The spy games between the Jets and New England Patriots began last season.

The Jets were caught videotaping at Gillette Stadium last season and the Patriots had that New York employee removed from the area, according to published reports yesterday. Jets coach Eric Mangini said his team received permission to film behind both end zones during the playoff game in January.

“We taped the game, is what we taped, and we taped end-zone copy of the game, and we tape a double end zone, which is standard operating procedure for us,” Mangini said yesterday. “We request that every single road game, and it’s usually granted if physically it’s possible. And when people request it from us, we do the same thing: We grant it.”

Mangini maintained the Jets did nothing wrong, and had filmed at New England during the regular season without incident. It was nothing like what the Patriots did earlier this season, when a New England employee was caught taping New York’s defensive signals and was punished by the league. “We do it every time we go on the road,” Mangini repeated. “We ask for permission to do it. It’s within the league rules, and when people ask us to do it, we grant it, as well.”

When asked why the Patriots stopped the Jets if they had already given them permission, Mangini just shrugged.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Really, it just was what it was. We had asked for permission, it was granted and then that changed, and we respect their decision. It’s their stadium.”

Mangini was also asked if the Jets were, at all, taping the Patriots’ defensive signals.

“No,” Mangini said smugly.

He was then asked if the Patriots requested similar permission to have someone taping at various angles or end-zone angles. Again, Mangini replied simply: “No.”

The Jets have not asked the undefeated Patriots if they can film from the end zones this Sunday at Foxborough.

“Just didn’t look to get permission,” Mangini said. “Didn’t think it would be granted.”

New England coach Bill Belichick refused to address the situation during his news conference with Patriots reporters.

“There’s a lot of things that have happened in the past,” Belichick said. “Really, the past is in the past.”

Patriots players were also staying away from the issue, much as they did when Pittsburgh’s Anthony Smith guaranteed a victory over New England last week.

“It just doesn’t matter. Who cares?” safety Rodney Harrison said. “It has no impact whatsoever, just like when Smith made his comments. It has no impact. The game isn’t won or lost through the media Monday through Saturday. It’s won or lost on Sunday, 1:00. It’s whoever makes more plays.”