Patriots a buncha cheaters

[Lyion]

So, in addition to faking injuries, injury reports, and claiming guys off waiver wire from opposing teams the day before games, the Pats taping scandal is finally the mule that broke the NFL's back.

I'd like to see them forfeit the game and lose 2 first day picks for it, as an example.

[Tikker]

I think they're just the first to get caught doing it


there's a reason every offensive coordinator uses a playbook or something to cover their mouths when they're sending in plays

there was a good interview with Mike Tomlin where he was talking about it

Pats are supposedly pretty notorious for doing it more than others

it's not hard to make second half adjustments when you suddenly know the signals

[Harrison]

So, in addition to faking injuries, injury reports, and claiming guys off waiver wire from opposing teams the day before games, the Pats taping scandal is finally the mule that broke the NFL's back.

I'd like to see them forfeit the game and lose 2 first day picks for it, as an example.

Faking injuries is one thing, but I see no problem with the rest of it, especially that.

[Arlos]

Stealing the other teams' signals is completely against NFL rules, and all the teams were warned not to do it, specifically.

I'd like to see the Pats forced to forfeit that game, personally. That plus a draft pick would send a strong enough message that no one would dare do it any more.

-Arlos

[Tikker]

Stealing the other teams' signals is completely against NFL rules, and all the teams were warned not to do it, specifically.

I'd like to see the Pats forced to forfeit that game, personally. That plus a draft pick would send a strong enough message that no one would dare do it any more.

-Arlos

yeah, just like making drugs illegal stops potheads from smoking

[Mop]

People have done this for years in almost every sport.

/shrug doesn't bother me. If you used to be a cordinator for the pats and didn't think to mix up your signals - we'll you are fucking retarded.

Just another thing for ESPN to talk about to fill the void between Tues - fri

[Zanchief]

I always thought faking injuries was just gamesmanship.

[Harrison]

Do you have a problem with runners on 2nd telling the batter possible incoming pitches?

This is normal in baseball as well.

[Tikker]

I think there's a bit of a diff in a runner leaning in to look, as opposed to someone with a video camera zooming in on something, then replaying it back later to confirm a call



and faking injuries in the nfl is almost somewhat illegal. they're pretty stringent about who they describe calls

it's not like hockey where you try to hide as many injuries as possible

[LostCause]

Yeah your pretty retarded if you think no other football team in the NFL doesn't do it as well unfortunately for Bellichek he did it in the lions den ex. Mangini and the Commish lived about 15 minutes away from the Stadium lol...Why do you think EVERY NFL COACH covers their mouth when relaying a play or have two "dead guys" which give fake signals......go ahead watch NE like a hawk and still watch us have a 14+ winning season

[Tikker]

I wasn't aware you played for the Patriots

[Harrison]

I refer to the Red Sox and Patriots as "us" regularly.

As do most fans, especially those living in their home areas.

[Tikker]

I know, and it's retarded no matter who's doing it

[Phlegm]

Eventually the league will have to let the coaches talk to the defensive play caller electronically like they do with the offense right now.

[Tikker]

that was before the competition committee this year I think

ps, radio conversation is even less secure imo
not hard to smuggle in a scanner and then just relay the infos

[Phlegm]

"Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players," Belichick said. "Following the league's decision, I will have further comment."

The Patriots may also have violated another league rule during the game by having additional audio receivers on their sideline, Glazer reports. However, league sources have indicated that while the NFL may eventually look into those allegations, it is currently focusing on the violations with the videotape.

After issuing the statement, Belichick grimly refused to respond to a half-dozen questions about the scandal, possible punishments and the potential effect on his team. Begging for a football question, he seemed ready to abort the news conference after just a few minutes at the podium.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7216044

[Tikker]

ccc

I have to admit, I'm shocked no one's been busted before for snooping in on the radio broadcast from the coordinator to the QB

[Phlegm]

Penalty:

- Bilicheck $500,000
- Team $ 250,000 and 1st rounder if make playoffs, 2nd and 3rd if don't.

[Tikker]

wow

i'm pretty shocked the league actually wtfpwned them that hard

[Lyion]

The problem is if they let them off lightly, the Players Association would have a valid beef due to the strict punishments given to players.

Also, given the Pats have been shown to do this often, they actually got off light. They need to launch a full, in depth investigation and dig deep to ensure the playing field is fair.

[Gidan]

Now when they catch the other 31 teams who do more or less the same thing, they will know how to punish them.

[Harrison]

No shit lol

[Arlos]

They should've suspended Belichek for at least 2 games. If a coach got suspended for 4 games for taking steroids, Belichek should've gotten at least 2 for doing something he was directly warned not to. 1st rounder isn't going to hurt them much, they've already got SF's 1st rounder for next season as well.

-Arlos

[Tikker]

what'll hurt them more I think is now that their ability to know exactly what play their opponent is calling will expose them

[numatu]

Since just about every team has lip readers watching the other team's coaches, and is legal, I doubt that NE's performance will suffer now that they can't be so overt in their watching and recording.

Dr. Z and a Yahoo columnist had a couple good articles on all the attempts coaches have made throughout the years at gaining competitive advantages through spying, reading lips, video recording. Indeed, the entire blowup on just this story seems almost like a gang mentality.

I don't remember a huge fuss about Miami swiping NE's audibles last year, which is against the rules. Mike Shanahan hired a guy to video tape San Diego's practices on top of a hill overlooking their field, and you heard nothing about it. Al Davis used to put his own players inside other team's buses. There are loads of examples from every team. Of course it's not right, but it shows you how at this level every team is trying to gain a competitive advantage.

I think the fact that Belichick was uncharacteristically stupid in his brazenness and overtness about the recording is what ultimately caused the punishment to be fairly severe. Like I said earlier, it's within the rules to lip read a coach and write it down, it's just against the rules to tape it. So, basically, if you can hire a deaf guy or someone that can lip read, you're set, which almost all teams have anyway.

Much more damaging is the label people will put on him and the team now because of this. Now that everyone is piling on, mostly people that already hated them for winning so much (e.g., 70's Steelers, 80's 49ers, 90's Cowboys), I think the reverse effect will happen: the once odds on favorites will begin to have a chip on their shoulder -- proclaim the whole "us against the world" mantra within the locker room and play even harder. Teams and coaches try so hard to get their players that little extra motivation and from the surface, it would seem that Belichick inadvertently has provided some, now that everyone is questioning their ability.

As far as the punishment goes, I believe a 1st round draft pick is much more damaging than a Belichick suspension would have ever been. Belichick does not need to be in the building to set up a gameplan, phone assistant coaches, and prepare the team. The Patriots' 1st round draft picks since Belichick has taken over: Seymour, Graham, Warren, Wilfork, Watson, Mankins, Maroney. All of them were major contributors, and almost all of them were pro bowlers or are on the cusp of being one. We'll see about Meriweather.

Being 7 for 7 on 1st round draft picks is a special achievement and I think the loss of a 1st round draft pick is much more damaging.