Is it just me...

[C-7]

...or should there be an unspoken moral/ethical code against players giving away the playbook/signals of their former teams.


This is something that has been on my mind for a long time. We play the Giants this Saturday, they have both our former middle linebacker and quarterback. The last time we played them I remember hearing after the game that both Hasstlebeck and Pierce helped the coaching staff decipher our strategy.

Now, I know a lot of teams do this, but it just seams downright dirty and unfair IMO. The most likely argument to this will be that those players owe nothing to their former teams who cut them, or that some players get signed just for this particular purpose. And I know it can work both ways, but still, come one! How low can you get?


I may be the only one, but I think it's wrong. What's more, I believe it's borderline cheating. There should be a code among players to not give away their former teams playbook and among coaches not to ask for it.

[smoak]

Even if there was a moral code, I think players would ignore it. I know I am competititve to the point where if I knew what the Giants were calling, I would tell the Redskins coaching staff.

I don't know? Good points, but I don't see it ever changing.

[Redskin4Life]

I agree with you but then how do you prove that a player or coach violated this code or not??? If a team demolishes us, like NYG did, was is cause Hass and Pierce gave us up or was it cause the Giants were more focused on honoring Mara's memory?

And then some people could argue that it's the coaching staff's fault for not changing the play calling for that game... or doing what we did, use wristbands so hand signals won't work.

It's a touchy subject but I agree that the competition committee should address this somehow...

On a similar note, did you find it interesting that Barrow's was quoted as saying he would never sell his knowledge of GW's system or his hand signals for anything?!?!!? Sounds to me like Mike B wants a job on our coaching staff (which I don't mind at all... look at Pierce from last year to this year). Pierce has grown tremendously under Barrow and GW's tutelage....

[GibbsRules!]

I don't doubt one bit that the Gints knew what was coming.

Like GW did last week fearing Barrow would some calls...we need to get cryptic across the board this week!

Should be interesting this weekend...

[C-7]

I agree with you but then how do you prove that a player or coach violated this code or not??? If a team demolishes us, like NYG did, was is cause Hass and Pierce gave us up or was it cause the Giants were more focused on honoring Mara's memory?

And then some people could argue that it's the coaching staff's fault for not changing the play calling for that game... or doing what we did, use wristbands so hand signals won't work.

It's a touchy subject but I agree that the competition committee should address this somehow...

On a similar note, did you find it interesting that Barrow's was quoted as saying he would never sell his knowledge of GW's system or his hand signals for anything?!?!!? Sounds to me like Mike B wants a job on our coaching staff (which I don't mind at all... look at Pierce from last year to this year). Pierce has grown tremendously under Barrow and GW's tutelage....


I did not know that. Interesting, and good for him.


As for your previous comments, I said that it should be an unspoken code. They should not do it out of respect, the same way Barrow supposedly did not.


And Hass and Pierce both openly admitted that they did give away many things about our offense and defense.

[The Skinsinator]

I've wondered the same thing myself especially after we got toasted by the Giants earlier this year. It really could prove a huge advantage for the team being informed of the signals etc. However, as others have stated, I don't see it changing it anytime soon. It is very circumstantial and would be difficult to prove.

[chrisbcbu]

GW was ready this week for that. He went away from using signals and went to wrist bands in case Barrow would give it away. I expect GW to do the same thing during the Giants game as well.

[SkinsFan73]

i think that it will never become and unmoral thing but it does suck because you have to think about that every week

[The Skinsinator]

GW was ready this week for that. He went away from using signals and went to wrist bands in case Barrow would give it away. Which was indeed very wise of Williams. Buck and Aikman commented on that at the beginning of the game. I still can't figure out, after Sunday's game, if I was more pleased with our offense or defense. Awesome problem to have.

[GeneralDisorder]

All is fair in Love and war.

If anything, this teaches you to have a settled roster and not make dozens of changes every off-season without a clear idea of where you're headed. Difficult I know in the Free Agency period...

i'm pretty sure James Thrash's input helped when putting together gameplan against the Eagles, Barrow and the Giants, Portis against Denver, Springs against Seattle...

[hail2skins]

Well, back in the day the Hogs used to come out of the huddle and tell the defense what they were going to do and then said stop it. Guess what, they didn't stop them. It's about execution.

[RedskinRyan]

i dont think its necessarily fair, but i dont think the players shouldnt do it. if it gives your team the advantage, i dont see why wouldnt give out the signals. as someone already said, just change your signals for the game. although with the modern era, you'd need new signals every week.

[IHATEDALLAS'82'87'91]

I totally agree. Most of them aren't very good and are going to get cut again.