We're back, with (ugh) Pats stuff

Hi. I'm back. In more ways than one. And with the new gig I'm a-workin', you might just see a little more here on this particular site.

Not surprisingly, Jackie MacMullan has entered my brain and sucked out all the good stuff, writing exactly how I feel about VideoGate in today's Globe. I'd been thinking about getting a Vince Young jersey lately. Now I'm sure I will. I'm not quite at the point of doing this, but when does it become OK to start cheating on your team? First, there was Rodney. OK, one player screwed up, and has been punished. Then, there were the initial video allegations. Then more stuff about the Pats wandering onto the Jets' coaching radio signal. And then, in what I personally feel is the most egregious violation (if true), Jack Del Rio says the Pats might have actually SCRAMBLED the Jaguars' radio transmissions during a playoff game two years ago. Now, there's no proof of that one (at least not yet), and for all we know it's just a losing coach mentioning something peculiar that happened in a loss. But seriously, if more digging uncovers the fact that the team has done these things, doesn't it get to the point where you can get a little extra on the side as a fan, without any repercussions if you decide to one day return to your old team once it cleans up its act? I think so. We'll see.

No matter what, there are no heroes here, and for the element of sports fans who think that the Jets should receive compensation for what happened on Sunday, I'm merely going to lay out the following: Eric Mangini was a trusted member of the Patriots' inner circle for several years. Eric Mangini then went to a division rival. The Patriots were caught doing something that only a coach on the sideline could notice, and something that would have to be backed up by some pretty legitimate claims. The Patriots were caught doing this in a game against the team Eric Mangini is now coaching. If you can't see the problem with making the Jets the victim here, then just return to watching football on Sundays and assuming the players who haven't been caught aren't using HGH.