Jets News Articles- 9/13

[Kentucky Jet]

KELLEN PREPPING FOR START ... IF NEEDED-- NY POST

By LENN ROBBINS

September 13, 2007 -- If the Ravens need video on Jets backup quarterback Kellen Clemens, who could play Sunday in place of injured Chad Pennington, they always can contact the Patriots - very unofficial videographers of the NFL.

While Videogate swirled around the Jets (and the rest of the league) yesterday, the on-the-field question concerned the team

[Kentucky Jet]

JETS FAST-FORWARD, BUT BILLICK SEES POTENTIAL PENALTY IN DRAFT

By LENN ROBBINS

Chad Pennington and Eric ManginiSeptember 13, 2007 -- The Jets took the high road in the Patriots

[Kentucky Jet]

FOES JUMPING ON PATS BASHWAGON

DIRTY TRICKSTER BILL DESERVES SERIOUS SLAP Bill Belichick September 13, 2007 -- ON June 1, 1972, a Gallup poll revealed that President Richard M. Nixon had an approval rating of 59.3 percent, one of the highest numbers an incumbent had that late in his first term. Another poll released that week showed that if the election were imminent, Nixon would beat George McGovern, his likely, though not-yet-nominated opponent, by roughly 62-38 percent.

Armed with that information, fortified by the certainty of a coming landslide (he wound up winning 60-37), it still wasn

[Kentucky Jet]

Mangini's about-face on spying burns Belichick big time

Thursday, September 13th 2007, 4:00 AM

Jets coach Eric Mangini may get a ticker-tape parade down Broadway for standing up to Bill Belichick and exposing him as a cheater by using inside information to humiliate his former boss.

The Patriots, with their three Super Bowls this decade, are the NFL's answer to baseball's Evil Empire in the Bronx. It's certainly part of Mangini's job description to take down the Pats. He learned well from Belichick how to use every piece of information to his advantage.

But one source, who was with the Jets during the time Mangini was an assistant to Belichick in New England, is turned off by his self-righteous approach to video spying.

"Here is the sad part," the ex-Jets source said. "When Mangini was defensive coordinator for the Patriots, they were doing it. It's like crying wolf. He was a part of that mess. Now he's on the opposite side. Now he's saying they can't do it. Wait a minute. You were part of that staff. He's on the same team. He didn't go and tell Bill, 'We can't do that.'"

Mangini was a young assistant coach in New England who owed his career to Belichick. He was not about to tell him how to run his team or warn him he was breaking NFL rules. But when Mangini was in position to use it against Belichick, he jumped at it. That's makes him a hero to Jets fans, who will never forgive Belichick for quitting after one day as the HC of the NYJ.

Why didn't Mangini nail Belichick when the Jets played the Patriots three times last year, including in the playoffs? Belichick is a master at mind games - what do you think that handshake silliness is all about? Mangini missed an opportunity last year to get inside his mentor's head. But he's made up for it now.

It was foolish for Belichick to continue to try to steal the Jets' signals once Mangini became their head coach. Obviously, Belichick knew that Mangini knew. And why take that kind of chance when Mangini had inside information and the Jets' security director is a former FBI special agent? Try it out on anybody but Mangini, who is getting even with Belichick for the condescending way he has treated him the last year.

"I'll put it this way: That's not the only team that has ever done that," one head coach said yesterday. "It's a bunch of nothing. That stuff goes on everywhere. It ain't like it's something new. Are you kidding me? Half the teams do that crap. We've never done it here, but I've been involved in staffs that have done it."

The Jets were aware of Belichick's passion for video espionage long before Mangini came back to the Jets. Crossing the line to find an edge is apparently nothing new for Belichick.

A few years ago, when Herm Edwards was coaching the Jets and Mangini was working for Belichick in New England, the Jets coaching staff noticed a Patriots employee on the sideline pointing a video camera at the Jets coach who was sending in the defensive calls with hand signals.

The Jets coaches reacted by smiling for the Patriots camera and stopped just short of saying, "Hi, Bill."

"At times, we would wave at the guy that was filming over there," a Jets source, who is no longer with the team, said yesterday. "We just gave false signals and waved at the camera. I don't know if they picked up our signals or not. We didn't really worry about it too much. We didn't make a big deal out of it. Sometimes we would just send a guy in with the play instead."

It's hard to accept that everybody does it, but only Belichick had the misfortune to get caught. It would be like a player who is caught using steroids trying to talk his way out by saying so many others are beating the test. The NFL has rules against cheating. Belichick, who said yesterday he already has spoken with Roger Goodell, issued an apology to everybody in the Patriots organization without apologizing for anything specific.

"It's childish with the Jets and the Patriots," one coach said. "When the Jets cut a guy, New England brings him in and interrogates him. When the Patriots cut a guy, the Jets bring him in and interrogate him."

Belichick won three Super Bowls in four years. Did he do it by cheating? This is not the NCAA, so the NFL is not repossessing the Vince Lombardi trophies. But if he was stealing the Rams' defensive signals, did that contribute to the second greatest upset in Super Bowl history when New England beat St. Louis, 20-17, after the 2001 season?

"If he did steal signals in that game, he didn't do a very good job," said Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the Rams coach at the time. "Going into the last drive, they had 100 yards of offense. He got the wrong signals. If he had our defensive signals, it didn't help him much."

The Patriots actually had 214 yards going into the 53-yard drive for the winning field goal on the last play of the game. Tom Brady's offense managed only one TD, 15 first downs and was 2-for-11 on third down. Belichick won two more Super Bowls in the next three years.

"He won legitimately," Martz insists. "Those players had to line up and play and win those games. And they did."

One good thing for Belichick: He's good with electronic equipment. When he gets out of coaching, he can get a job selling camcorders.

gmyers@nydailynews.com

[Kentucky Jet]

Bill Belichick sorry, but spymaster doesn't say why

BY RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Thursday, September 13th 2007, 4:00 AM

On Day 3 of "SpyGate," Patriots coach Bill Belichick issued a Jason Giambi-like apology, Eric Mangini remained mum on whether he was aware of the video shenanigans as a Patriots assistant and players - near and far - weighed in on New England's alleged cheating ways.

Belichick, addressing reporters yesterday in Foxboro, confirmed that he spoke to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell earlier in the week on an "interpretation" of the rule that prohibits videotaping from the sideline. Belichick, the central figure in the scandal, released a one-paragraph apology - except there was no explanation on what he was apologizing for.

"Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players," the statement said. "Following the league's decision, I will have further comment."

Goodell may announce a decision by tomorrow. If he determines the Patriots cheated - and there are strong indications that they illegally taped defensive signals from Jets coaches - he could strip New England of multiple draft picks.

Mangini was aware of the Patriots' espionage tactics as a member of Belichick's staff from 2000 to 2005, the Daily News reported yesterday. Upon coming to the Jets, Mangini revealed the Patriots' secret to members of the organization - one of the reasons that led to Mangini's estranged relationship with Belichick. The Jets came close to nabbing the Patriots at a game last season; they finally got their man Sunday, confiscating a camera and videotape from New England employee Matt Estrella, 26.

Asked if he had prior knowledge of the Patriots' spying tactics, Mangini said, "It's a league issue, and they're handling it. We are really focused on the Ravens."

Mangini is not the only member of the Jets' organization with New England ties. Video director Steve Scarnecchia was a member of the Patriots' video department from 2001 to 2004. QB coach Brian Daboll served on Belichick's staff until last season.

No player on the Jets directly accused the Patriots of stealing signs and benefiting from it, but some couldn't help but wonder.

"Every time we showed something, (Tom Brady) made the right check," safety Kerry Rhodes said. "That could come with him being smart, which he is, or....You never know. You're never surprised with anything in this league. Everybody is trying to get a competitive edge on their opponent."

In Pittsburgh, wide receiver Hines Ward said the Patriots benefited from some type of inside information during their upset win over the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game in January of 2002.

"Oh, they knew," Ward said. "They were calling our stuff out. They knew, especially at that first championship game at Heinz Field. They knew a lot of our calls."

In New Bedford, Mass., Estrella's mother, Jane, told a Daily News reporter at her house, "I love my son. I'm very proud of my son." She declined further comment.

[Kentucky Jet]

Bum ankle likely to keep Chad Pennington on bench

BY RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Thursday, September 13th 2007, 4:00 AM

As Kellen Clemens faced the media yesterday, trying his hardest to maintain Eric Mangini's QB guessing game, the locker-room stereo system played an old Foreigner song whose lyrics captured the current state of the quarterback position for the Jets.

Urgent, urgent, emergency.

Clemens is expected to make his first NFL start Sunday against the Ravens, a team that prides itself on intimidating young quarterbacks. You could practically hear the giddiness in safety Ed Reed's voice as he spoke on a conference call from Baltimore, saying of Clemens, "I'm sure he's excited and looking forward to the challenge, but at the same time, somewhere in the back of his head, he's a little shaken up."

Although Mangini hasn't divulged his plans, he has essentially decided to start Clemens over Chad Pennington, an NFL source said last night. His choice: Oregon Duck or sitting duck. Although Pennington (high-ankle sprain) practiced on a limited basis, according to the team's injury report, his restricted mobility will force Mangini to start the second-year passer from Oregon.

Pennington favored the heavily wrapped ankle in practice. During the 30-minute period open to the media, he didn't drop back once and he hopped on one foot during an agility drill that requires high-stepping over blocking pads on the ground.

That Pennington made it to practice was something of an upset, keeping alive the faint hope that he might play. Then again, maybe the practice appearance was a ruse, an attempt to keep the Ravens in the dark. With 15games remaining, Mangini is going to err on the side of caution, the source said.

"His situation hasn't changed," the tight-lipped Mangini said of Pennington. "We'll evaluate it as the week goes on."

A source said Clemens received the starter's share of the practice reps, a strong indicator that he's the guy. Publicly, Pennington refused to wave a white flag, saying missed practice time won't affect his ability to start on Sunday. He cited 2004, when he was limited in practice because of his torn rotator cuff and still wound up starting the last five games. He said preparing for the Ravens, known for their complex blitz schemes, is more mental than physical.

Unless you have a bum ankle.

The Ravens led the NFL in total defense last season, and they're going to be in an ornery mood after falling to the Bengals in the opener, 27-20. The Ravens were undermined by six turnovers, not bad defense. In fact, they held the explosive Cincinnati attack to only 236 total yards. Linebacker Ray Lewis, who feared he had torn a triceps muscle, declared himself ready for the Jets after receiving an encouraging MRI exam yesterday.

With Lewis, Reed, cornerback Chris McAlister and defensive end Terrell Suggs, the Ravens have playmakers in all areas. It could be a dangerous matchup for the Jets, who allowed five sacks to the Patriots. Four of those came on three- and four-man rushes, an indictment of the offensive line.

Asked if he wanted to guarantee any interceptions, the ball-hawking Reed said, "No predictions. We're just going to go out and have fun, fly around and, hopefully, we can get three or four."

Pennington would be perfect for this game because of his ability to make quick reads, but the wheels turning in his head won't matter much with a bad wheel at his feet. He said he's rehabbing "around the clock," hoping to give it a shot. He's relying on advice from former teammate Curtis Martin, who made a career of playing in pain.

"He always talked bout maintaining a positive attitude and never believing that you're not going to play," said Pennington, claiming he's "seeing progress every day" on his ankle. "Always expect to be ready by Sunday; that was always his mind-set."

His mind and his heart might be telling him to play, but his ankle - and his coach - will have the final word.

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets sign ex-Cowboy despite troubles

BY RICH CIMINI

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Thursday, September 13th 2007, 4:00 AM

The Jets have built a reputation for seeking players with solid backgrounds, but they signed a player yesterday - former Cowboys S Abram Elam - who has considerable baggage.

In 2002, Elam was one of four Notre Dame players charged with sexually assaulting a female student. He was the only one of the four convicted of any charges - sexual battery, a felony. He was acquitted on the more serious charges of conspiracy to commit rape and criminal deviate conduct. He received an 18-month suspended sentence, two years probation and 200 hours of community service. Elam was thrown out of Notre Dame, resurfacing at Kent State.

The Jets' security conducted a background check on Elam and concluded it was an isolated incident, a team spokesman said.

Elam was waived by the Dolphins in 2005 and played 15games last season for the Cowboys, finishing fourth on the team in special-teams tackles. After surrendering a league-record 108-yard kickoff return to the Patriots, the Jets were looking to upgrade their coverage unit.

STUCKEY LOST FOR SEASON: Rookie WR Chansi Stuckey, coming off a promising preseason, was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury. He broke the same foot last season at Clemson, causing him to drop to the seventh round. Eric Mangini said this was a different type of injury, but he wasn't specific.

It was a costly move for Stuckey. The Jets docked $10,000 from his signing bonus as a punishment for being with Justin Miller on the night Miller was arrested for assault in May. They converted the $10,000 into incentives, but Stuckey can't earn it back now that he's on IR.

MOORE'S GRAND TOTAL: The official numbers on Brandon Moore's new contract are in: The veteran right guard signed a six-year contract for about $17.3 million, according to a source. He will receive a total of $1.4 million in "new" money in 2007 and 2008. The deal includes a $5 million roster bonus in 2009.

It's a modest contract, but it raises a question: If the Jets renegotiated Moore's deal, which ran through 2010, why not do the same for LG Pete Kendall, who was traded after a contract dispute?

"At this point in time, Pete is with the Redskins and he wishes the Jets the best," said Kendall's agent, Neil Schwartz, who tried to procure a $1 million raise for his client. "It's unfortunate it didn't work out. Pete is happy for Brandon."... RB Thomas Jones (calf), CB Andre Dyson (foot) and Miller (hamstring) were limited in practice. ...Ravens coach Brian Billick declined to name a starting QB. Steve McNair (groin) didn't practice. Kyle Boller may get the nod. ... LB Ray Lewis (arm) and T Jonathan Ogden (toe) didn't practice. Ogden isn't expected to play.

[Kentucky Jet]

JOYFUL JAG:

[Kentucky Jet]

Clemens will start for Jets against Ravens

BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com

12:17 AM EDT, September 13, 2007

Chad Pennington spent the past three days and will spend the rest of the week preparing as if he is going to play against the Ravens on Sunday. He will not.

A person familiar with the situation said Wednesday night that although the Jets will not make an announcement, second-year backup Kellen Clemens will be running the offense in Week 2. It's unclear how long Pennington's ankle injury will keep him out of action.

Wednesday, Pennington evoked memories of Curtis Martin, who often spent the week on the sideline and wound up playing in games.

"Always expecting to play and always expecting to be ready, that was his mindset," Pennington said of the former Jets running back, calling Martin a mentor in dealing with injuries. And it's a big reason why Pennington is spending this week as he is.

"The goal is to be ready on Sunday," Pennington said. "The goal is not to be ready today or yesterday or tomorrow. That's always the ultimate goal because that's when the whistle blows and the kickoff happens."

Still limping from the right ankle injury he suffered when sacked in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Patriots, Pennington was limited in Wednesday's practice, the first since the incident. He had the ankle heavily wrapped and participated in agility drills, at one point hopping over blocking pads on his left foot like a hopscotcher. In the first half-hour of practice, the portion open to the media, Pennington mostly stood by as Clemens and Marques Tuiasosopo worked on position drills.

The Jets aren't saying who will start against the Ravens. "Even if I did know, I probably couldn't share it with my mother," Clemens said. Mrs. Clemens will have to wait for an official verification like the rest of us, likely until someone trots in to run the huddle before the Jets' first offensive snap. But the Jets are ready for Clemens to take over.

So are the Ravens.

"We're not a typical defense that you can just pick up on," safety Ed Reed said Wednesday. "It's something that takes some time, and for a quarterback who comes in for the first time, I'm sure he's excited and looking forward to the challenge, but at the same time somewhere in the back of his head I'm sure he's a little shook up."

Coach Brian Billick said he wouldn't have to use out any special tricks if Clemens is playing. "[Defensive coordinator] Rex Ryan doesn't need much prodding to want to bring pressure," Billick said. "He gets up in the morning and is ready to blitz."

The last time the Jets faced the Ravens was in 2005, when Brooks Bollinger made his first career start at quarterback after a series of injuries to previous passers, including Pennington. Bollinger was sacked five times in a 13-3 loss.

"We want to get to him as quickly as possible, get in his face, get him to force the ball to someplace where he doesn't want to throw it," Reed said of the strategy when facing a newbie at QB. "It's just what we do."

Notes & quotes: The Jets put WR Chansi Stuckey (foot) on IR and signed S Abram Elam, a Cowboys special-teamer last year. They released S Raymond Ventrone from the practice squad ... G Brandon Moore signed a new contract with the Jets, essentially giving him the $1-million raise that caused the rift between the Jets and Pete Kendall in camp. Moore will earn $1.8 million this season and is under contract through 2013 ... The Ravens put KR/PR B.J. Sams on IR. LB Ray Lewis (biceps), QB Steve McNair (groin), T Jonathan Ogden (toe) and CB Samari Rolle (foot) sat out practice. An MRI on Lewis' triceps reportedly showed no tear to the main muscle.

[Kentucky Jet]

Belichick apologizes, doesn't say for what

BY TOM ROCK | tom.rock@newsday.com

11:27 PM EDT, September 12, 2007

Kerry Rhodes was one of the Jets players who made an off-the-cuff remark Sunday about the Patriots seeming to know what the Jets were doing.

"I said it facetiously, not even knowing, and it turned out that some stuff was going on," the safety said Wednesday.

A day after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly saw a confiscated videotape and determined that the Patriots had broken league rules by recording the signals of Jets defensive coaches relaying play calls onto the field, Rhodes was still trying to figure out just how the Jets' blitzes were picked up so efficiently by the Patriots in their 38-14 win.

"Every time we showed something, [Tom Brady] had the right check," Rhodes reiterated Wednesday.

"That can be a compliment to him being smart like he is, but you never know."

Patriots coach Bill Belichick issued a statement of apology Wednesday to "everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players," and confirmed he had spoken with Goodell about "a videotaping procedure" and "interpretation of the rules." But other NFL coaches suggested no interpretation is required.

"There are rules in place, and the rules are what's acceptable and everybody has to abide by the rules," Jets coach Eric Mangini said. "We all get what's acceptable and what's not acceptable."

Ravens coach Brian Billick echoed that black-and-white thinking. "It's pretty clear-cut," he said. "If it's in the rule book and you violate it, then it's against the rules."

The NFL's Game Operations Manual states "no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game." NFL spokesman Greg Aiello has said teams have been warned repeatedly about this rule.

Mangini, a longtime Belichick assistant, was asked if he was aware of the practice of videotaping opposing coaches during his time in New England. "As I said with this whole issue, it's a league issue and they are handling it," he said.

Goodell could make an official decision on the case by the end of this week.

An ESPN report said Goodell had seen the confiscated tape and determined it violated the rules but was waiting for the Patriots to present a defense before announcing a verdict. League sources have told Newsday that the NFL is not considering forfeit or a suspension of any Patriots coaches as a possible penalty.

Goodell has come down hard on players who have violated rules, and at least some are hoping he is even-handed when it comes to dealing with the most prolific team of the last decade.

"Hopefully, there's a harsh enough penalty that it's not worth it to try to cheat and get any advantage you're not allowed to get," Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer said. "I hope the commissioner is just as harsh on them as he's been on individual players for making mistakes."

The prospect of losing multiple draft picks, a punishment Goodell is said to be mulling, may seem light to some. But to an NFL team, it's more than a rap across the fingers.

"It's huge," Billick said. "It depends on how high the pick, obviously. But more so than anything else you can do, no financial fine, no sanction will bother you more than losing a draft choice."

Asked if he was surprised that his innocent postgame statement now carries a wisp of clairvoyance, Rhodes laughed.

"You're never surprised in this league," he said. "Everybody is trying to get a competitive edge on their opponent."

[Kentucky Jet]

Belichick Apologizes, but Does Not Explain

By JUDY BATTISTA

Published: September 13, 2007

FOXBOROUGH, Mass., Sept. 12

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets Aren

[Kentucky Jet]

Clemens gets call to start for Jets

Thursday, September 13, 2007

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON AND PAUL NEEDELL

Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Jets second-year quarterback Kellen Clemens will replace Chad Pennington and make his first NFL start against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, according to three people familiar with the severity of Pennington's right ankle injury and the Jets' plans.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity because all official injury information must come from the team.

"Chad's not going to play (against the Ravens)," one person said yesterday. "It's Kellen."

The injury is the latest in a star-crossed career for Pennington, who played all 16 regular-season games last season for the first time. He suffered a severely sprained or bruised right ankle -- the team still has not classified the severity of the injury -- last Sunday against the Patriots. There was no fracture, according to someone who received a preliminary evaluation of the injury, and Pennington could be ready to play next week against the Dolphins.

Pennington, walking with a slight limp yesterday, was echoing the company line under strict orders from coach Eric Mangini before practice during his weekly news conference. He said he has been living in the training room since Monday morning -- leaving only to go home and sleep -- and is hoping to play against the Ravens.

"It's just a day-to-day process and I'm working extremely hard around the clock to do everything I can to prepare myself to play," Pennington said. "I'm just taking it day by day and seeing how much progress I make each day."

Pennington, in his eighth season, was injured when he was sacked by defensive end Jarvis Green during the third quarter of the Jets' 38-14 loss. His ankle was caught in the turf and rolled on as Green twisted him to the ground. After hopping off the field on his left leg, Pennington returned for a series with a pronounced limp and led the Jets to a touchdown before taking himself out of the game on the next series with the Jets far behind.

As is his policy regarding injuries, Mangini was tight-lipped about Pennington's condition. The organization wouldn't even acknowledge that Pennington took an MRI, which was scheduled for Monday.

"We'll see how it goes," Mangini said. "And it's really like everybody (that's injured). We'll talk to the doctors, we'll see how it works and then we'll monitor it as we go."

Pennington, wearing a black air boot to protect his ankle and dressed in pads, stretched with the team but couldn't fully participate in warm-up drills because of his tender ankle. He went around pads instead of over them in one drill because he couldn't lift his ankle high enough to maneuver through the course.

During the 30 minutes members of the media are allowed to watch practice, Pennington, walking gingerly, didn't throw a pass or take any snaps during routine passing drills.

Clemens, the heir apparent to Pennington, took nearly all the reps in practice with the first team, according to another person. Marques Tuiasosopo handled the second-team snaps.

On the injury report, Pennington, who has been a mentor to Clemens, is listed as having limited participation in practice.

The injury bug has followed Pennington throughout his career. He missed a combined 16 games with career-threatening rotator cuff injuries in 2004 and 2005. He missed six games with a wrist injury in 2003.

"I'm not frustrated; I'm disappointed," Pennington said. "I want to be out there every snap, every rep, practice, games. Whatever it is, I want to be there, so I'm disappointed that I'm not. I'm not frustrated because I understand the nature of the situation. My whole goal, and I believe a big part of healing and getting back, is having the right attitude and not looking at it with a bad attitude."

Clemens, who has thrown just 11 career passes, will be pitted against perhaps the NFL's best defense. The last time a Jets quarterback started his first NFL game against the Ravens was in 2005, when Brooks Bollinger got the call. He was sacked five times and pressured all game in a 13-3 loss.

"They're a vaunted group," Clemens said. "They were ranked No. 1 in the league last year in overall defense. They take the ball away, just attack as a group. Their whole defense has a lot of Pro Bowl players, very talented. ... There's not a lot of weak spots in those 11 players. The stats they put up last year prove it."

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@starledger.com

[Kentucky Jet]

Security chief catches the spy on the sideline

Thursday, September 13, 2007

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON AND RICK HEPP

Star-Ledger Staff

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Eagle-eyed former FBI agent Steve Yarnell -- who has been with the Jets for 11 seasons, the past four as the team's director of security -- sniffed out the Patriots' spy attempts on Sunday.

Yarnell, who was initially hired by Bill Parcells and has also worked with the Giants and Patriots, spotted New England video assistant Matt Estrella taking illegal video of the Jets coaches sending in defensive signals during last Sunday's game and turned him in to NFL security.

"Steve is very good at what he does," said a person close to the investigation who did not want to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the situation. "He watches everything. He can be a pain in the butt, but you want him in a foxhole with you."

Yarnell, who also serves as a body guard for Jets coach Eric Mangini during games, spotted Estrella and confronted him on the field.

Pat Aramini, vice president of security at the Meadowlands Complex, said Yarnell viewed a portion of the tape and saw it was of a Jets defensive coach.

Eventually, security from the NFL, Jets and Patriots, as well as state troopers in the Sports Complex unit, ended up in Aramini's office at Giants Stadium, where they spent "at least an hour" trying to determine who would get the video camera and tape, Aramini said. At one point, there was a discussion of copying the tape and giving the copy to the Jets, but the team balked at the idea.

"The NFL wanted to take possession of the tape and the Patriots said no," Aramini said. "It went back and forth until we got a call from the league that any footage taken on the field belongs to the NFL."

The Patriots did not like the answer, Aramini said, and the team's security representative said New England wasn't going to give up the tape.

"I said, 'I'm in possession of it now,'" Aramini said. "It belongs to the NFL by rights. If the Patriots have any problem they can take it up with the league on Monday. The NFL took the tape and the video camera."

He said everyone in the room was a "gentleman," with the Patriots security representative asking the others "not to kill the messenger."

RG Brandon Moore, who like Pete Kendall had three years left on his contract, signed a new deal that gave him a $1 million raise this season, the same $1 million Kendall was seeking. Moore, a fifth-year pro and fourth-year starter, had his base bumped to $1.8 million this season. The six-year extension is worth $16.08 million.

Rookie WR Chansi Stuckey, who had a promising preseason, was placed on injured reserve (foot) and is out for the season. He re-injured the same foot he hurt in college last season. Also, the Jets yesterday signed second-year S Abram Elam and OL Jason Capizzi to the practice squad and released S Raymond Ventrone.

Ravens 10-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jonathan Ogden (toe) is out indefinitely. ... QB Steve McNair (groin), LB Ray Lewis (triceps) and CB Samari Rolle (foot) didn't practice.

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets

[Kentucky Jet]

Jets notebook

Thursday, September 13, 2007

What spying incident?

Jets' players didn't offer many opinions when asked Wednesday about New England's apparent videotaping of the signals of the Jets' defensive coaches in the Patriots' opening day win. They obviously were taking their cue from coach Eric Mangini.

When asked if he had knowledge of such illegal practices while he was a New England assistant from 2000-05, Mangini replied, "As I said with this whole issue, it's a league issue and they are handling it. And we are really focused on the Ravens."

"I don't pay any attention to things I have no control over," linebacker Eric Barton said. "I'm just getting ready for Baltimore."

"To be honest, I just laughed," Chad Pennington said of his reaction. "I don't really think much about it. That's a league issue and I don't have any control or any real thoughts on it. I'm just ready to move on."

Stuckey done

Rookie wide receiver Chansi Stuckey was placed on injured reserve with an injury to his right foot. Stuckey missed three games last season at Clemson after fracturing his right foot, although Mangini said this was a "different injury." "It wasn't going to get any better," the coach added, "so we put him on IR."

In preseason, Stuckey tied for third in the NFL with 11 receptions and developed some chemistry with backup quarterback Kellen Clemens, who could start Sunday if the injured Pennington cannot. Former Dallas safety Abram Elam was signed to take Stuckey's roster spot.

Briefs

Pennington was one of six Jets who were listed as being limited in practice. Among the others were CB Andre Dyson (foot) and FS Eric Smith (hamstring), both of whom sat out the opener. ... Baltimore also has injury woes. QB Steve McNair (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, nor did LT Jonathan Ogden (toe), who isn't expected to play. But LB Ray Lewis (triceps) is optimistic about playing. Punt and kickoff returner B.J. Sams (knee) was placed on injured reserve.

-- J.P. Pelzman

[Kentucky Jet]

Globe Editorial

Belichick's hidden camera

September 13, 2007

CAUGHT VIDEOTAPING the signals of New York Jets' coaches in Sunday's game, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick apologized yesterday to "everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff, and players." He did not mention fans, which is unfortunate, because they too have been embarrassed by the team's violation of league rules against taping. Responsibility for that violation lies with Belichick himself.

Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts Patriots fans have taken great pride in the team's winning of three Super Bowls in six years. Until now, fans could believe that it was the superior choice of players and better training and game plans that have made the team the closest thing to a dynasty the league has seen in years. It is dispiriting to learn that rule-breaking might have been part of the winning formula. If National Football League coArticle Tools

Share on Facebookmmissioner Roger Goodell confirms that Belichick cheated, the penalty - including loss of future draft picks - should be stiff enough to deter other coaches from putting winning above sportsmanship.

The NFL owes much of its appeal to its belief in balanced competition - on any given Sunday any team has a chance to beat another. Buttressing this is its practice of equally dividing national television receipts among teams and placing a salary cap on them. Championships are won by astute moves on and off the field, not by stratospheric payrolls. But in the drive to find any possible edge over an opponent, the league has to draw the line at tactics taken more from James Bond than George Halas.

Green Bay Packers officials have identified the Patriots cameraman in Sunday's incident as the same one who was ordered off the sidelines for illegal taping in a Patriots-Packers game in Green Bay last November. That should have been a warning to Belichick that other teams were onto his tricks.

Football insiders have been speculating about just how the taping would help, and whether it is meant to assist during the game being taped or a subsequent one against the same opponent. If in fact the Patriots were taping Packers coaches, it would seem to have been aimed at helping in that game, since there was little chance the Patriots would meet the Packers again last season.

Videotaping the Jets was wrongheaded from the first. Not only had the league put out a directive against the practice, but both the Jets head coach and video director had recently worked for the Patriots and could be expected to be alert to this kind of espionage. Also, the fact that the camera was confiscated in the first quarter and the Pats still dominated in the rest of the game showed how unnecessary the rule-breaking was. From a standpoint of both ethics and smart gamesmanship, the taping was a blunder. The Patriots should be able to win on a level playing field, without cameras. Leave "let's go to the tape" to the sportscasters.

[Kentucky Jet]

POSTED 7:48 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:44 p.m. EDT, September 12, 2007

MANGINI: HERO OR HEEL?

Rich Cimini of the New York Daily News reports that the Patriots' efforts to videotape defensive signals was brought to light by former New England defensive coordinator Eric Mangini, who shared the information in 2006 with members of the Jets' organization.

"When Eric came, he said that's what they used to do," a source told Cimini. "Bill [belichick] is going to be [ticked] at Eric. He kissed and told."

It would be easy to proclaim that Mangini did the right thing, ignoring the good-old-boys' network and bringing to light Belichick's dirty little secret.

But it would naive to do so, too.

Mangini didn't blow the whistle when he first learned of the situation, while Mangini was working for the Patriots. Instead, he took advantage of the competitive advantage, and parlayed it into a head-coaching job of his own.

And then Mangini blew the whistle in a manner that will eventually create for him a competitive advantage, since it will result in the imposition of some sort of a sanction on the Patriots.

But should Mangini be allowed to have it both ways? And did he bother to consider whether bringing this situation to light might indirectly call into question his own credentials to be a head coach?

Meanwhile, there's talk in league circles that Mangini will find it very hard to win the trust of anyone in the NFL moving forward. Even though Belichick has no cause to gripe about getting caught under circumstances where he knew that the opposing head coach knew what Belichick was doing, the truth is that anyone who chooses to confide in Mangini now or in the future will do so at his own peril.

Keep that in mind, Mike Tannenbaum, if/when you ever consider doing something like, say, contacting the agent for a player who is under contract with another team.

[Sperm Edwards]

Thanks again, KJ, for donating yet another hour of your day doing nothing but posting articles & editing them so they display neatly.

Sounds like nothing to those who don't do it, but I did it here for about a year & it's a pain that when you want to copy/paste a full article into vbulletin; the double-spaces between paragraphs disappear, it looks like crap, & it's harder to read. Then editing that & doing the preview-post over & over b/c you missed 1 line. The annoyance of entering a zip-code, year-of-birth, and clicking a radio button asking for your gender every single day. And the search for articles that don't automatically pop up with neat links on one referring website.

SFJ used to do it for a while also. And JFF/NightStalker used to fill in for me if I was too busy or away. So a sincere thank-you to all of you from the person who is glad someone else is doing it now.

[Kentucky Jet]

Thanks again, KJ, for donating yet another hour of your day doing nothing but posting articles & editing them so they display neatly.

Sounds like nothing to those who don't do it, but I did it here for about a year & it's a pain that when you want to copy/paste a full article into vbulletin; the double-spaces between paragraphs disappear, it looks like crap, & it's harder to read. Then editing that & doing the preview-post over & over b/c you missed 1 line. The annoyance of entering a zip-code, year-of-birth, and clicking a radio button asking for your gender every single day. And the search for articles that don't automatically pop up with neat links on one referring website.

SFJ used to do it for a while also. And JFF/NightStalker used to fill in for me if I was too busy or away. So a sincere thank-you to all of you from the person who is glad someone else is doing it now.

Thank you very much. I enjoy doing it on this board because everyone is so appreciative. It is quite different on other boards.

[BP]

Thank you very much. I enjoy doing it on this board because everyone is so appreciative. It is quite different on other boards.

You're like a machine. every morning I log in and this thread needs to be pinned.

Thanks again KJ!

Your time and effort is appreciated.