Sunday’s game between the Patriots and Texans generated a footnote almost as interesting as Antonio Smith’s misguided claim that the Patriots have been spying, again.
Via KHOU 11 in Houston, a pair of Reliant Stadium security guards lost their jobs after posing for pictures with Pats quarterback Tom Brady.
Contemporary Services Corporation quickly fired Joe Williams (pictured with Brady) and Christopher Moore after Sunday’s game.
“It is strictly against CSC policy for its employees to request photos or autographs from players,” CSC told KHOU 11 in a statement. “CSC stands by its decision to terminate the two employees who violated this policy.”
On the surface, the move makes sense. It’s generally frowned upon for anyone working at a stadium, from security guards to members of the media, to ask players or coaches to pose for pictures or sign autographs while in their workplace. Absent a bright line that everyone honors, a gray area emerges that eventually will distract players and coaches. Even if it happens after a game, clamoring for player photos and autographs is something that people who are paid to be at the stadium generally shouldn’t be doing.
At a minimum, it’s unprofessional. At worst (i.e., as far as CSC is concerned), it’s grounds for termination.
But Williams and Moore have made an intriguing allegation. They contend CSC doesn’t apply the rule against photos and autographs consistently.
“What they say and what they practice are two different things,” Moore said. “What we see on a daily basis, whether it be Reliant or CSC employees, is them taking pictures and asking for autographs from players.”
If that’s true, then there’s a chance that CSC has selectively applied the rule to Williams and Moore as a pretext for some other reason to get rid of them. Which could make a situation that seems cut and dried on the surface a lot murkier, especially if Williams and/or Moore land in the offices of a local law firm.