Source: Dave Granlund/MetroWest Daily News
Espionage in the NFL usually doesn’t take the form of a mysterious guy with binoculars on a distant hill trying to spy on practice, or by way of a video camera — ahem, Bill Belichick.
Instead, it is often in the form of free agent signings.
For example, it’s often suggested that the Patriots’ signing of Danny Woodhead in 2010 was largely motivated to gain information on the Jets, who cut Woodhead after a somewhat impressive preseason.
So when the Raiders signed Roscoe Parrish shortly after the Chargers cut him on Friday, it wasn’t unreasonable for fans to be a little suspicious.
And now it appears the Chargers have responded.
According to Michael Gehlken of the UT-San Diego, the Chargers used their final practice squad spot on offensive tackle Kevin Haslam, who, of course, the Raiders cut last week.
Now, the Chargers don’t have much depth these days at offensive tackle with Jared Gaither’s mystery injury, so maybe they really couldn’t care less about acquiring information. And it’s possible, too, that the Raiders weren’t motivated to sign Parrish to gain any insight on the Chargers.
However, it is fun to wonder if both Haslam and Parrish were thrown into a room and put under a hot, bright light when they arrived in their new cities.
I can’t speak for the Raiders, but it certainly isn’t something I’d put past AJ Smith.
Flashes of Lightning
• Michael Gehlken of the UT-San Diego tweeted out that Ryan Mathews practiced again today, but was still limited to individual drills only.
• According to CBS Sports, Norv Turner suggests that Mathews will not play against the Raiders on Monday night.
• According to Ricky Henne, the Managing Editor for Chargers.com, defensive tackle Antonio Garay — who has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the past month — returned to practice today.
