacheat AND THE REST OF THE ORG…
IMHO…if KACZUR doesn’t get the max in fines and a 1 year suspension then i have to ? ROGER GOODEL and the special treatment he gives to NE…as should every team player and fan…just my thoughts…
Kaczur intention in turning in his dealers was not to be a morally good citizen, he did it to avoid jail time. If he never got caught he would continue to do these drugs and never would have felt the urge in his good heart to turn these guys in.
I know most people disagree on this issue in general but in my opinion, hes a snitch! If you are willing to break the law then you should be willing to accept full responsibility! If he cared so much about his family and his future he should have quit beforehand.
Most “mafia” members who get caught just stay quiet because they knew what the consequences were when they chose their lifestyle.
Three of my closest friends are all doing time right now for drug dealing, all three know what they did is wrong and have taken full responsibility. They could have easily turned on someone to avoid the fews years of time. It’s not like they are the “toughest” guys in the world, they all were scared of being in the jail environment but they are doing it!
And honestly… how much time would he have seen for possession of pain killers?!?!? I know I can’t place a value on jail time but he was just a user. He probably would have been in a Federal Camp for less than a year assuming this was his first offense!
Najy – I never heard you say such things like DIE, this must really offend you!
PS: Kaczur should definitely be suspended! I know Pacman Jones can be an idiot at times, but hes only been convicted ONCE, and that happened after he was already suspended! This is definitely bigger than any of Pacman Jones’ problems.
one year minimum! He shouldn’t be credited by the NFL for turning people in- he commited a crime and thats what the NFL goes by.
Bilal,
I am just so sick of the patriots and their ways. They are always up to something no good over their and its nothing but trouble.
I just hope Kaczur doesnt look like a hero for ratting out his buyers. He only did so to save his own ass.
ESPN is reporting that Kaczurs charge would have been a misdemeanor. The accused drug dealer is claiming he only got the pain killers for Kaczur because hes a pro athlete and that there are text msgs that he sent to Kaczur advising him to stop. He also refused to snitch on the people he got it from.
If this is true, this is another case where being a “middleman” is the worst. You barely make money and usually take the fall.
Kaczur’s quote is great, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, bro.”
neauone
Comparing turning in someone for selling painkillers to someone for turning in Hitler is a joke. Kaczur wasn’t trying to clean up the streets of America but trying to save his ass. If this was a first offense Kaczur wasn’t going to do time. The war on drugs is a complete failure and the mentality of locking them all up needs to change. Kaczur is a rat trying to save his ass. Mangini turned in Belichick after all the teams were warned by the NFL.
Painting a rat like Kaczur as someone doing a noble deed is a joke.
By the way rats make really good pets and don.t derserve the bad reputation.
najy
i agree…kaczur shouldn’t be looked at as a hero…and NE has been getting away with alot of **** over the years while others have been getting severe punishments with no remorse from the commish…
again…i ask…why is that…if kaczur doesn’t pay the heaviest fine and get a 1 year suspension then there is definitly something up…
TFP, spygate wasn’t wrong! what type of jet fan are you we don’t care how the patriots played a role in your college years obviously your arent as much of a jet fan as you think you are or not even one at all.
I apologize if I made the wrong point, my point is we call people rats, if they tell on organized crime, or if they blow the whistle on the government for doing something illegal.
I think as a society we have to look at the criminal element for what they are, be white collar or blue collar and be it a hero, or someone trying to save his own skin, in the case of someone trying to save his own skin, understandably he would be looked at as traitor (rat) but on who “the other rats?” I’m not on one side or the other, but as a society we should rethink what has been drummed into our heads. Gay used to be happy, sex used to be what we are as men and women, now it has replaced the word intercourse. A rat, informant, traitor, judas, whatever one would call them, I think we need to rethink our vocabulary and way of thinking when it comes to turning in the bad guys.
this guy is a drug addict…and he did what every other drug addict does…rat on his drug dealer so he can stay out of jail so he can score more drugs…i doubt he even thought of his wife and kids…
they never do until they’re reminded of them…
“fair enough, agreed it does look bitter … which is probably something that i feel more intensely living in New England. I’m not saying I don’t feel it, cause I most definitely do … maybe I should be a little more classy about the matter (but as a bad excuse it’s hard when I pretty much hear it from people i see every day).”
Bassett, I don’t mean to be critical of you. Were I in your position, I likely would have created the same post. I have the benefit of sitting back and analyzing your posts after the fact, so I’m not one to judge.
We can all agree though that the Patriots themselves are the classless organization though, right? ;-)
to be truly surprised and pleased:) Do not be believed, that even this happens:)