If things couldnt get any worse for the Patriots.

[joeshmo]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_y...YcB?slug=ap-goodell-specter&prov=ap&type=lgns

Belichick has been taping since 2000, Goodell tells Specter
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
February 13, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bill Belichick has been illegally taping opponents' defensive signals since he became the New England Patriots' coach in 2000, according to Sen. Arlen Specter, who said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him that during a meeting Wednesday.

"There was confirmation that there has been taping since 2000, when Coach Belichick took over," Specter said.

 

[cardsfanmd]

So if Goodell knew this, why the hell was the punishment so lax???????????????????????????

That really pisses me off now. The thing that is most irratating is how much Belicheck bitched when he was accusing the Dolphins and Jets of taping his team. I like the guy before. I have now lost all respect for this effn pansy. The guy should have to forfiet all of his rings and be banished from football. The team should have lost its entire draft and the fines definitely should have been in the 7-figure range.

 

[Sandan]

I thought that he should have been suspended from day 1

 

[Southpaw]

Maybe because a whole bunch of teams did it. Maybe because Kraft is one of the good guy owners. Maybe because Pro sports doesn't need another scandal a la MLB HGH/Steroid. Maybe because it is taken care of by NFL insiders.

Arlen Specter is an idiot. All of his proclamations to the media have mentioned Steelers and Eagles games. Could be pandering.

BTW isn't this an NFL rule breaking incident instead of a criminal act?

 

[Darth Llama]

Fire his ass!

 

[DoTheDew]

He should have retired when he got caught. His name is just going to get more and more tainted until he does. If I was him I would retire, and either go to college or try to make a comeback in a few years when things calm down.

 

[Dr. Jones]

WOW..... Crazy Stuff

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Goodell should be roasted as well if he knew about it and let him off easy.You can't come down on players and hold them accountable and then go easy on coaches and owners because the owner is one of the better owners. It wasn't illegal but ,when you get down to it, Pacman hasn't been convicted of anything illegal as well. You can't have a double standard. Breaking rules is breaking rules.

 

[SuperSpck]

... and with the economy looking to be in serious trouble, being stuck in a war that's going on it's 5th year (halfway home!), and changes needed in the way the bureaucracy works our state employee (a senator no less) has decided to spend his time on this...

"Term Limits" should be a blueprint.

 

[Duckjake]

... and with the economy looking to be in serious trouble, being stuck in a war that's going on it's 5th year (halfway home!), and changes needed in the way the bureaucracy works our state employee (a senator no less) has decided to spend his time on this...

"Term Limits" should be a blueprint.

Term limits are a great idea. We need more husband and wife teams running for political office.

 

[TigToad]

Seriously? I'd be shocked if half or more of the teams in the league didn't do this. THe patriots were just sloppy about it and got caught.

I thought the punishment for the first time he was 'caught' was fair and quite hard. I'd guess there are a lot of teams that do not do this now, but did before because of that punishment.

In the end, that is what you want from a consequence. Let the guy coach and if he gets caught again, feel free to up the consequence

 

[cardsfanmd]

The main thing is that Belicheck sucked in Cleveland, where he probably played by the rules. Then he comes to New England, tapes other teams, and is one of the greatest coaches ever. He has lost all credibility in my eyes.

 

[BigRedRage]

The main thing is that Belicheck sucked in Cleveland, where he probably played by the rules. Then he comes to New England, tapes other teams, and is one of the greatest coaches ever. He has lost all credibility in my eyes.

The patriots always win by a few points, its taping signals, more of the DC's fault for not changing them. The teams and gameplans produced the rings, not tapes of DC's calling plays.

 

[blindseyed]

If 'every team' does it then why are the Pats the only team that got caught? And have evidence? And are the team the NFL and ESPN just drooled over and really wanted to win and go undefeated and boost the NFL up and over the top? The Pats are (or were) the dream team to the NFL and if they really wanted to, could've found somebody like...the Cards...to pick on and deflect off the Pats if every team does it, right?. I don't buy the 'every team' does it, maybe there is to a certain extent but not to the extent the Pats are doing it, like taping the Rams walk thuough before the SB etc...I think there is way more going on than just bending the rules abit.

 

[Russ Smith]

Seriously? I'd be shocked if half or more of the teams in the league didn't do this. THe patriots were just sloppy about it and got caught.

I thought the punishment for the first time he was 'caught' was fair and quite hard. I'd guess there are a lot of teams that do not do this now, but did before because of that punishment.

In the end, that is what you want from a consequence. Let the guy coach and if he gets caught again, feel free to up the consequence

Well if we KNOW for a fact that's true then why did the NFL go after NE when they found out about the Jets game this year? If half the teams in the league do it surely the commish knew?

I'm with the others, if Belichick disclosed then that they'd been doing it since 2000 because "we thought it was legal", I'm stunned that they didn't take more action than they did. Big fine and taking a draft pick might be a start but come on they basically admitted they've been using tape to steal signals for 7 seasons that's a pretty big revelation?

 

[football karma]

I dont beleive that "everybody" did it with regards to taping signals (and who knows what else)

If everybody did it, the NFL wouldnt have had to send a memo out reminding teams that taping signals is illegal. What that says to me is that a minority of teams did it, and enough of the majority complained enough that the league office felt they had to do something.

The statement that the Pats taped since 2000 lends credence to the allegation that they taped the Rams walkthrough prior to the Superbowl. If gaining an edge (real or imagined) via surreptitious video work was a regular part of the Pats preparation -- why wouldnt they tape the walkthrough if given the chance?

I think one of two things happened in September when Spygate broke: 1. The Pats produced only recent tapes, figuring they will give enough to appear contrite, but not enough to really get them into serious trouble; or 2. They gave it all, and the NFL office, wanting to avoid a full blown controversy involving one of the league's premier franchises and winner of 3 of the last 6 superbowls, does enough to make people think they dealt with the issue and sweeps everything else under the rug.

While generally not a beleiver in conspiracy theories -- the NFL investigation of the Pats practices was incredibly short -- over and done with in about two weeks. It gives the impression that they didnt want to find too much, that they just wanted it to be over. The fact that they destroyed the items so quickly (and Goddel's implausible explanation) only adds to that.

 

[Russ Smith]

The patriots always win by a few points, its taping signals, more of the DC's fault for not changing them. The teams and gameplans produced the rings, not tapes of DC's calling plays.

So why do they tape then? If they're not getting any benefit from it why do it?

They can't have it both ways they clearly felt it was an advantage or they wouldn't have been doing it.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Remember how in the McGinnis years, teams would come to visit us a year or two later, and be unsurprised that we hadn't changed any of our signals or audibles? What a fantastic era for the franchise.

 

[CardinalChris]

So if Goodell knew this, why the hell was the punishment so lax???????????????????????????

That really pisses me off now. The thing that is most irratating is how much Belicheck bitched when he was accusing the Dolphins and Jets of taping his team. I like the guy before. I have now lost all respect for this effn pansy. The guy should have to forfiet all of his rings and be banished from football. The team should have lost its entire draft and the fines definitely should have been in the 7-figure range.

Lax? First rounder and the largest fine in the history of the game is lax? Billy had to cut a check for a half a million and the Pats had to for a quarter mil. I agree he's a shmuck, but taking rings away isn't right to those player who worked and earned their ring. It goes back to the Barry Bonds asterisk debate. But I hardly think the punishment was lax.

 

[CardinalChris]

I dont beleive that "everybody" did it with regards to taping signals (and who knows what else)

If everybody did it, the NFL wouldnt have had to send a memo out reminding teams that taping signals is illegal. What that says to me is that a minority of teams did it, and enough of the majority complained enough that the league office felt they had to do something.

The statement that the Pats taped since 2000 lends credence to the allegation that they taped the Rams walkthrough prior to the Superbowl. If gaining an edge (real or imagined) via surreptitious video work was a regular part of the Pats preparation -- why wouldnt they tape the walkthrough if given the chance?

I think one of two things happened in September when Spygate broke: 1. The Pats produced only recent tapes, figuring they will give enough to appear contrite, but not enough to really get them into serious trouble; or 2. They gave it all, and the NFL office, wanting to avoid a full blown controversy involving one of the league's premier franchises and winner of 3 of the last 6 superbowls, does enough to make people think they dealt with the issue and sweeps everything else under the rug.

While generally not a beleiver in conspiracy theories -- the NFL investigation of the Pats practices was incredibly short -- over and done with in about two weeks. It gives the impression that they didnt want to find too much, that they just wanted it to be over. The fact that they destroyed the items so quickly (and Goddel's implausible explanation) only adds to that.

This line of thinking makes me thing everybody does do it. We don't want this scandal to blow up league wide. But I do agree, everybody is a bit excessive, but I think many teams did. My guess is the Cardinals and Bengals don't.... Remember when the league had to order the Bengals to hire a scouting staff a few years ago????

 

[Southpaw]

Mangini went public with his accusations. Goodell handed out the punishment and then destroyed the " evidence ". Seemed to be his way of putting a lid on Pandora's box. When billions of $$$$$s are involved,things are not left to chance.

Pinning the Patriot's success to spying is far fetched. Believing teams don't do it to some level is naive. Every player, coach and GM's future depends on winning. It is probably a matter of who spies better.

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

I have no reason, but I just don't like the new comish.

 

[jefftheshark]

If videotaping someone standing on the sidelines is the only thing it takes to appear in 4 Super Bowls, I'm going to donate a camcorder to the Cards today.

And if they want to take a collection to help pay the fines, I'll be the first in line right after the 2nd consecutive SB victory.


JTS

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Seriously? I'd be shocked if half or more of the teams in the league didn't do this. THe patriots were just sloppy about it and got caught.

I thought the punishment for the first time he was 'caught' was fair and quite hard. I'd guess there are a lot of teams that do not do this now, but did before because of that punishment.

In the end, that is what you want from a consequence. Let the guy coach and if he gets caught again, feel free to up the consequence

They lost a 1st round pick, but still have the #7 pick overall (IIRC), and forced to pay a fine, which the Patriot owners agreed to pay?

You think that is a hard punishment? I sure as hell don't. They should have lost their ENTIRE draft and Bilicheat should have been suspended half of the year, AT LEAST!

 

[BigRedRage]

So why do they tape then? If they're not getting any benefit from it why do it?

They can't have it both ways they clearly felt it was an advantage or they wouldn't have been doing it.

It may give you some advantage, but you realize all teams try to know the signals, be it taping or not, right? The team still had to play and had to win.