Patriots... cheaters?

[Gambit]

Take a little further.

Why do his assistants go on to be duds. Why do free agents that leave NE go on to be duds and other players go to the Pats to have their best years. Why do their draft picks always work out for the most part.

Consperacy theories at its finest. I like this stuff.

I have to go the black helicopter is following me again.

We're through the looking glass here, people.

 

[Gambit]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3014677http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3014677

The league also was reviewing a possible violation into the number of radio frequencies the Patriots were using during Sunday's game, sources said. The team did not have a satisfactory explanation when asked about possible irregularities in its communication setup during the game.

Hmmmm.

PFT speculates:

POSTED 8:34 p.m. EDT, September 11, 2007

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WERE PATS WIRING DEFENSIVE PLAYERS, TOO?

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The situation regarding the New England Patriots and the allegations/proof that they have stolen defensive signals is unofficially getting weirder.

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The signal stealing flap is relevant only to defensive signals, since all offensive calls are made by radio.


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But we're now aware of suspicions/rumors regarding efforts by the Pats to get a leg up as to opposing offenses. Specifically, we're told that it's believed that, during the 2006 season, the Patriots were putting microphones on defensive linemen in order to capture the offensive line calls and the quarterback audibles.

​

Then, the audio and the video of the game would be matched up, and the defensive players would be given the code at halftime.​

 

[gamebird98]

The plot thickens......

 

[English on tour]

Why don't the Cardinals do this? The worst that could happen is we lose a draft pick... probably a 3rd rounder. We love to screw those up

we did - if you ever looked in Denny's shirt this is what you would have found.......

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[blindseyed]

I hope this is true so bad. And the 2nd part would really explain why the Pats always adjust at half-time.
Maybe Bill is losing it and is so bent on competing with the Colts that he wanted to win by a bigger margin

 

[Gambit]

I hope this is true so bad. And the 2nd part would really explain why the Pats always adjust at half-time.
Maybe Bill is losing it and is so bent on competing with the Colts that he wanted to win by a bigger margin

I really wouldn't be surprised if they have done this for years. Belichick is not a good human being.

Credit for trying though. He just got caught. I wonder how prolific this is around the league.

 

[Lloydian]

So they threaten to take away a draft pick? Why don't they just buy video equipment for the other teams? If the penalty for cheating is to limit your development program a bit, then cheating is much more profitable.

The NFL needs to go NCAA on this program. If the cheating is as bad as has been reported, take away their postseason eligibility for a year. Or find the people responsible and ban them from the sport.

We've had enough reasons to doubt the legitimacy of the sports we watch over the last few months. Send a message that no one can ignore.

 

[Gambit]

From PFT:

POSTED 8:58 a.m. EDT, September 12, 2007​

WERE PATS STUNG BY COMPETITION COMMITTEE?​

There's a theory making the rounds in league circles that the Sunday confiscation of Matt Estrella's camera was the result of a specific effort by the NFL's Competition Committee to nail the Patriots.​

It was, some believe, a sting operation.

​

Rumors also are swirling that Jets coach Eric Mangini, who was with the Pats through the 2005 season, began to spread the word to other teams in 2006 regarding the tactics that Bill Belichick employs. But even after a close call last year in Green Bay, the Patriots kept doing it.

​

The thinking in some circles is that the Competition Committee, which has endorsed the use of a radio receiver in the helmet of one defensive player, wants to use the Patriots' situation as the impetus for getting the additional two votes necessary to pass the rule.

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In March 2007, 22 of the 24 teams needed to push the measure through voted in favor of it.

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Though such a rule will not be perfect given the extent of the substitutions made on defense, it would eliminate the temptation to steal defensive signals, because it would eliminate the defensive signals.​

And, in our view, it's a no-brainer that this rule will be passed come March 2008. ​

 

[English on tour]

So they threaten to take away a draft pick? Why don't they just buy video equipment for the other teams? If the penalty for cheating is to limit your development program a bit, then cheating is much more profitable.

The NFL needs to go NCAA on this program. If the cheating is as bad as has been reported, take away their postseason eligibility for a year. Or find the people responsible and ban them from the sport.

We've had enough reasons to doubt the legitimacy of the sports we watch over the last few months. Send a message that no one can ignore.

Thats the message they need to send out - lets hope the RG has the balls to do it. He seems pretty hard lined with Vick so he might just do something like this. If its picks it will have to be a first round and taking away the ability to trade up or down as the Pats have this down to a tee.

Best still make them take Graves for one post season that will soon have then in a downward spiral as tight as a Lomax rocket.

 

[Gambit]

Thats the message they need to send out - lets hope the RG has the balls to do it. He seems pretty hard lined with Vick so he might just do something like this. If its picks it will have to be a first round and taking away the ability to trade up or down as the Pats have this down to a tee.

Best still make them take Graves for one post season that will soon have then in a downward spiral as tight as a Lomax rocket.

If it was a team other than the Pats then I could see such a harsh penalty. But not the Golden Boys of the NFL. They will get a slap on the wrist.

 

[nashman]

Slap on this wrist is what will happen. I think at the very least it should be a forfeit and award the victory to the Jets!

 

[DeAnna]

But I don't get why he cheated against the Jets and the Packers...you'd think they would win those easily. Or maybe this is how they always seem to know how to scheme.

Yep, it'll be harder for them now since they won't know the other team's signals.

 

[Russ Smith]

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=121&f=1851&sto=pagestart#s=121&f=1851&t=993522

Pages and pages of Patriots fans explaining why this is a non issue, how all teams probably do it, and how it just shows people hate the Pats because they keep winning. with maybe 2 Pats fans who actually practiced a little critical thinking and said you know, this actually DOES bug me.

 

[Gambit]

from PFT rumor mill:

POSTED 4:43 p.m. EDT, September 12, 2007​

DID PATS USE RADIOS ON DEFENSE?​

Now that the entire pro football community is atwitter over the allegations/proof of cheating by the New England Patriots, we're hearing more rumors on the NFL grapevine regarding the extent to which this stuff went on.

​

In addition to the rumor we heard on Wednesday that the Pats were putting microphones on defensive players in 2006 to pick up audibles and offensive line calls, we're now hearing that there has been a rumor for years that the Patriots have inserted a radio in the helmet of one or more defensive players for the purposes of direct communications with the coaching staff.

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Such a tactic, if true, would be an even more significant violation of the rules, in our opinion. As several readers have pointed out, the only thing illegal about the signal-stealing issue is the use of the electronic equipment to record the images. Nothing prevents a team from using low-tech means to track signals and connect them to the defensive coverages used. It's simply harder to do it via the naked eye, especially since the video can be used later to confirm the specific signals given, if/when the team with the video is preparing to face the same opponent in the future -- or a member of that coaching staff who might use the same signals in a new city.

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So the only competitive advantage is that it's a better way of doing something that already can be done.

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In contrast, using radios in the helmets of defensive players gives the team access to something that folks who follow the rules simply can't use.

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Keep in mind that this new twist is only a rumor, one of many that are now on the NFL grapevine as this story continues to percolate. Still, given the events of the last 48 hours, it's hard not to rule out anything at this point. ​

 

[Brighteyes]

If this had come out a few years ago, it may have merited a slap on the wrist.

Today the one bit of talk radio I heard (Calvin Heard) seemed to question the value of Patriots wins in the last few years. It's rumored to have been going on for years -- and he seemed to believe it's a hell of a lot easier to complete a pass if you know whether the defense is going to blitz.

With the current climate -- the scandal of the NBA ref, the NFL assuring us that can't happen in football, and the aroma of Michael Vick -- what do you think the commissioner will do?

 

[Wild Card]

I hope this is true so bad. And the 2nd part would really explain why the Pats always adjust at half-time.
Maybe Bill is losing it and is so bent on competing with the Colts that he wanted to win by a bigger margin

So I guess it really was a miracle that Peyton and the Colts came back from a 2nd-half 18-point deficit in last year's playoff game against the Patriots, huh? I mean, since the Pats defenders knew exactly what Manning was doing on every down, and all.

WC

 

[Duckjake]

So I guess it really was a miracle that Peyton and the Colts came back from a 2nd-half 18-point deficit in last year's playoff game against the Patriots, huh? I mean, since the Pats defenders knew exactly what Manning was doing on every down, and all.

WC

Everybody knew what the Packers were going to run under Vince Lombardi but they still couldn't stop it.

Maybe the Colts changed their signals at the half and that's why they were able to come back?

 

[blindseyed]

So I guess it really was a miracle that Peyton and the Colts came back from a 2nd-half 18-point deficit in last year's playoff game against the Patriots, huh? I mean, since the Pats defenders knew exactly what Manning was doing on every down, and all.

WC

Thank you for agreeing!

 

[D-Dogg]

Thats the message they need to send out - lets hope the RG has the balls to do it. He seems pretty hard lined with Vick so he might just do something like this. If its picks it will have to be a first round and taking away the ability to trade up or down as the Pats have this down to a tee.

Best still make them take Graves for one post season that will soon have then in a downward spiral as tight as a Lomax rocket.

Make them unable to take part in the draft or free agency for one year. They can only sign their own FAs, and can not use a franchise tag.

And suspend Coach Slob for 4 games, minimum.

Nip it...nip it in the bud /fife

 

[dreamcastrocks]

So I guess it really was a miracle that Peyton and the Colts came back from a 2nd-half 18-point deficit in last year's playoff game against the Patriots, huh? I mean, since the Pats defenders knew exactly what Manning was doing on every down, and all.

WC

Wasn't it defensive signals they were stealing?

 

[Gambit]

Wasn't it defensive signals they were stealing?

That is all that has officially come out so far. There is speculation about intercepting radio signals but who knows if that's true or just rampant speculation and irresponsible rumor-mongering (my favorite kind!).

 

[D-Dogg]

Wasn't it defensive signals they were stealing?

Rumors abound they were miking up defensive players to steal audibles, plays and line calls from the offense.

As well as just being d-bags in general.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That is all that has officially come out so far. There is speculation about intercepting radio signals but who knows if that's true or just rampant speculation and irresponsible rumor-mongering (my favorite kind!).

You got that right mon ami.

 

[carrrnuttt]

Maybe the Colts changed their signals at the half and that's why they were able to come back?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=sando_mike&id=3017542

However New England was planning to use its video, it allegedly wasn't the first time.

Green Bay officials removed a New England cameraman from the sideline during the Patriots' 35-0 victory at Lambeau Field last season. As word filtered through league channels, Indianapolis officials were suspicious enough to remove all non-network cameras from the RCA Dome before the Colts and Patriots played in the most recent AFC title game, scouts said.

Smart move by Indy.