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Getbig Misc Discussion Boards => Sports Discussion Boards => Topic started by: Hugo Chavez on February 14, 2008, 11:38:58 AM
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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.
Specter said Goodell gave him that information during the 1-hour, 40-minute meeting, which was requested by Specter so the commissioner could explain his reasons for destroying the Spygate tapes and notes.
cont http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-goodell-specter&prov=ap&type=lgns
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:o
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D'oh! oops ;D From Hero to Zero in 60 seconds :P
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my steelers beat them pretty good on halloween night in 04
we played them again in the afc championship and they were a completely different team
hines ward said they knew what we were doing before we did it >:(
maybe goodell covered it up because he is buddies with Kraft and he knew this would be an embarrassment to the league
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goodell had no reason to destroy the tapes
he should be dismissed
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You guys understand that taping opponents from the sidelines was 100 percent legel until 2006 correct? Even if they did do it , it was legal. Stealing sings is legal to this day. If anyone here tries to tell me sports team do not steal sings they never played a sport in there life. I love how the pats are the only sports team in history that might have tried to get an edge. What a crock.
When your on top all everyone wants to do is tear you down ::)
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my steelers beat them pretty good on halloween night in 04
we played them again in the afc championship and they were a completely different team
hines ward said they knew what we were doing before we did it >:(
maybe goodell covered it up because he is buddies with Kraft and he knew this would be an embarrassment to the league
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He didnt cover it up. He asked for tapes and was provided with them by the pats. Then a tape was leaked by a member of his staff. Which obv cannot happen and they where destroyed. Matt Walsh is a former scorned pats employee who did not work for the pats in 2004. The situation you are talking about is from 2001. 2004 has nothing to do with this. The lack of knowledge on what actually happened is shocking to me. This is nothing more then an excuse by teams who lost. Taping signals was perfectly legal up until 2006. So even if Belichick was , there was nothing wrong with doing that.
You do know Goodel used to work for the jets , and is good friends with the owner of that team also correct? In 2004 taping signs was not illegal. If the pats did it , and the steelers where so dumb they do not change there sings its there own fault. Taping sings became illegal in 06 , stealing them remains legal to this day.
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You guys understand that taping opponents from the sidelines was 100 percent legel until 2006 correct? Even if they did do it , it was legal. Stealing sings is legal to this day. If anyone here tries to tell me sports team do not steal sings they never played a sport in there life. I love how the pats are the only sports team in history that might have tried to get an edge. What a crock.
When your on top all everyone wants to do is tear you down ::)
I don't know body. That's sort of like saying steroids in baseball were "legal" because baseball hadn't banned them. I think this is about the integrity of the game, regardless of whether the NFL had a policy that explicitly prohibited things like secretly taping a team's walkthrough.
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I don't know body. That's sort of like saying steroids in baseball were "legal" because baseball hadn't banned them. I think this is about the integrity of the game, regardless of whether the NFL had a policy that explicitly prohibited things like secretly taping a team's walkthrough.
No its not. Not a all. Stealing signs in football is to this day perfectly legal. Are you saying stealing signs with cam's lip readers and players is less bad? That is simple called cherry picking. NOthing is going to change the fact that the pats got into trouble for having a camera in the wrong place on the field. It would have been legal had they done it from a different spot. It makes no sense , stealing signs is fine , unless you do it from a certain spot then its a huge deal, please. Taping sings was legal and done by many team's up until 2006. To this day you can tape sings from certain parts of the stadium. Jimmy Johnson himelf and MANY others have flat out said the taped signals since way back in the day. You are comparing Murder to a speeding ticket. Steroids compared to a form of stealing signals? Something that is totally legal to this day. That is so extreme it is crazy. How about we compare a scuffle in a bar to attempted murder? Pass interference is now enforced past the five yard line , should go back to 2004 and whine about what teams where doing when the practise was legal? Honestly if there was no rule against taping signals and a team figured that out and another team was dumb enough to keep there sings there same they got owned. Its called gamesmanship and every single pro team participates in it. I love how people ignore the fact stealing sings is legal , yet taping them is the worst thing in history. If this turns out to be true , the pats stole sings more efficiently then everyone when it was legal , and thats the cold hard truth.
This entire laugh issue is agenda driven , period.I must also remind you none of what ha been said is a actual facts. This is all rumors at this point. The funny part about this whole issue is the pack of knowledge, Mike Martz himself said even if the pats had taped , it was only goal line drills. Goal line situations had nothing to do with that game at all. Martz said it not me.
The skins used to cover the fences of there field so rival teams did not tape them. None of this stuff is anything new , and anyone who claims it was not going on since the start of it all is simply lying. Pretty sure your niners got bagged for cheating the salary cap during the season of there last sb. They where fined draft picks. They cheated. Honestly the hypocrisy is scary.
The pats are a scapegoat , period.
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No its not. Not a all. Stealing signs in football is to this day perfectly legal. Are you saying stealing signs with cam's lip readers and players is less bad? That is simple called cherry picking. NOthing is going to change the fact that the pats got into trouble for having a camera in the wrong place on the field. It would have been legal had they done it from a different spot. It makes no sense , stealing signs is fine , unless you do it from a certain spot then its a huge deal, please. Taping sings was legal and done by many team's up until 2006. To this day you can tape sings from certain parts of the stadium. Jimmy Johnson himelf and MANY others have flat out said the taped signals since way back in the day. You are comparing Murder to a speeding ticket. Steroids compared to a form of stealing signals? Something that is totally legal to this day. That is so extreme it is crazy. How about we compare a scuffle in a bar to attempted murder? Pass interference is now enforced past the five yard line , should go back to 2004 and whine about what teams where doing when the practise was legal? Honestly if there was no rule against taping signals and a team figured that out and another team was dumb enough to keep there sings there same they got owned. Its called gamesmanship and every single pro team participates in it. I love how people ignore the fact stealing sings is legal , yet taping them is the worst thing in history. If this turns out to be true , the pats stole sings more efficiently then everyone when it was legal , and thats the cold hard truth.
This entire laugh issue is agenda driven , period.I must also remind you none of what ha been said is a actual facts. This is all rumors at this point.
No I'm not talking about murder. Not a good comparison. The point I was trying to make is the issue isn't simply whether the NFL had a policy expressly prohibiting the conduct. It's whether what the team is doing impacts the integrity of the game.
Secretly taping a team's walkthrough for a competitive advantage is just wrong. It's indefensible IMO. If they were doing that, they should be held accountable in some way.
Also, if there was nothing improper about this, then why was it done in secret?
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WASHINGTON -- 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.
isnt the issue about the taping of signals being illegal? and isnt that what Bilichick admits to since 2000? sign stealing may be llegal but taping isnt. there is a difference. i have always found the fact that Goodell destroyed the six tapes interesting.
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this might sound crazy,
do you think the patriots tanked on superbowl sunday on purpose?
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this might sound crazy,
do you think the patriots tanked on superbowl sunday on purpose?
Hell no.
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this might sound crazy,
do you think the patriots tanked on superbowl sunday on purpose?
nono, no way.
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i never heard anything about taping signs being legal until 2006
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this might sound crazy,
do you think the patriots tanked on superbowl sunday on purpose?
No, they simply got outplayed.
Hope this helps.
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No its not. Not a all. Stealing signs in football is to this day perfectly legal. Are you saying stealing signs with cam's lip readers and players is less bad? That is simple called cherry picking. NOthing is going to change the fact that the pats got into trouble for having a camera in the wrong place on the field. It would have been legal had they done it from a different spot. It makes no sense , stealing signs is fine , unless you do it from a certain spot then its a huge deal, please. Taping sings was legal and done by many team's up until 2006. To this day you can tape sings from certain parts of the stadium. Jimmy Johnson himelf and MANY others have flat out said the taped signals since way back in the day. You are comparing Murder to a speeding ticket. Steroids compared to a form of stealing signals? Something that is totally legal to this day. That is so extreme it is crazy. How about we compare a scuffle in a bar to attempted murder? Pass interference is now enforced past the five yard line , should go back to 2004 and whine about what teams where doing when the practise was legal? Honestly if there was no rule against taping signals and a team figured that out and another team was dumb enough to keep there sings there same they got owned. Its called gamesmanship and every single pro team participates in it. I love how people ignore the fact stealing sings is legal , yet taping them is the worst thing in history. If this turns out to be true , the pats stole sings more efficiently then everyone when it was legal , and thats the cold hard truth.
This entire laugh issue is agenda driven , period.I must also remind you none of what ha been said is a actual facts. This is all rumors at this point. The funny part about this whole issue is the pack of knowledge, Mike Martz himself said even if the pats had taped , it was only goal line drills. Goal line situations had nothing to do with that game at all. Martz said it not me.
The skins used to cover the fences of there field so rival teams did not tape them. None of this stuff is anything new , and anyone who claims it was not going on since the start of it all is simply lying. Pretty sure your niners got bagged for cheating the salary cap during the season of there last sb. They where fined draft picks. They cheated. Honestly the hypocrisy is scary.
The pats are a scapegoat , period.
While you try to portray this situation as no big deal, It was a big enough situation that cost Belichek half a million and a first round draft pick for the Pats. No matter how good a team drafts, losing a first round pick is huge. These accusations are not a witch hunt. There was a punishment handed down.
I totally agree that NFL teams make attempts to gain an edge whenever possible but the bottom line is the Pats were caught and punished. Now their record of success since the year 2001 is under high scrutiny. Belichek acting like a cocky distant prick with public relations certainly doesn't help his cause.
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While you try to portray this situation as no big deal, It was a big enough situation that cost Belichek half a million and a first round draft pick for the Pats. No matter how good a team drafts, losing a first round pick is huge. These accusations are not a witch hunt. There was a punishment handed down.
I totally agree that NFL teams make attempts to gain an edge whenever possible but the bottom line is the Pats were caught and punished. Now their record of success since the year 2001 is under high scrutiny. Belichek acting like a cocky distant prick with public relations certainly doesn't help his cause.
I agree, the punishment handed down speaks volumes. When have you ever heard of a team losing a draft pick as punishment?
This was big. no doubt.
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I'm shocked that Goodell swept this under the rug, I really am. ::)
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While you try to portray this situation as no big deal, It was a big enough situation that cost Belichek half a million and a first round draft pick for the Pats. No matter how good a team drafts, losing a first round pick is huge. These accusations are not a witch hunt. There was a punishment handed down.
I totally agree that NFL teams make attempts to gain an edge whenever possible but the bottom line is the Pats were caught and punished. Now their record of success since the year 2001 is under high scrutiny. Belichek acting like a cocky distant prick with public relations certainly doesn't help his cause.
Stupidity was his biggest crime. It was Belichick's stupid move of taping a team run by a former subordinate that sunk him. I cannot fathom how he would not think that Mangini would not have turned in his old boss. Come to think of it, it was a pretty stupid move to go for it on 4th and 13 in a tight Superbowl game. What's all this nonsense about Belichick being the smartest guy in the NFL?
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Stupidity was his biggest crime. It was Belichick's stupid move of taping a team run by a former subordinate that sunk him. I cannot fathom how he would not think that Mangina would not have turned in his old boss. Come to think of it, it was a pretty stupid move to go for it on 4th and 13 in a tight Superbowl game. What's all this nonsense about Belichick being the smartest guy in the NFL?
No worries Deck..... the Pack will be a force next year and likely win it all.
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No worries Deck..... the Pack will be a force next year and likely win it all.
I hope so, but I don't see it.
I apologize to the Jet fans...I didn't mean to type "Mangina".
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I hope so, but I don't see it.
I apologize to the Jet fans...I didn't mean to type "Mangina".
How can you not?
Young talented team with a great QB? They will be in the top 5 favorites to win it next year i bet.
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How can you not?
Young talented team with a great QB? They will be in the top 5 favorites to win it next year i bet.
The Packers were lucky this year with injuries. The team cannot absorb a hit in the linebacking corps, the defensive backfield or the running game.
I don't think they'll be as lucky next year.
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How can you not?
Young talented team with a great QB? They will be in the top 5 favorites to win it next year i bet.
I can think of a number of reasons: Chargers, Colts, Pats, Cowboys (ugh), Steelers, and probably a few others. All of those teams, when healthy, are better than the Pack IMO.
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You 2 are a couple of haters and Deck you are not a true fan. ;D
But you guys might be right. >:(
Still................
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I can think of a number of reasons: Chargers, Colts, Pats, Cowboys (ugh), Steelers, and probably a few others. All of those teams, when healthy, are better than the Pack IMO.
The Steelers are in decline. The Chargers are still looking for their heart/center. Dallas can't win in the playoffs (since 1996).
The Giants, Colts and Pats will be the teams to beat.
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The Steelers are in decline. The Chargers are still looking for their heart/center. Dallas can't win in the playoffs (since 1996).
The Giants, Colts and Pats will be the teams to beat.
The Steelers have a young QB with a Super Bowl ring, one of the best RBs in the NFL, arguably the best all around WR in the NFL, and a solid D.
The Chargers are arguably the most talented team in the NFL.
I HATE the Cowboys, but top to bottom they are more talented than the Pack.
I seriously doubt the Giants will contend next year. They had a nice run, but there are just too many other talented teams in the NFL. I think the Saints will be much better too.
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You 2 are a couple of haters and Deck you are not a true fan. ;D
But you guys might be right. >:(
Still................
I'm a born complainer. But I'm still a huge fan. I missed one game since 1978. I even saw the 4th quarter of the packer game the day of my dad's funeral in 1981...they were playing Seattle...my dad was a fan too.
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The Steelers have a young QB with a Super Bowl ring, one of the best RBs in the NFL, arguably the best all around WR in the NFL, and a solid D.
The Chargers are arguably the most talented team in the NFL.
I HATE the Cowboys, but top to bottom they are more talented than the Pack.
I seriously doubt the Giants will contend next year. They had a nice run, but there are just too many other talented teams in the NFL. I think the Saints will be much better too.
The Steelers are getting old. They are going to lose Al Faneca. The O line is sieve. Willy broke his leg.
The Chargers and Cowboys are talented but as long as they have their respective head coaches they won't win anything.
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The Steelers are in decline.
possibly but we did lose some key guys during the year
aaron smith, ryan clark, willie parker, marvel smith
polamalu and hines were hurt all year, faneca is on the decline and doesn't deserve the money he wants and will get
if we can make some improvements on the line and stay healthy i think we can be pretty good, i know our linebackers will be better
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possibly but we did lose some key guys during the year
aaron smith, ryan clark, willie parker, marvel smith
polamalu and hines were hurt all year, faneca is on the decline and doesn't deserve the money he wants and will get
if we can make some improvements on the line and stay healthy i think we can be pretty good, i know our linebackers will be better
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Agreed. How do you feel about your coach?
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Agreed. How do you feel about your coach?
i still don't know what to think about him
we started out hot but then lost to terrible teams like the jets, we had major trouble stopping the run which has always been a strong point for us
aaron smith's injury didn't help but does one guy really make that much of a difference?
they worked a lot during the summer on special teams and they were worse than ever, costing us at least 3 games
going for 2 on 4th and 12 in the playoffs was baffling
the 3rd and 7 call where they had ben scramble was stupid and gave the jags the game
all i hear about him is "when he speaks you have to listen, he has charisma blah blah"
that doesn't mean he's a good coach, if he really is so charming and charismatic it can make people think he is much smarter than he really is
i think he might be a guy that talked his way into being the coach, rather than a guy that actually knows football :-\
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i still don't know what to think about him
we started out hot but then lost to terrible teams like the jets, we had major trouble stopping the run which has always been a strong point for us
aaron smith's injury didn't help but does one guy really make that much of a difference?
they worked a lot during the summer on special teams and they were worse than ever, costing us at least 3 games
going for 2 on 4th and 12 in the playoffs was baffling
the 3rd and 7 call where they had ben scramble was stupid and gave the jags the game
all i hear about him is "when he speaks you have to listen, he has charisma blah blah"
that doesn't mean he's a good coach, if he really is so charming and charismatic it can make people think he is much smarter than he really is
i think he might be a guy that talked his way into being the coach, rather than a guy that actually knows football :-\
That's an excellent assessment.
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I'm not exactly doing cartwheels over my team's choice in head coach.
John Harbaugh?? Guy's never even had an offensive or defensive coordinator job. He was the secondary coach for the Eagles for the last 7 seasons.
Still scratching my head over that choice.
But then again, the Steelers coach never held a major coordinator position either and he took his team to the playoffs.
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I'm not exactly doing cartwheels over my team's choice in head coach.
John Harbaugh?? Guy's never even had an offensive or defensive coordinator job. He was the secondary coach for the Eagles for the last 7 seasons.
Still scratching my head over that choice.
But then again, the Steelers coach never held a major coordinator position either and he took his team to the playoffs.
i was wondering what you thought of the new coach, never got around to asking
as for tomlin he was the d coordinator in minnesota for one season
which goes back to my point about him talking his way into being head coach, rather than showing results on the field
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8) 8) 8) 8)
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Haha!!
Nice and accurate!
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I don't know why but this makes me lol
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FOXBOROUGH — Patriots coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli broke their silence regarding taping procedures and suggestions of improper conduct from former employee Matt Walsh, with Belichick saying he ‘‘couldn’t pick Matt Walsh out of a lineup’’ and Pioli noting that part of the reason for Walsh’s firing was because of him secretly tape recording conversations.
more stories like thisSince the days leading up to Super Bowl XLII when Senator Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, questioned the NFL’s destruction of tapes that resulted in record fines against Belichick and the Patriots, the club’s taping procedures — and Walsh’s potential role in them — have ignited a public firestorm.
The Boston Herald, citing an anonymous source, reported Feb. 2 that the Patriots had taped the Rams’ walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI. The Patriots and NFL strongly denied that story, and Belichick further addressed it Sunday.
‘‘In my entire coaching career, I’ve never seen another team’s practice film prior to playing that team,’’ he said. ‘‘I have never authorized, or heard of, or even seen in any way, shape, or form any other team’s walkthrough. We don’t even film our own. We don’t even want to see ourselves do anything, that’s the pace that it’s at. Regardless, I’ve never been a part of that.’’
Belichick added that in his ‘‘entire coaching career, I have never filmed a walkthrough, our own. I’ve never been on a staff that has filmed a walkthrough. I’m talking about when I was a head coach. As an assistant, I’ve never seen a head coach film a walkthrough the day before a game.’’
Pioli said Walsh was terminated in January of 2003 after he discovered Walsh was ‘‘secretly tape recording conversations between him and me.’’ Pioli said he learned of the recording because ‘‘two other employees saw him doing it, and I checked after, and heard it on the tape myself.’’
Walsh’s lawyer, Michael Levy, disputed Pioli’s story Sunday night. After speaking with Walsh, he called it a ‘‘complete fabrication.’’
‘‘This is a predictable and pathetic effort to smear Mr. Walsh’s character rather than confront the truth about the Patriots’ conduct,’’ Levy said from his Washington home.
Walsh has hinted he has materials that could prove damaging to the Patriots, and Levy said Walsh will turn them over to the NFL if the league provides him complete indemnification, protecting Walsh from being sued. But Levy said the NFL’s most recent offer leaves Walsh unprotected legally against unfounded or unproven allegations.
Belichick further detailed his interpretation of the NFL’s taping rules from the league’s Constitution & Bylaws (article 9) and scoffed at a ‘‘Spygate’’ reference Sunday because what the team taped was in view to everyone.
The rule states: ‘‘Any use by any club at any time, from the start to the finish of any game in which such club is a participant, of any communications or information-gathering equipment, other than Polaroid-type cameras or field telephones, shall be prohibited, including without limitation videotape machines, telephone tapping, or bugging devices, or any other form of electronic devices that might aid a team during the playing of a
Belichick felt the Patriots’ actions were in compliance with NFL rules, saying, ‘‘My interpretation was that you can’t utilize anything to assist you during that game. What our camera guys do is clearly not allowed to be used during the game and has never been used during that game that it was shot.’’
more stories like thisAt the time the Patriots were fined during the season, it was theorized coaches were utilizing the film of opposing signals to make halftime adjustments. Belichick said that was ‘‘never, never’’ the case.
He described the impact of the tapes as ‘‘minimal’’ to the Patriots’ preparations, rating it a ‘‘one’’ on a scale of 1 to 100.
‘‘On the tape of the signaling that we talk about, that film usually wasn’t even completed until Thursday or Friday of the following week. It was that low of a priority,’’ he said. ‘‘In other words, the video guys had so much other stuff to do on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday getting ready for the other game, that a lot of times that film wasn’t even processed until later in the week.’’
Asked, then, why the Patriots conducted the taping, he responded by saying: ‘‘Why do anything? Why study tendencies? Why study stances?’’
In the NFL, it is commonplace for scouts to attend games of future opponents and study signals. Detailed records are kept of those signals, including which coach is delivering them.
The Patriots’ videotaping of signals was deemed to cross the line, which Belichick apologized for Sunday.
‘‘I respect the integrity of the game and always have and always will,’’ he said. ‘‘I regret that any of this, or to whatever extent, it has in any way brought that into question or discussion or debate. The decision was made by the commissioner, the practice was immediately stopped, and we’re not doing it.
‘‘Just going back over the whole taping incident, if I contacted the league and asked them about the practice, I’m sure they would have told me — as they have done — that it is not permissible. Then I could have avoided all of this.
‘‘I take responsibility for it,’’ he continued. ‘‘Even though I felt there was a gray area in the rule and I misinterpreted the rule, that was my mistake and we’ve been penalized for it. I apologize to everybody that is involved — the league, the other teams, the fans, our team, for the amount of conversation and dialogue that it’s caused.
‘‘I misinterpreted the rule. The commissioner made his ruling and we’ve been penalized for it and tried to move on. But we’re not really moving on because we’re still here.’’
Belichick explained why he felt Sunday was the right time to address the issue, and not during the season when it happened.
‘‘I wasn’t comfortable talking about it earlier in the year because my No. 1 job is to win football games,’’ he said. ‘‘The more distractions there are, I think the harder it is to prepare. I thought the more conversation about this would just take away from what my primary job and our primary job is, which is to win football games.
‘‘I felt like now, the season has been over for a couple weeks, there are certainly a lot of questions out there about it, I thought this would be the timely point to address it as opposed to during the season, at any point. Of course, it came up a number of times.’’
In the days leading up to this year’s Super Bowl, Walsh’s potential role in the taping became a hot topic. Pioli detailed the work Walsh did in the personnel department.
‘‘He had come from video, so the first few months his job was to make highlight tapes of draft-eligible players, guys who were going to be free agents,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s like the entry-level position that we have all the scouting assistants in. It’s essentially the same job that I did 15 years ago, which was making copies, picking people up at the airport, data entry, more of the highlight tapes of the players, the draft-eligible guys.’’
Pioli said reports that indicated Walsh was an ‘‘area scout’’ were incorrect.
Their relationship ended abruptly, according to Pioli.
‘‘The job he was doing, there were two other guys doing it, so essentially the work he was doing wasn’t up to the same level as the other people, in my opinion. However, I found out he was secretly tape recording our conversations and he was fired,’’ he said.
Asked if he confronted Walsh for an explanation, Pioli said: ‘‘There was never a confrontation. He was just released.’’
Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.
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More smoke:
The Patriots’ pattern of illicitly videotaping the signals of opposing N.F.L. coaches began in Coach Bill Belichick’s first preseason with the team in 2000, a former Patriots player said. The information was put to use in that year’s regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Belichick’s debut as New England’s coach.
The secret taping of signals, which is against league rules, continued at least through three championship seasons to the 2007 season opener against the Jets, when the Patriots were caught and subsequently sanctioned by the league.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/sports/football/22patriots.html?_r=2&ex=1361336400&en=73525f5c5cb968ad&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
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Where theres smoke theres fire
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More smoke:
The Patriot's pattern of illicitly videotaping the signals of opposing N.F.L. coaches began in Coach Bill Belichick’s first preseason with the team in 2000, a former Patriots player said. The information was put to use in that year's regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Belichick’s debut as New England’s coach.
The secret taping of signals, which is against league rules, continued at least through three championship seasons to the 2007 season opener against the Jets, when the Patriots were caught and subsequently sanctioned by the league.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/sports/football/22patriots.html?_r=2&ex=1361336400&en=73525f5c5cb968ad&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Really? Nothing that was said in this article is new. A former patriots player? Thats code for we don't have a source and we want to say whatever we want. There is no actual evidence to back any of these comments up. Ted Johnson himself said he was never exposed to any form of illegal tape of another team when he was a pat. The same guy who called Belichick out earlier this year. Not a friend of Bill's , thats for sure. Yet the papers don't quote that! Let me clarify the twisting off words to sell papers. Do you know what Spector is referring to? Matt Walsh who is a former patriots employee was fired by Scott Pioli for taping conversations with him. Walsh has claimed he has something from back in 01. That is what Spector is talking about. Walsh then claimed the pats had a confidentiality contract with him so he could not release the tape. The NFL and the Pats then stated there was never any confidentially agreement and Walsh simply has not produced anything since his claim. We are going on week four of this claim and still nothing. Belichick and Scot Pioli denied having ever authorized any taping of any walk through of anything. Funny how someone makes a claim , has no proof , and they are telling the truth. So inturn you and many others pick up the paper , read some nonsense with no source and pass it off as proof and fact. Walsh was fired for lying on his resume and taping internal conversations with pats staff. Extortion? Maybe! Again stealing sings is not illegal. Nor is taping them. Taping them from CERTAIN areas is. The rule is a joke, read it. Its ok to tape from here but not there , gimme a break. There have been grumblings that the patys shared video cams with the rams due to the security post 9/11. That may be what Goodel talked about when he said he has "evidence to the contrary when talking about Matt Walsh's so far baseless claims.
The facts are the NFL and the pats have denied the pats had any knowledge of any tapes from 01. If this story is proven true that a different story , so far there is no proof and its been weeks since the claim. None of this crap has been backed up with anything but secret "sources" from newspapers. No actual people or evidence. Spector is a fraud. The guys biggest campaign contributer is Comcast. The same company the NFL is in a huge war with over rights to broadcast games. Wonder if there is any kind of agenda there Arlen. Even if the pats did do what spector alledges , its a freaking NFL rule. The guy has no jurisdiction! Its not like steroids which are illegal in this country. Stealing sings is not even illegal In the NFL. Only taping them from CERTAIN areas is. That right not all areas on the field , just certain ones. Look it up! The guy is a total clown , and if I was a Philly tax payer I would be pretty mad.
If Walsh does not produce something the Herald and the Times are going to be looking at major deformation lawsuits. You pass off unnamed sources and accusations as facts. Most people don't even know why the pats where penalized in the first place.
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Where theres smoke theres fire
Sometimes smoke is smoke. Sometimes scorned employees want a pay day. It is now week four and Matt Walsh has produced no evidence to back up his claims that started this whole thing. How does a golf pro get one of the best lawyers in the USA to rep him? Why is Arlen Spector so bent out of shape about this? Why does he keep saying inaccurate things about the pats? Some of Spectors quotes are flat out false. Why does spector receive millions of dollars from comcast and comcast's law firm? The same comcast that is in a war with the NFL over rights to broadcast games! Spector has since backed of his witch hunt and claimed there will be no SENATE hearing held about a possible NFL rule being broken. Man oh man the abuse of power is blatent in this one. Even if the pats did break a NFL rule , it's a freaking NFL rule! This guy is spending tax dollers on this!? If I was from Phili I would be pissed. Since ol Arlen got called out for his massive donations from Comcast and there law firm he has backed off? Why was ol Arlen told to screw by the jets when he tried to interview them. I want to know why Arlen does not go after the whole leauge to turn over all there tapes to clean things up. I mean he should be looking into the abuse of drugs correct? That is illegal in this country!
There may be fire from this smoke, but so far Matt Walsh has been exposed and there is still no evidence. There could be fire around this smoke or a lot of egg on a lot of peoples faces just hoping they can slam the pats a little more :) If Walsh is exposed any further I hope to see the pats sue the pants of the Herald and the times. You cant tell only one side of a story and print lies in the real world.
PFT
Quote:
SPYGATE II STILL LURKING
It’s been a couple of days since there have been any new statements or developments relevant to the Spygate II drama, but the story isn’t going away. As Peter King pointed out in his MMQB column, the story will linger until Matt Walsh talks.
But one of the wrinkles in all of this that has been virtually ignored by the “real” media is that there’s a clear dispute over a key credibility point in this matter.
Walsh initially told the New York Times that a confidentiality agreement signed by Walsh prevented him from getting into any of the details. Recently, ESPN.com buried in a largely unrelated item a contention from the Pats that there is no such agreement.
Since then, there has been no further comment or examination of this issue. We sent an e-mail to Walsh’s lawyer, Michael Levy, but he has not responded. (He also hasn’t responded to an e-mail from us inquiring regarding the process that led to an assistant golf pro in Hawaii being represented by the head of the White Collar/Investigations and Enforcement group at a high-powered D.C. firm.)
We’d like to think that the folks to whom Levy has fed sound bites will ask these same questions.
If Walsh doesn’t have a confidentiality agreement, nothing prevents him from talking — other than his desire to leverage his willingness to talk into a “get out of jail free” card as to the question of whether he stole property from the team, taped conversations in violation of Massachusetts law, and/or will be defaming the Patriots if he says things that aren’t true to Arlen Specter or 60 Minutes.
Speaking of defamation, King also raises the possibility that the Patriots will sue the Boston Herald for its February 2 item proclaiming that the Patriots taped the Rams’ final walk-through practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI. That report has triggered the storm that has been raging around the franchise, and directly led to the class-action lawsuit that the team is facing in New Orleans.
Indeed, the lawyer who is handling that case has made it clear that the action will be seriously damaged if it turns out that the walk-through practice wasn’t taped. (You can listen to a radio interview during which the lawyer makes the concession right here.)
The team’s challenge in that regard will be to satisfy the higher standard that applies to defamation claims brought by public figures. Specifically, the Pats would be required to prove that the Herald proceeded with actual malice or that the Herald acted with reckless disregard as to the truth.
Though it might be hard to show malice, the Patriots could get to a Massachusetts jury as to the issue of “reckless disregard.” We can’t clearly recall whether the Herald got a statement from the Pats before running the story (and we’re not inclined to now pay for access to the original Herald story, which is now archived). Our general recollection is the Herald proceeded with only one side of the situation, which is always risk for such an inflammatory story.
Also, there is some scuttlebutt that Walsh, who is believed to have been the source for the Herald story, has since backed off the contention that the practice was actually videotaped.
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I blame the Bush Administration
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Really? Nothing that was said in this article is new. A former patriots player? Thats code for we don't have a source and we want to say whatever we want. There is no actual evidence to back any of these comments up. Ted Johnson himself said he was never exposed to any form of illegal tape of another team when he was a pat. The same guy who called Belichick out earlier this year. Not a friend of Bill's , thats for sure. Yet the papers don't quote that! Let me clarify the twisting off words to sell papers. Do you know what Spector is referring to? Matt Walsh who is a former patriots employee was fired by Scott Pioli for taping conversations with him. Walsh has claimed he has something from back in 01. That is what Spector is talking about. Walsh then claimed the pats had a confidentiality contract with him so he could not release the tape. The NFL and the Pats then stated there was never any confidentially agreement and Walsh simply has not produced anything since his claim. We are going on week four of this claim and still nothing. Belichick and Scot Pioli denied having ever authorized any taping of any walk through of anything. Funny how someone makes a claim , has no proof , and they are telling the truth. So inturn you and many others pick up the paper , read some nonsense with no source and pass it off as proof and fact. Walsh was fired for lying on his resume and taping internal conversations with pats staff. Extortion? Maybe! Again stealing sings is not illegal. Nor is taping them. Taping them from CERTAIN areas is. The rule is a joke, read it. Its ok to tape from here but not there , gimme a break. There have been grumblings that the patys shared video cams with the rams due to the security post 9/11. That may be what Goodel talked about when he said he has "evidence to the contrary when talking about Matt Walsh's so far baseless claims.
The facts are the NFL and the pats have denied the pats had any knowledge of any tapes from 01. If this story is proven true that a different story , so far there is no proof and its been weeks since the claim. None of this crap has been backed up with anything but secret "sources" from newspapers. No actual people or evidence. Spector is a fraud. The guys biggest campaign contributer is Comcast. The same company the NFL is in a huge war with over rights to broadcast games. Wonder if there is any kind of agenda there Arlen. Even if the pats did do what spector alledges , its a freaking NFL rule. The guy has no jurisdiction! Its not like steroids which are illegal in this country. Stealing sings is not even illegal In the NFL. Only taping them from CERTAIN areas is. That right not all areas on the field , just certain ones. Look it up! The guy is a total clown , and if I was a Philly tax payer I would be pretty mad.
If Walsh does not produce something the Herald and the Times are going to be looking at major deformation lawsuits. You pass off unnamed sources and accusations as facts. Most people don't even know why the pats where penalized in the first place.
I don't think allegations are true just because someone makes them, but when you start hearing the same thing from multiple sources, then there is often something to the story. We'll see how this plays out.
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Agreed.
If Walsh produces a video of the Rams' walkthrough, this will blow up.
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I don't think allegations are true just because someone makes them, but when you start hearing the same thing from multiple sources, then there is often something to the story. We'll see how this plays out.
Who are these sources? So far the NFL has said there was no truth to what was said. Goodel said he had evidence to the contrary. All these newspapers have sources with no actual source. I wonder if the new york times has an agenda?
Let me know when some actual evidence comes to light. Walsh has already been caught lying. It has been five weeks and no tape.
SI.com
Something stinks in the world of Spygate. Call it a spectre over Specter. Call it a distasteful conflict of interest. Call it an unfair accusation against a Senator with motives more pure than a Troy Aikman spiral. Call it manna from heaven for Bill Belichick and his morally impaired Patriots staff. But whatever you call it, don't say that it doesn't have tongues wagging in NFL suites and behind the closed doors of Congress.
The story begins with the righteous anger of the cancer-surviving, 78-year-old Senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter. He has presented himself to the sports world as the populist of pigskin, pushing back against the big, bad NFL in what has become known as SpyGate. Specter has shredded NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in the press for destroying videotapes of the Patriots spying on the New York Jets during their Sept. 9 season-opening game.
The longtime GOP Senator from Pennsylvania effectively called Goodell a liar, saying, "The commissioner's explanation as to why he destroyed the tapes does not ring true."
Specter says he has taken up this crusade because he is a football fan haunted by the Patriots three-point Super Bowl win over his Philadelphia Eagles.
He has also said, "I think the Congress has a legitimate interest. It really all melds together with their other practices, which are not really too concerned about the fan and the consumers. We have a right to have honest football games that are played according to the rules."
Yet, a closer look at Specter's incentives reveals what some say is a most unpleasant stench.
Long before Spygate, dating to 1983 according to aides, Specter has railed against the antitrust exemption held by the NFL. He has, his supporters say, objected to the way they can blithely move teams and take public funds to build stadiums. Yet in recent years, the object of Specter's NFL ire has been the NFL Network and its exclusive relationship with DirecTV. The Philadelphia-based Comcast cable company is in a war with the NFL over whether they can charge their customers for the NFL Network, unlike DirecTV.
Here is where we start to get filthy. Specter was described to me by an opponent as "the Senator from the great state of Comcast." Is this fair?
Comcast is the No. 2 source of campaign funds for the Senator. Comcast execs and employees have given a reported $153,600 in contributions, going back to 1989. The No. 1 contributor since '89 is Blank Rome LLC, a lobbying firm that has dumped $358,483 into Specter's coffers. A chief client of Blank Rome is .... wait for it .... Comcast.
Goodell has pulled no punches on Comcast, saying, "They're just finding another way which they can charge our consumers more money. We think it (the NFL Network) should be available on a broader basis." When asked if Specter's vendetta is related to Comcast, Goodell only said, "I'm not addressing that point."
As Will Bunch wrote in the Philadelphia Daily News, "If you simply took Specter at face value, and assumed his passion for grilling the NFL in his official Senate capacity is the passion of a jilted fan, that alone would be an outrageous abuse of his authority. But the truth is much worse, because Specter's interest in this issue dovetails far too closely with those of his two largest contributors, whose employees have given his campaign more than half a million dollars to keep him in office. I believe if there's any Senate hearing involving the NFL and Arlen Specter, it ought to be the Senate Ethics Committee, looking at a potential link to these donors."
Specter's office disputes this assertion, with spokesperson Kate Kelly e-mailing me, "Comcast has nothing to do with the Senator's interest in the matter. The Senator has had a long-standing interest in the NFL's antitrust exemption ... way before Comcast was even in existence."
Specter himself said to David Aldridge, "Well, what I've got to do is figure out what the percentage is of the contributions is out of the $23 million I raised. It's a fraction of one percent and got nothing to do with what I'm doing here. I think I've got a pretty strong record for integrity and not letting campaign contributions interfere with my public duty."
One thing is certain: as fans we should want to know what Belichick did or hasn't done, and whether the dominant dynasty of the last decade systematically broke the rules to climb the mountain. But there is enough of a conflict of interest on Specter to raise eyebrows. Let's get an independent commission. But let's get it out of the halls of Congress. You aren't a pigskin populist just because you deliver the pork.
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Agreed.
If Walsh produces a video of the Rams' walkthrough, this will blow up.
Walsh was fired for taping conversations with pats staff and lying on his resume. He could have made a tape and decided to try and extort the pats. We are on week five and still no tape. The guy has already been caught lying about a document he claimed he had to sign not allowing him to show the "tape".
People are taking rumors from Walsh and talking like it is facts. The guy made claims with no proof , was already caught lying, and everyone still takes what he says and runs with it. It's all driven by hate my friend.
I have posted about 50 prominent NFL people who say this is no thing. Nothing new. The only people who are fired up over this are the media who hat belichick and rival fans looking for an excuse.
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The only people who are fired up over this are the media who hat belichick and rival fans looking for an excuse.
Which is exactly why it will blow up if a tape comes out. Right or wrong, this will be dominating sports radio.
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Which is exactly why it will blow up if a tape comes out. Right or wrong, this will be dominating sports radio.
I dont really have a problem with that. I just get a kick out of how much people hate the patriots.
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I dont really have a problem with that. I just get a kick out of how much people hate the patriots.
Now you know what it's like to root for the Yankees.
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Now you know what it's like to root for the Yankees.
There is no salery cap in baseball. The pats cant spend a nickel more then any other team. People just hate them because they win. I think people hate the Yankees because they win, and because they outspend other teams by huge margins.
I know the red sox are doing it to these days. That said the yanks still outspend the sox by tens of millions. I get your point though.
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people hate the pats because:
they win a lot
spygate
belichick isn't very nice
brady dates super models and is basically everything the average guys wishes he could be
E
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people hate the pats because:
they win a lot
spygate
belichick isn't very nice
brady dates super models and is basically everything the average guys wishes he could be
E
I agree.
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people hate the pats because:
they win a lot
spygate
belichick isn't very nice
brady dates super models and is basically everything the average guys wishes he could be
E
You know, they are not like the Cowboys were in the 1990's, always trash talking and arrogant. What you've listed here really isn't that big of a deal, they seem nit picky at best as a reason not to like a team or hate it.
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people hate the pats because:
they win a lot
spygate
belichick isn't very nice
brady dates super models and is basically everything the average guys wishes he could be
E
Bullshit, he's perfect except for playing in New England! >:(
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Bill Belichick is a true patriot. That might pass as a excuse for secretly recording opposing team's signals because you do anything possible to be the winner in a war, which is what the sport of pro football in the NFL is close to being.
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You know, they are not like the Cowboys were in the 1990's, always trash talking and arrogant. What you've listed here really isn't that big of a deal, they seem nit picky at best as a reason not to like a team or hate it.
they are arrogant but every winning team is arrogant
what other reason do people hate them if i was nitpicking?
E
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they are arrogant but every winning team is arrogant
what other reason do people hate them if i was nitpicking?
E
I wasn't trying to imply that you were nit picking. I was just trying to make a comparison, being that if you take into consideration what the Cowboys were like versus what the Pats are like it seems the reasons you listed are nit picking.
I think those reasons are dead on and if you think about it, it's hard for any winning team, in that caliber not to be hated in some regard.