Breaking News: League finds no improper lockout contact

[CloakNNNdagger]

Last week, Mike Freeman of CBSSports.com reported that players and assistant coaches routinely have been in contact, estimating that 25 percent of all teams are breaking the rules prohibiting contact during the lockout. Later in the week, Rodney Harrison told PFT Live that he knows players and coaches are talking.

In response to Freeman’s report, the league said it would look into the matter. And the league has looked into the matter.

And the league has found no improprieties.

“Not at this point,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told Clark Judge of CBSSports.com. “It’s not an investigation, per se. We’re monitoring what’s taken place and follow up on various reports, then follow up on any specific information.”

We’re not quite sure what that means. But we are sure that the NFL realizes that it would be unfair to pluck one sacrificial lamb from the barn when they’ve all got dirt on their wool. Unless a team admits it or gets reckless with the communications, it simply wouldn’t be fair to launch an investigation that uncovers one violation without engaging in a similar violation as to every other team, and without punishing every team that is guilty.

The league gains nothing from having such information make it into the media, especially during the lockout. So, as Aiello said, it’s “not an investigation, per se.” Indeed, it’s not an investigation, at all.

This group of league "investigators" will continue to closely monitor the situation.

[Señor Stan]

But we are sure that the NFL realizes that it would be unfair to pluck one sacrificial lamb from the barn when they’ve all got dirt on their wool.

Bob McNair's Ox in the Ditch comment approves this message.

[DonnyMost]

So what if some teams have been contacting players? Don't they have the right to break ranks with the other teams if they choose? I don't see any legal problem there.

[CloakNNNdagger]

It would seem that players and teams could easily get around this rule by communicating through a 3rd party that does not "represent" them.

For example, players have hired noncurrent NFL coaches to workout on their own. They could easily act "by-the-by" as the "3rd party." I can see many creative scenarios that are going on.......generated from both sides.

[IDEXAN]

So anybody know if the Texans were one of the teams that stuck their collective neck out and atleast contacted a couple guys ? I sure hope they made an effort to talk to atleast a couple postion guys they need ?

[TexanSam]

It would be incredibly hard for the NFL to track whether players and coaches have been communicating with each other considering the different ways they can all get in touch. The NFL can't monitor phone calls or text messages, much less Skype or personal e-mail's going back and forth. I would be more surprised if the players and coaches weren't communicating in some way.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

So anybody know if the Texans were one of the teams that stuck their collective neck out and atleast contacted a couple guys ? I sure hope they made an effort to talk to atleast a couple postion guys they need ?

Just as is the case with Cushing's tweet about flying to convince Cromartie that he should become a Texan (I doubt that he would do this without knowing that the Texans had an interest.......remember the very short lockout break where all sorts of communications both direct and indirect could have occured...........and the owners knew that there would at least be a chance of the lockout being reinstated)

[cuppacoffee]

Breaking news.

The Texans did nothing.

[Honoring Earl 34]

Originally Posted by cuppacoffee

Breaking news.

The Texans did nothing.

Nice guys finish last and if you ain't cheatin you ain't trying .

[Ryan]

What's breaking about this? Still no football.

[CloakNNNdagger]

Originally Posted by Ryan

What's breaking about this? Still no football.

The "breaking news" part was expressly sarcastic.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by CloakNNNdagger

The "breaking news" part was expressly sarcastic.

Kinda tricked me into thinking something bigger.