It has been almost a year and a half since the infamous scandal of "Spygate" took place. In that timeframe, the New England Patriots went through a number of experiences regarding the effect the scandal had on the team.
What concerns me is that the entire scandal seems to have faded away for the most part. More disturbingly, it seems that far too many players, coaches, and especially fans have managed to provide an unwarranted excuse for the Patriots in an effort to minimize what might be the greatest sports scandal of our age.
What we do know is that the Patriots were caught cheating against the Jets in Week One of the 2007 NFL season. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was all to quick to hand out his punishment.
He fined Bill Belichick $500,000, the Patriots $250,000, and stripped them of their 2008 first-round draft pick. What might seem to be harsh punishment at first, can be seen as a slap on the wrist with further evaluation.
Those fines were the most in NFL history so there can be no doubt that this scandal was something major. The severity of the issue, however, was blatantly covered up by the NFL.
Within two weeks, they destroyed all of the evidence handed over to them by the Patriots. I have an issue with two things here.
No. 1, it could not have been more ignorant than to just assume the Patriots would hand over their most incriminating evidence (assuming they'd even still be in possession of it), and secondly it was completely suspicious for them to destroy the evidence they did receive so quickly and take no note what so ever regarding what they did discover.
At this point in time, no one was aware how long the Patriots had been cheating for. This bred far to much speculation and the opportunity for Patriots fans to deny the possibility that it has happened for an extended period of time.
It was not untill congress started breathing down Roger Goodell's neck that he finally came forward with the most important details of his investigation.
He admitted that Bill Belichick told him that he had been illegally videotaping since he became the head coach in 2000. That was quite a revelation considering there were still some ignorant fans who were under the impression that it had only happened for one game.
There is a big difference between cheating in one game and cheating in a total of 127 games which included 14 playoff games, four AFC Championships, and three Super Bowls.
Why withhold the length of time he discovered them to be cheating during?
The Patriots have been the face of the NFL for many years now. Any cheating scandal can harm the reputation of a sports league, just ask Major League Baseball. Roger Goodell knew that the more the Patriots were exposed as cheaters, the more harm it could do to his league.
Nothing positive could come out of this being exposed to the public. It would draw fourth too many questions about the effect it had, does it taint the Super Bowl, etc. Therefore, Goodell did everything he could to sweep the scandal under the carpet. He handed out quick fines, destroyed the evidence, and hoped it would go away.
Of course, it always comes back to Bill Belichick's blatant dishonest defense.
He claims that he misinterpreted the rules and therefore thought that what he was doing was okay. Let's take a look at those rules so you can judge for yourself...
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about 1 month ago
The Giants winning the SB may be a big reason for that. And the video that was released to the public wasn't that incriminating.
All in all I'm happy it's not talked about anymore.
about 1 month ago
I really hope you learn what rule the Patriots broke before you talk about it being the "greatest sports scandal". There is no rule in the NFL rulebook saying you can't video tape opponents signals, the rule broken buy the Patriots was that they did not videotape from an enclosed space and that they did it in an area, the ONLY area, were they are not allowed to video tape and review tape from later.
There are two other forbidden areas during the game however NFL allows teams to use tape from those areas after the game. Hence the "misinterpretation" due to the ambiguity of the rule. The memo given from the League Commish at the time that everybody looks to was directly conflicting with the rule.
The "Spygate" frenzy was created by the media, and Goodell was doing the best he could to try to protect the integrity of the game ,look at the fines given out this year, and the media refused to let it die which caused people liek you to talk out of your asses. And a Senator who was bitter that his team lost a Superbowl chose to pursue it over doing his job and fixing other problems that actually affect people. Did Walsh ever produce any videos? no. Why does everybody jump to the conclusion that this must be a further step in the conspiracy rather than maybe the Patriots NEVER taped a walkthrough, thank you Tomase.
from about 1 month ago
He's just another moron regurgitating what ESPN tells him to think.
from about 1 month ago
Although I know this is coming from a JETS fan so I will get crucified, but I have to respectfully disagree with you Bing. The rulebook was clear and BB knew what he was doing. His arrogance was his downfall. That being said, I don't think it helped all that much and I wish this subject would never ever be discussed again. Quite frankly, I am mad at myself for even reading this article.
about 1 month ago
"You'd think with 88 years of history that something would turn up. That means either thousands of NFL teams managed to never be caught, or that the Patriots were the only team dirty enough to do so."
Or, other teams do it, too, so they chose not to blow the whistle. You failed to mention there were plenty of unnamed sources from NFL teams who said they wouldn't violate the code of not ratting other teams out. Mangini used to coach for the Pats, so he knew it happened. Maybe he was just mad and decided to blow the whistle on the Pats.
Furthermore, halftime is, what, 20 minutes long? That is not enough time to sit down, go through the signals, assign them to a time period or play in the game and decide what they mean. If it were possible, then the offensive coordinator and Belichick would need to be briefed on their not only the signals, but the meanings. Sounds like a lot of work in under 1/2 hour. Also, if the Pats used them in re-matches, the other team is dumb for not changing their signals. My high school football coach changed out "hot color" every week. I think pro teams would be smart enough to change all of their signals often, too.
My last point is this: if the Pats DID use them in the game they recorded them and had all of these signals and defensive calls...why weren't they hanging 50, 60, or 70 points on every team, week in and week out? They should have scored on every drive, right?
about 1 month ago
I can't wait for your article on the Pittsburgh steriod scandal of the 70s... Why has...gone away...because it's old news.
about 1 month ago
A Colts fan beating a dead horse, how ironic... Maybe write an article that's a little more contemporary like 'Why Have Marvin Harrison's Skills Gone Away?"...
about 1 month ago
Why were they able to go 16-0? Were they still cheating last year? Did Goodell tell Robert Kraft and Bellicheck 'just don't get caught'? How come they didn't go 16-0 every year and win the SuperBowl for the past six seasons? Why did the Boston Herald apologize for running the sensational 'Taped Rams Walkthrough'? Because it didn't happen, as Walsh himself admitted. Jimmy Johnson said that they did the same thing. Why did Specter drop the investigation? He said himself he went as far as he could. Your editorial seems like sour grapes from a sore loser. Get over it, the Colts finally got past the Patriots in 2006.
from about 1 month ago
They didn't go 16-0 every year because they did not have as good of a team as they did in 2007. To be technical, they should have been 15-1 had it not been for the Baltimore screw-up.
But why did they do so well last year?
Answer: Randy Moss, he makes his QB's look better and hoggs up defensive coverage, thus...even Matt Cassel can perform well.
I'm not concerned with Matt Walsh or walk-throughs, they have been numorus things the Patriots have been accused of doing that might or might not be true. The article is in reference to their cheating being excused and the value of such being minimized.
about 1 month ago
The Patriots are cheaters who basically got away with it.
Ignore the idiotic Patriot fans who hate the fact that their crooked team built a near-dynasty by knowing what plays were going to be called before the opposing quarterback did.
This is the reason that Brady got his leg broken. It's called Karma. As far as I'm concerned, they still owe the gods of karma a lot more for selling their souls. I guess that means that Brady will get his leg broken again next year, ...or something like that.
Good job.
from about 1 month ago
Dracula you are so unbelievable ignorant I have to repost this just for you.
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I really hope you learn what rule the Patriots broke before you talk about it being the "greatest sports scandal". There is no rule in the NFL rulebook saying you can't video tape opponents signals, the rule broken buy the Patriots was that they did not videotape from an enclosed space and that they did it in an area, the ONLY area, were they are not allowed to video tape and review tape from later.
There are two other forbidden areas during the game however NFL allows teams to use tape from those areas after the game. Hence the "misinterpretation" due to the ambiguity of the rule. The memo given from the League Commish at the time that everybody looks to was directly conflicting with the rule.
The "Spygate" frenzy was created by the media, and Goodell was doing the best he could to try to protect the integrity of the game ,look at the fines given out this year, and the media refused to let it die which caused people liek you to talk out of your asses. And a Senator who was bitter that his team lost a Superbowl chose to pursue it over doing his job and fixing other problems that actually affect people. Did Walsh ever produce any videos? no. Why does everybody jump to the conclusion that this must be a further step in the conspiracy rather than maybe the Patriots NEVER taped a walkthrough, thank you Tomase.
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from about 1 month ago
Dracula you are so unbelievable ignorant I have to repost this just for you.
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I really hope you learn what rule the Patriots broke before you talk about it being the "greatest sports scandal". There is no rule in the NFL rulebook saying you can't video tape opponents signals, the rule broken buy the Patriots was that they did not videotape from an enclosed space and that they did it in an area, the ONLY area, were they are not allowed to video tape and review tape from later.
There are two other forbidden areas during the game however NFL allows teams to use tape from those areas after the game. Hence the "misinterpretation" due to the ambiguity of the rule. The memo given from the League Commish at the time that everybody looks to was directly conflicting with the rule.
The "Spygate" frenzy was created by the media, and Goodell was doing the best he could to try to protect the integrity of the game ,look at the fines given out this year, and the media refused to let it die which caused people liek you to talk out of your asses. And a Senator who was bitter that his team lost a Superbowl chose to pursue it over doing his job and fixing other problems that actually affect people. Did Walsh ever produce any videos? no. Why does everybody jump to the conclusion that this must be a further step in the conspiracy rather than maybe the Patriots NEVER taped a walkthrough, thank you Tomase.
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from about 1 month ago
Oh and incase you are too idiotic to go down to your other comment I posted (it must be hard deciphering where I replied to what comment) I'll post it here so you learn a thing or two about what a NFL offense does.
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Hey, you utter dumbshit. Have you ever noticed in your time watching football that QB's have this thing attached to their arm...there are these magical things called "plays" on them. Have you ever noticed coaches wearing headsets? They don't wear those too look cool my friend, they wear those because they can communicate to the QB through it. Unless you have groundbreaking evidence that the Patriots also pick up radio waves, and steal QB wristbands, and are quick enough to relay WITHOUT A HEAD SET to the defense what the offense is calling I suggest you shut up about that. Coach calls a number QB matches number to his plays on his band and then play is called.
But I guess even with all this evidence in your face, you can't fix stupid.
--------------------------------
Get it? The Sports media fed you so much bullshit you don't even know what the whole thing is about. You heard "cheating" and made up ASSumptions.
about 1 month ago
Dracula,
Imagine how much more hell the Patriots will have to pay after Belzebub made Matt Cassel a great quarterback.
about 1 month ago
People also need to reckognize that most colts-fans are not "bitter". I myself find winning 1 super bowl without cheating to be more impressive then winning 3 super bowls with illegal aid by 3-point margins.
Just because your team had been successful does not mean that they become the envy of others who had not shared the same success. Often Colts fans are called jelous or bitter when the fact is that we as well as other fans simply want the Patriots to own up for what they did.
about 1 month ago
i'm not a Pats fan, i am a bears fans. When i heard everyone involved in football saying that spygate wasn't a big deal. Players and coaches alike I figured it wasn't because everyone is stealing signs in the NFL, its just a matter of how the pats did it. Yes it was illegal, they got caught and they were punished. Get over it, Belichick comes from a long line of excellent coaches and he game plans like nobody else. And even with all this can someone explain them how the Pats defense is always so good? are they some how cheating there too?
from about 1 month ago
When you know what play the other team is going to call, you're bound to look pretty good on defense.
In their cheating days, do you think that a team like the Jets would ever put up a 34 spot on them in New England? I don't think so. Question answered.
from about 1 month ago
Hey, you utter dumbshit. Have you ever noticed in your time watching football that QB's have this thing attached to their arm...there are these magical things called "plays" on them. Have you ever noticed coaches wearing headsets? They don't wear those too look cool my friend, they wear those because they can communicate to the QB through it. Unless you have groundbreaking evidence that the Patriots also pick up radio waves, and steal QB wristbands, and are quick enough to relay WITHOUT A HEAD SET to the defense what the offense is calling I suggest you shut up about that. Coach calls a number QB matches number to his plays on his band and then play is called. The strategy of offense getting signals may work in PeeWees.
But I guess even with all this evidence in your face, you can't fix stupid.
from about 1 month ago
Drac the pats only caught stealing defensive signs that were sent in by hand. Offensive plays are relayed over radio to the QB or carried to the huddle by plays being subbed in, so there is no real way to steal offensive plays. And every team is looking a still images of plays that occurred on the field, so even having video isn't that big of an edge. Stealing signs and audibles is part of football, the pats took it a little past the edge of gamesmanship and got caught (and teams often change their signals at halftime anyway) . It still doesn't explain how Tom Brady is able to throw into insanely small windows, how they nailed those game winning field goals time after time and how they play such excellent defense every week. Everyone in the actual game of football said Spygate wasn't a big deal and it would give a team a huge edge because teams disguise and change their signals to begin with, so they are expecting someone to try something. The pats are amazing, they find gems everywhere, they draft well and BB has always been an insane game planer.
from about 1 month ago
buttocks, aka eddie g, aka, what was it, gaz, I think... it goes on and on since this clown comes back with a new identity every time zander&co. kick his hate-spewing ass off the site... he's nothing more than a hatefully ignorant piece of crap who doesn't even understand what he's trying to "write" about. His extraordinarily uninformed remark re: stealing OFFENSIVE signals is one of many examples of this. eddie just likes to try to get under people's skin. He is a pathetic joke, not worth any direct response.
Ignore him, people. Sooner or later he will step over the line again and get kicked off again. His remarks and your responses to them will all magically disappear.
"Spygate" went away because it's yesterday's news. The Brady-less Patriots are not having the kind of success some of us would hope for, so what is the point now of going on about something that was already a dead horse? There wasn't much point to it last year, and there certainly isn't any point to it now.
Nice try. eddie.
about 1 month ago
Dracula is an idiot. The Pats weren't accused of stealing offensive signals. They were accused of stealing defensive signals. Not to mention, defenses didn't have the radios in their helmets until this year, so how would they know what was coming?
about 1 month ago
Spygate's gone away because the whole thing was blown out of proportion.
People act as if Spygate won the Patriots there three super bowls. Those tapes can only be useful against a division opponent the second time around. You can't possibly use that information in the second half of a game, there's just not enough time.
NFL Owners didn't blow this up because they know they do it too. Don't get me wrong, the Patriots got caught, and by that it makes what they did wrong. But to think it compares to the pro sports Steroid scandal and that NBA Ref who bet on games is bull.
Spygate didn't win New England any games. Great coaching and strong talent did. They won 15 straight after getting caught and 22 of 26 since then.
It's a non-issue and it should have been a non-issue the day it came about.
about 1 month ago
It obviously went away because you weren't writing about it. You're important.
about 1 month ago
Proof the Patriots cheated
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/46054-the-patriots-were-cheaters-end-of-story
about 1 month ago
Wow...lots of ignorant accusations in here against the Pats.
First off, for all you hefalumps that keep using the wrong terminology like "cheaters" and words of such-please, do some research and find out exactly what the Pats were fined for. It wasn't for cheating, and it wasn't for stealing signals.
For everyone else saying that the Pats knew what was coming (this would also be addressed to Joey Porter and his loud mouth), you've got a QB that is the reigning NFL MVP (even though he didn't win the SB), a 3 time SB champ, and not to mention that he's shattered records, and was even such a high caliber QB that he made people like Reche Caldwell look good.
Man, so many flaws here that it's pathetic. I could sit here and pick apart everyone's theory of how the Pats "cheated", but it would be a complete waste of time. Bing is right.....you can't fix stupid. If you're to ignorant to research the facts and use proper terminology, then apparantly you want nothing more than to argue and/or aggravate-and I won't waste my time proving you wrong time and time again. It's been so done to death that you know you're wrong, but you keep arguing anyways just for arguments sake.
Don't be mad that the Pats are better than your team, whatever team that may be. Perhaps your team could work out a trade deal with the Pats and get them to give up Cassel next year when Brady returns.
To those that actually did some research, and know what the Pats were fined for and the circumstances surrounding the entire situation, thank you.
from about 1 month ago
Oh, and not to mention that, and this goes along with people arguing just to argue I suppose-a memo from Ray Anderson DOES NOT make it a rule. It makes it a memo. Nothing more, nothing less. Last I checked, Ray Anderson DOES NOT have the power or authority to create a NFL rule via a memo. Why is it that people keep referring to this memo saying the Pats broke a rule? Again, memo doesn't equal a rule.
Feel free to read this article I wrote a while back. It'll help to disprove any/all theories folks might have. In the article, it also covers why "evidence was destroyed". Basically, it covers pretty much everything, leaving nothing but facts and leaving haters and instigators with nothing left but a need to argue just to argue.
from about 1 month ago
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/12791-my-thoughts-on-spygate
from about 1 month ago
You state that "we're" mad because the Pats are better than "our" team.
What if "we" are NY Giants fans?
Are the Pats better than "our" team then????
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!
You, and ALL Patriot fans will NEVER live that super bowl manhandling down AS LONG AS YOU LIVE! That is a fact that will HAUNT and TORMENT you for the REST OF YOUR LIVES!
So stop sounding bitter over the fact that the Patriots performed the greatest choke job in the history of the NFL. What were they, 16 point favorites??? Ha, ha, ha! Shows you what the oddsmakers know.
It hurts doesn't it? Yes, ...it must. Very painful indeed.
Enjoy your wonderful memories of that amazing game (that one game re-established the natural order in the cosmos after the cheating Patriots had temporarily disrupted things with the selling of their souls).
Oh, and I'm sure the NFL just took the Pat's draft picks away from them because they weren't cheating. That makes a lot of sense. Okay, hold on to your delusion if that's what lets you sleep at night. Pat fans sound like the kid who won't admit he stole the brownies when he has chocolate all over his mouth. I'm embarrassed for you guys. You sound like children who say you believe in the tooth fairy, ...when deep down you have to know that you're really just trying to hold on to your far fetched hopes and beliefs.
P.S. I heard that the Patriot's actually cheated in that Super Bowl ...and STILL LOST!!!!
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!
from about 1 month ago
You have no other purpose than to come into a conversation and talk smack, mainly because you demand attention.....you can't get your facts straight, and you have absolutely no clue as to what you're even talking about.
You're pathetic comment doesn't even warrant a response. You know that you're wrong, and that you just want to aggrevate others-even if it is at your own expense. I've poked holes in EVERY statement that you've made in the past about Pats cheating and everything else you've spewed from your keyboard.
How childish can you get? Obviously pretty childish, since you're back to stalking me online AGAIN. I will also say that you're pretty classless with how you praise players that injur other players. You're a prime example of how NOT to act, ever.
Seriously, get over yourself. You're not big and bad. You're not high and mighty. You're certainly not "all that and a bag of chips", nor are your pathetic comments that you make. You're the only one laughing at the garbage you write, and you're the only one that gets a rise from stalking others-following up on them and posting after them with the intent to aggrevate. How pathetic is that? Probably about as pathetic as you stating that you'd ignore me, yet you still manage to post repsonses to my comments. I guess you're a liar to boot, but we all knew that already.
Grow up.
from about 1 month ago
Wait a minute. I commented on this article before you did, ...and I'm following you???
How does that work???
Excuse me for replying (setting you straight, that is) to your obnoxious (and inaccurate) "Patriots are better than your team" remark.
Once again, the magic of my ingenious super human trash "talking" skills have whipped you into a frenzy and boiled your blood to the point where you cannot control yourself. So all you can do is lash out and crudely insult me. Once again, YOU are the one who is attacking and insulting ME. Isn't your rude and uncalled for behavior getting just a bit tiresome already? It can't make you feel too good about yourself.
Does it upset you that much that the NY Giants have a one up on the Pats ...FOR LIFE?
I told you I have mad skills. You are the living evidence of that. Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!
Who's the man????
Also, ...who's a better team, ...the Patriots or the NY Giants???? (Come on now, ...you can admit it). Take that first step towards the road to recovery from your deeply-rooted anger issues.
from about 1 month ago
I'm the man. Never forget that. You are stalking me, and have YET AGAIN proven yourself to be a LIAR by replying to MY comment that I posted. Quite being an idiot and I'll quite lashing out at you. I've ignored you in other articles, and left you alone until you posted your nonsense crap in reply to one of my comments.
Look at your post...more nonsense, more rambling about how great you are and blah blah blah.....for the record, and ask any true football fan, the Pats were better than the Giants last year-they beat them twice, and lost when it mattered most. Keep gloating, it's what you're good at. Well, that and being a PITA.
I can see you're playing stupid again. Obviously, you're winning.
from about 1 month ago
I'm right there with you, Steve. But don't let this idiot get under your skin, really. He gets his rocks off by pissing people off, and that's the only reason he's even here. Eff him, you know?
from about 1 month ago
Very true Terry, very true. I've wasted enough time with this this jack-ass.
from about 1 month ago
Steve and Terry. You guys are great. My two new best friends. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!
Let's do lunch sometime! My treat.
Does anyone like Mexican food?
from about 1 month ago
Hey guys I think what dracula is doing is good. Not looking up actual rules and talking smack earns you cool points on the internet. Why be informed when you can just make assumptions and not have to deal with all that. +5 points dracula.
oh and btw since i believe you are idiotic enough
Dracula that was "sarcasm", you can find the definition on dictionary.com , but your probably to stupid to do that so try to make an assumption on what it means. Better yet look at it in context and try to figure it out ;]
about 1 month ago
Wow, there are a bunch of people on here who don't understand what the concept of cheating is. He broke the rules. That's why there were repercussions, such as catching the largest fine in NFL history or losing a number one draft pick (which is still a slap on the wrist). Do you people get that Congress started looking into this? Does Congress waste their time on menial, irrelevant elements of sports? I don't think so. To my recollection the only thing Congress has investigated in sports recently was The Mitchell Report and steroid investigations.
How can you support Bellicheck when he cheated and lied. But fine, go ahead and do that. What I want to know is how you can support him after it took congress breathing down his neck to admit that he'd been taping for a while now. You know what that implies, that he's still not being completely truthful, and will only reveal as much as he can be held accountable for. So god knows what other cheating he's been doing.
And to say he "misinterpreted the rules" is complete BS. He'd been doing it for 6 years and no one knew about it. Don't you think you'd have to be going out of your way for no one to know about your actions for 6 years? If you're going out of your way to hide it, odds are it's because you know it's wrong.
And to all you people who want to make up arguments to protect Bellicheck, saying things like everyone else was doing it...Shut up or prove it. It's real easy to just say that, and sure it makes him look like he's not that bad a guy. But you can't just say something and have it support your argument, YOU HAVE TO PROVE IT. Where is any kind of proof that EVERYONE else was doing it?
from about 1 month ago
I agree with everything written here. and your right, if other teams have done the same, prove it.
Remember how Belichick said he wasn't trying to hid it from anybody? Well if every team does it, all one would have to do is look back at footage from games and see other teams cameramen in the wrong position pointing at the opponents side-line.
Do you think no one has tried to discover such a thing?
And what have they found? Nothing. Why? Because the fairy taile of everyone else does it remains nothing more then a poor attempt for Patriot-supporters to try to make other teams look as dirty as theirs.
Problem is, you just won't find it.
from about 1 month ago
Stop making things up to suite your needs. Congress didn't investigate anything, a SENATOR asked questions, then dropped it. There's a big difference between a senator and congress itself, just like there's a big difference between a senator asking questions and a congressional investigation. We people understand that, you should try to do the same. You should also get your facts straight before making false accusations and get your story straight rather than make things up.
Belichick didn't cheat and didn't lie. He promptly handed over tapes he had, and before Goodell had even seen them he had passed judement on Belichick imposing a fine on him and the team and taking away a draft pick. He didn't lie about anything-people asked and he told them yes he was taping-people asked how long he said about 6 years. How does that make him a liar? He never went out of his way to hide anything. He had a Patriots employee standing in plain view of everyone in the stadium pointing a camera at several different things (scoreboard, coaches, players, cheerleaders) and was even wearing a Patriots/Gillette stadium badge around his neck while doing so....how is that covering it up? Congress never breathed down his neck-again, a SENATOR sent a memo to commishioner Goodell and asked him a few questions-then the senator dropped it. Just so you know, because obviously you're to lazy to look into things, it was Senator Arlene Spector from PA, who is also an avid Eagles fan. It's kind of sad that I have to do your research for you....but then again, I dont' mind proving you wrong on everything you've said either. :)
On your last paragraph....time for you to shut up. John Madden even said that he used to steal signals, and that everyone in the league did it. Here's the link: http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/09/14/madden_charged_up_over_stealing_signs/ Again, a litte research could've help you hear....reading that link I gave in the post above yours could help you too, and saved some embarassment on your part. There's your proof that you wanted. Enjoy the read.
I enjoyed picking your every argument apart. Thanks, and have a great Patriots day.
from about 1 month ago
And not just any senator, Steve, a senator whose favorite team had lost a SB to our Patriots. Sour grapes, anyone?
about 1 month ago
If doing what they did was not either a major advantage or any advantage at all like many here claim to be the case...
Why would someone as smart as Bill Belichick go out of his way to do it, also risking so much?
from about 1 month ago
The tape that was leaked to the public, then played on the news showed the scoreboard, coaches and players talking and not to much more than that. The reason they do things like that (and all teams to this in one way or another-be it by looking at tv footage or their own footage {like when most teams record games from an endzone point of view, only their up in the stands looking down so they can view the entire field at once}) is so that they can say on 3rd and more than 5 yards, they tried to pass rather than run on 6 out of 8 attempts. Or, on the 2nd and less than 2 they went for a run play 100% of the time. This allows them to prepare more for that team knowing that they'll likely run the ball when they're 2nd and short, or pass when they're third and more than 5 yards-it helps the prepare by being able to say "chances are they'll run this play".
Belichick didn't go out of his way to do any of this. He had a paid employee do it, just like he had walsh do it earlier in his career-Walsh came forward to say that the Pats NEVER used his footage in the same game. So, if the camera men that are no longer affiliated with the Pats said that the Pats never used the footage for a same game advantage, then what's the problem? Is Walsh lying too?
from about 1 month ago
Here is the thing because I see you have relied on the "why did they do it if it doesnt help" argument that most ppl use after getting proven completely wrong about Spygate, thank you Steve I hope we have today enlightened a few fans next step: Joey Porter. The cost of a camera and a paid camerman is probably around 1000 dollars a game. That is utter chump change, it does help enough that it is worth paying 1000 dollars for it.
The ambiguity of the rule allowed for it too happen.
THe rule states: that you cannot "USE" tape from those three spots "DURING" the game. There is actually a part of the rules that teams CAN use those tapes after games because NFLFILMS does have tape from those three spots. What show it to the public but refuse teams to use it? NO.
The only clear rule BB broke was he did not enclose where he was taping with a roof. WOW WHAT A CHEATER. And Ray Anderson's Memo CANNOT replace a rule.
about 1 month ago
another case in point, the defenses have radios and the pats are still kicking ass, with an injury that would sink almost any other team. Spygate waaaaaay overblown
about 1 month ago
Type "Spygate NFL" in Wikipedia. Some people did your research for you... Maybe you should have done at least that much before writing this 'Editorial'. This article is just your opinion and everyone has one. Yours just happens to be coming out of your butt.
about 1 month ago
The opinion is a good one, just one that you might happen to disagree with. Any Patriots fan would disagree with this point of view regardless of how accurate it is. The article was not to convince Patriots fans to understand what happened, rather it was a reflection regarding a serious event that has not received the proper amount of exposure for what it was as it was instead underplayed for obvious reasons.
about 1 month ago
and here is another great point.
You'd imagine after cheating for 6 years, a smart organization like the Patriots would fabricate any kind of defense they wanted when and if they got caught.
"if" everyone does it like so many have said, think about this. Why wouldn't the patriots take 1 minute, even 30 seconds to use their camera-man to record the other teams camera-man illegally videotaping? It would take no effort at all and that way if they got caught (they did) if nothing else they could say hey, look they were doing it also.
But you know something, has there been any footage from any source showing another team illegally videotaping?
Hell no, why you ask?
Because the belief that it was more then just the Patriots is an elaborate piece of fiction so Pats fans can feel their team was not the only team that did it.
from about 1 month ago
So you're saying that Jimmy Johnson and John Madden are lying when they say that they used to do it, and moreover that everyone used to do it? How is two live human beings both stating that they've done the same thing in the past "an elaborate piece of fiction"? See what I mean? You've been told that they've both said that in the past and yet you ignore it completely, and continue on about how you're right and that's final.
You should stop ignoring things that are presented to you just so you can be right. It's not so much that you're opinion is wrong, it's just that you refuse to believe anything but your opinion, accepting only your opinion as correct. Until you can open your mind up and start believing other facts that are shown to you, conversation with you about this topic would be (and apparently is) moot.
from about 1 month ago
Let me share a rarely acknowledged fact with you, Ryan.
In 2006, Belichick QUIETLY went to the officials during the Jets game at the Razor and informed them that Eric Mangini was using an illegally-placed video camera. The officials QUIETLY went to Mangini, during the game, and told him to stop. The whole incident was QUIETLY swept under the rug.
What a remarkable coincidence that it was Mangini who made a point in 2007 of exposing the Patriots' same video-recording actions. Okay, here you can say a lot of things: Mangini learned everything he knows from Belichick (including creative ways to bend the rules), it was hypocritical for Belichick to go to the officials in 2006, etc.
However, I think the officials' QUIET handling of the matter in '06 speaks volumes about how officials and, by extension, the NFL had been treating this kind of thing. Clearly, other teams have done it, and the league knew it. I'm not suggesting that this apparent fact makes it okay. But it is a given that every team, every coach, every player is looking for some kind of competitive edge. I won't bother quoting Yogi Berra but I feel sure that any thinking person gets my point.
The bottom line is that if the '07 Patriots had been the cellar-dwellers I knew (and loved anyway) in decades gone by, nobody would have noticed. But they weren't. They were an ass-kicking machine who had to be stopped by any means necessary in order to preserve that wonderful concept of "parity" (read: "mediocrity"). Any given Sunday and all that crap.
So Belichick pays his massive fine, Kraft pays his, the team loses draft picks, everybody gets a good laugh, Arlen Specter finds a new idea for wasting taxpayers' money, and that should have been the end of it.
Of course, we know it wasn't. As the season went by, the Patriots became a better ass-kicking machine than before. Belichick knew his every move was being watched, so I think there can be no question about any improprieties. Now he was accused of running up scores, of enabling Brady and Moss et al to 'pad stats'. "Unsportsmanlike," people said. "And besides, those guys cheat."
I think BB was only trying to prove a point: that you can take away the camera, you can take half a mil out of my bank account, you can shaft us however you want, but we will win anyway. Convincingly.
The (understandable) chip on his shoulder led to the unfortunate consequence of allowing his team to peak sometime around mid-season. Big mistake in an otherwise great year.
None of this matters now, because the '08 Pats are looking a lot like those cellar-dwellers of old. And that, my friends, is why 'Spygate' went away.
about 1 month ago
Cheaters never prosper. :D
about 1 month ago
Here's a question, why didn't Belichick try harder to cover up this "cheating" if he's such a genius? Apparently he didn't think that it was that serious an offense. That's because everyone else did it. You ignore the statements of coaches like Jimmy Johnson and John Madden who admit that they did it, just because there's no physical evidence. The reason there's no evidence is because everyone with a brain destroyed all the video tapes they made the second that the Spygate scandal broke.
ESPN blew this way out of proportion and thus it came to be accepted as fact that the Patriots cheated. And you can't really look at your history of articles and still accuse any Pats fan of bias, so don't try to when we stick up for our team.
about 1 month ago
You guys are missing the point. There is no bias here, just because my team is rivals with the team in the wrong does not make my opinion biased. And it's not that I won't see other points of view either.
I do.
It is "possible" that other teams have cheated in the past but that does not mean it was done so to the same extent. I certainly do not see it as a realistic possibility that the majority of teams did the same thing. There is not enough proof to substantiate that argument. And even for the teams that might have done something similar, that does not mean it was done to the same degree.
But my arguments for why it was likely a large advantage are often if not almost always discarded by the fans who refuse to accept the possibility that their team might have had a larger advantage then any other team. Using the rules as a defense is poor when it was not unclear as to what was illegal. Go the the section from the rule-book that I quoted in the article and you'll see how there is not much to dispute. Stop using the context of "using during a game" as a defense. Bill Belichick's word of saying they didn't do that is far from credible and common sense can bring you to the conclusion that the Patriots did not steal signals without a proper reason and benifit encouraging them to do so.
Yes it was going out of their way, taking the time to point you camera at another teams coaches is going out of your way, it doesn't matter that it was done with relative ease. How could anyone think that would be okay, I certainly wouldn't. We are talking about a team that could not simply defeat opponents on the football field but fought to attain that extra edge.
It would be all to easy to find evidence on any team that could have been doing the same thing. NfL films footage, ABC, FOX, NBC, ESPN, etc. but you never see any team besides the Patriots having their cameras pointing where they shouldnt. Using two head coaches from many years ago is not nearly enough evidence to substantiate the unfounded claim that "everyone does it".
Articles like this would not be written if the organization, it's players, and fans would simply own up the the unfair advantage attained instead of writing a book of excuses. I mean this as no personal attack against anyone but when people continue to defend the very wrong actions of a team that reaped benifits from illegal means, something has to be said in response.
from about 1 month ago
Very well stated.
Thank you for completely schooling all the whining (and they never seem to stop) Patriot fans who refuse to accept the truth about their team. They're like clueless parents who are in complete denial that their precious kid (the neighborhood trouble maker) is nothing more than a rotten little son-of-a-b*tch.
It's hard for them to come to terms with the fact that the team they idolize is a cheating organization that has been shamed and embarrassed in front of the whole world.
They're like certain Germans who still believe the holocaust never happened (okay, I might be getting a bit ridiculous now, ...but you get the point).
Thank you for exposing the Patriot fans for the whining little brats in denial that they are.
from about 1 month ago
See, you are so set in your ways that you refuse anything other than what you feel is correct. It wasn't an advantage. Why wasn't it an advantage? Because Goodell said that the tapes he viewed had no impact on the outcome of games. Even the infamous Walsh, who stated that he taped all sorts of things (signals, play clocks, time clocks, coaches, players, cheerleaders) said that the tapes were NEVER used in a game. Even Walsh's tapes that he submitted to Goodell after the fact had nothing incriminating on them.
Tell you what, you show me how taping signals that were more than likely never broken down/interpreted would gain an advantage on teams? How is it that they you insist they had an advantage but they still lost games, or won games by an extremely small margin and sometimes only won by a field goal? How can this be if they "cheated" all these years? If Belichick was taping since 2000, then how did the Pats have a losing record in 2000? Why is it if they knew every play that was coming, that they still took sacks, interceptions and runs that resulted in a loss of yards? How is it that when the defense changes it's posture with 10 seconds left on the play clock (and the ball is hiked at 1 second) that the Pats still made plays happen (passes, running etc.) when the radio to the QB is shut off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock?
I'll patiently wait for those answers, and unless you can answer them all, then you know you don't have a leg to stand on for this argument.
Seriously, it's been over a year. Let it go.
Oh, and here's the kicker....and you can't argue this one either.....the fine to BB and the Pats were for taping from an illegal location (no roof overhead), NOT for what was taped. So, why is it you insist that the Pats were cheating when their penalties were for taping from an inappropriate location?
Repeating myself, the Pats taped the things they taped to see what teams would do on certain downs in certain situations, much like every team does. It's just that they had a camera man on the sidelines taping things (taping EVERYTHING, not just coaches signals).
Don't misunderstand this Ryan, it's not a personal attack, it's just that you're going after the Pats for something that they didn't do. The media is the one that hyped the "cheater" ordeal. The NFL punished the Pats for taping from an inappropriate location. There's a huge difference between the two. If the Pats had taped the same exact thing (and I seriously mean the same exact thing) from the press box, then there never would have been a single word even whispered about it (the press box has a roof, and is not accessible by staff during the game). See where I'm going with this? It's the location they taped from, not what they taped.
:)
about 1 month ago
I don't take it as a personal attack. I understand some of your stances but respectfully disagree with your interpretation of the rule. I grant you...the NFL should have been more clear but I do not see how filming from a press-box would have been legal.
I do not neccisarily believe that they knew every play coming, but I do believe it was an advantage. I do not believe a man as smart as Belichick would set something up if not for using its value. I don't believe the Pats ever do something for nothing.
I don't really care what Goodell said about there being an advantage. Who is he to determine such a thing? You could say the same about me, but I believe there is more evidence to substantiate my point of view.
In regards to 2000, I have this theory. What if the Pats never cheated in 2000, lets say they played fairly. But the started videotaping in 2001 and suddenly they got better. To me, if this was the truth, If I was BB, I'd say the same thing. Because it is a perfect defense. Better to admit to an extra year of cheating then to have more solid evidence that your team improved with the instilation of such a policy. I realize this is a very theoretical but I wouldn't find it hard to believe and I'm certain BB is intelligent enough to be able to pull something like that off.
from about 1 month ago
Glad to see that you're sticking to your guns and not allow the desperate Patriot fans to use their propaganda to try and rewrite history.
Here's where Steve's arguments all fall apart horribly:
1) He states that "...you show me how taping signals that were MORE THAN LIKELY never broken down/interpreted would gain an advantage on teams? "
Ahh, but who says that they were NEVER broken down? Only the cheating Patriots or one of their desperate fans would say that. Bill Belichick may be a lot of scummy things, but he is not a dummy. Why would he even bother to go through the effort of taping something that he wasn't going to use to his advantage. Only an imbecile, a liar, or someone in complete denial would dispute this FACT. Strike one Steve.
2) If the NFL didn't think that what they did was a disgraceful act of cheating that compromised the integri