Secrecy=Wins?

The Jets finished their three-day rookie mini-camp Sunday, and I would like very much to give you some observations from the final day.

I can’t, because there was no access. Of course, it’s not as if I can give you a ton of observations from the other two days, considering the media were allotted a total of one hour and 25 minutes to watch practice, and almost all of that time was taken up by calisthenics and special-teams drills.

Why? Well, it’s all a part of coach Eric Mangini’s pattern of deep cover, learned from his estranged mentor, Bill Belichick. [Although, believe it or not, somebody told me that the Patriots had three hours of rookie practice visible to the media this weekend. Go figure.]

This is not a rip on Mangini. To the contrary, I think he is a generally likeable person, and when he talks about his wife and children, you can see a genuine warmth and humanity. His news conferences aren’t as contentious as those of Belichick, for example.

[In fact, Mangini was often funny this weekend, noting how he first saw tape of Vernon Gholston while he was walking on the treadmill, and quickly added, ‘it may seem shocking at this point, but I was actually on the treadmill.’ Mangini apparently has put on a few pounds this off-season, not that I have the right to criticize anyone on that score. It was then asked if Mangini actually was walking on the treadmill, and he said, ‘I was just standing there having dinner. But I wanted to say I got on the treadmill.’]

But despite the fact that he has more personality than Belichick, Mangini is convinced that secrecy wins games. Is he correct? On injuries, perhaps. Other than that, I’d like to see the evidence.

Many of us in the media knew that would be a problem once Belichick’s Pats won two straight Super Bowls [and three in four years] earlier this decade. The NFL is a copycat league, as has been said, and his policies were bound to spawn similar ones.

We in the media don’t complain about this just because we are inconvenienced. The bottom line is that we are the conduit to the fans. If we don’t see it, then you don’t ‘see’ it, either. I’d like to tell you what Erik Ainge’s much-debated arm strength is like from first-hand observations. I can’t, because we didn’t see him throw a pass longer than 10 yards, and those were to fellow QB Brett Ratliff.

This practice isn’t just confined to the NFL, either. The majority of Big East men’s basketball programs close their locker rooms after games and make only certain players available, as opposed to allowing the media access to the locker room and a chance to interview any player they want.

The locker room currently is closed after games at Seton Hall, where, in a few hours, coach Bobby Gonzalez will enter his 54^th consecutive day of a self-imposed boycott of media members not named Fooch. I can tell you that Gonzo’s predecessor, Louis Orr, wasn’t the most entertaining quote, but he was never, ever that inaccessible. And according to my predecessors on the beat, neither were P.J. Carlesimo, Tommy Amaker or even the seemingly always-embattled George Blaney.

And as I said, it’s not merely about me, it’s about the fans and alums and boosters who want answers to their questions.

Orr’s locker room, by the way, was open after the games. That really prevented the Pirates from winning, considering they made the NCAAs twice and the NIT once under him. In fact, both teams in this year’s East Regional final, North Carolina and Louisville, have a policy of open locker rooms after games.

Silly me. I guess that’s why neither of them won the whole thing.

Comments

[billvv]

I suspect you know that the teams want their players to concentrate on what's ahead of them and not be distracted by the media. The answer, to me, has been these blogs, where fans can discuss to their hearts content the very issues you'd like to interview the players about. You have the opportunity to start the conversation, which I think is very important, and an opportunity not to be wasted. So, what's interesting about the Jets to you?

[J.P. Pelzman]

But, Bill, if we don't have the information, and aren't allowed to get it, then it's all speculation anyway. My question is, can anyone prove that curtailing the media's access improves a team's performance?

[Biff_Roughneck]

Somebody's cranky.

[Catsandbeer.com]

JP - I imagine that Gonzo feels he's in a no-win situation, that until his boycott, every time he opened his mouth (or starting typing on his keyboard) he ended up getting skewered by not only 'the media' but by his own program/school/AD - I think the self-imposed exile (if it is in fact self-imposed) came about because he had ended up in a very difficult situation in which his job might have even been in jeopardy and anything he said or wrote could and was being used against him - I also imagine that in talking to Fooch (and it's not as if he is having a daily press conference with the man) he was restricting his message to a single person with whom he has history and trusts, perhaps the only person he feels he can trust during this firestorm to not thrown on any more fuel

I'm not saying it's right or good, just that Bobby likely feels his back is against the wall and - at great personal difficulty to him, I'm sure - is keeping his mouth shut for the first time in his career, perhaps even the first time in his life

[scarletrat]

It is spot on. This is a 2 way street--bozo will come crawling only when it is conveinent for him or has to.

[J.P. Pelzman]

Catsandbeer, Gonzalez talked to Fooch for one reason and one reason only. He knew that he would not be asked any tough questions, the kind of questions other people who cover him, myself included, would've asked. That's not how dealing with the media works. You can't just speak to those media that will give you a free ride. You need to speak to all of them, or none of them. He is getting paid a good salary to do so. Heck, high school coaches are more accessible to the media, and they make far less money.

[Bill Belichick]

No comment.

[J.P. Pelzman]

Now THAT's creative. Thanks, Bill.

[Catsandbeer.com]

well yes, clearly - this offseason has been a train wreck in terms of SHU/Gonzo PR - the man is in a no-win situation - I'm sure the behind-closed-doors for-the-last-time Quilan/Gonzo/Monsignor meeting resulted in one thing: everyone keep his mouth shut - it's hard to fault BG for laying low right now - and as you remark, Fooch only got to talk b/c he would let Coach just say what he wanted to say and not press the issue - as you should, you would ask the tough questions that could not be avoided in an interview - and as such, the only way to avoid them right now is, unfortunately, avoid the interview - nothing gonzo could say right now to the press could help him - and given that he's on thin ice, radio/tv/print/blog silence is the prudent course - he's announced a press conference for after the signing period - hopefully that can begin a period of reconnection

[J.P. Pelzman]

Honestly, catsandbeer, if I were Gonzo, I probably wouldn't be talking to the media right now either. But that still doesn't make it right, or make talking to Fooch for one day right. He's got a LOT of fences to mend.
And I'll add this again--his media blackout is SELF-IMPOSED. To the best of my understanding, it was not ordered by anyone but Bobby. Really, the Monsignor should make him talk.

[Catsandbeer.com]

does sound like a lot of fence-mending will be needed - hopefully it will happen - I genuinely have no idea if it will or not

[rutgersthirdrate]

Msgr should make him talk? Are you kidding?

Figures a low life illiterate like scarletrat is also a Jets fan.