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Excuses Are Over As NFL Confirms That Patriots Cheated

19
Vote

by MetsJetsDevils

Despite attempts to come up with any reason why the Patriots were not guilty as charged, the NFL has already concluded its investigation and found that the Patriots were guilty as charged.  As reported at ESPN.com,

"NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has determined that the New England Patriots violated league rules Sunday when they videotaped defensive signals by the New York Jets ' coaches, league sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

NFL security officials confiscated a camera and videotape from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella on the New England sidelines when it was suspected he was recording the Jets' defensive signals. Sources say the visual evidence confirmed the suspicion."

According to the article, the league is considering different punishments including the docking of multiple draft picks.  The Patriots will have an opportunity to present their case before the league but thus far have not provided any reason for the illicit cameraman.  

Surprising to me, the League has also made headway with investigating radio frequency irregularities as well.  According to ESPN,  

"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."

This is no longer a small story that can be rationalized by a rapid New England fan base.  This is a serious story with serious ramifications for the New England Patriots. 


Enable Comment Auto-Refresher
MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
815 days ago
Score 2+-
In all fairness to ESPN,I should link to their story. http://sport...y?id=3014677
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PeanMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score 1+-
it doesnt seem to me that docking them draft picks is a fair enough punishment
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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
815 days ago
Score 1+-
I don't think there is any chance that they will force a forfeit, although there was a report on NFL Network that this may occur. As I said yesterday, I think the draft picks that are the punishment should be given to the victims (the Jets) but more importantly, the person responsible (I would imagine it is BB) should be suspended for about 4 games with no communication with the team allowed. Its interesting because Goodell has been a strict guy when it comes to punishing players who behave porrly off the field. I wonder what he will do to a team that is proven to cheating on the field.
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PeanMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score 1+-
oh yeah i know, theres no way they can go back and change any outcomes...I'm sure some other coach will have to take the fall, and leave BB out of it...What's really interesting is the quotes by the players during all this "I don't think we do that kind of thing"...how would they not know?
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Bberg11Varsity
815 days ago
Score 1+-
I think draft picks are a serious punishment. It may not seem like it to me and you, but teams really cherish draft picks. Losing some without getting anything in return (like in a trade) is tough for teams
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Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 3+-
I know I'm a Philly homer but Belichick should be suspended for half the season if not all. In addition to the videotaping the NFL is also conducting an investigation into communication irregularities the Patriots had. And if that also is compounded in their illicit cheating than it would make this whole fiasco a lot more serious.
Permalink
ChristofMVP
815 days ago
Score 1+-
The punishment should be -

1. Forfeit the win. or

2. Loss all draft picks in 2008.
Permalink
RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score -1+-
Illicit cheating? As opposed to that other kind of cheating?
Permalink
Confessions Of A FanaticDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 0+-
I would love to say they should have to forfeit the game, but I think that's just going too far. However, multiple draft picks should be handed over to the Jets, and Belichick should be suspended for four weeks at the least. Pats fans cant argue that this is right. I'm not saying that it changed the outcome, I'm just saying it was a violation of the rules and the team should be punished.
Permalink
Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 0+-
Just and adjective Raw. I wouldn't read to much into it pal.
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score 3+-
They should make Belichick dress like a non-slob and act like a non-robot for 4 press conferences.
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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
815 days ago
Score 1+-
I watched a bit of the San Fran game and Nolan was coaching in a suit and I was like what ever happened to NFL coaches wearing suits during games?
Permalink
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score 0+-
What happened to player coaches?
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AfraidofedhochuliDraft Pick
815 days ago
Score 2+-
GOOD!
Permalink | Reply
Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 2+-
OWNED
Permalink | Reply
ChristofMVP
815 days ago
Score 3+-
Guess who now becomea Friday Fryer Chair nominee :)
Permalink | Reply
Manny StilesMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score 1+-
is it me again? Awww... Son of a Sports Guy!
Permalink
RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score 0+-
So it would've been 38-17 instead of 38-14?

Finally, we can now pass judgment on this story. All the haters jumped to their conclusions earlier, and will now glorify themselves for "being right" because they all had ESP and could sense what was on the confiscated tapes.

The Patriots cheated, got caught, and I think losing some draft picks is a good punishment. It's also a good deterrent for future teams. I think a forfeit is a bit too harsh. A suspension of Belichick might be appropriate, but 4 games (1/4 the season) is too long, IMO. I'd say 1 or 2 games.

I wonder if Belichick and Mangini will even shake hands after the Jets lose in their week 15 game against us. I can't wait for the annoying pre-game banter of the NFL's talking heads this weekend, as well as before the next time these two teams play. Should be really riveting bullshit.
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Buck FudderPee Wee
815 days ago
Score 2+-
If you caught your girlfriend making out with another guy, wouldn't be reasonable to think that she is banging the rest of New England? Who knows what the Cheatriots have done the past 5 years
Permalink
RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score -1+-
I don't think it'd be reasonable at all, there are over 14 million people in New England. You'd have to get up pretty early in the morning to bang all of them. And it'd be a bitch to get to the ones living in the northern crown of Maine.
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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
815 days ago
Score 1+-
It was the defensive signals they were stealing, not offensive. Thus, the it is the Patriots score "more" affected. However, the problem with your theory is that all the plays are interrelated. i.e. on that Moss TD they knew what defensive the Jets were running. On that key first down they know the Jets weren't going to blitz,etc. etc. These types of things not only helped the Pats, but affected other aspects of the game. I am not going to spend all day fighting with you again. First it was that these were just accusations and now that they are proven you are just going to come up with more excuses and rationalizations
Permalink
RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score 0+-
How the fuck am I excusing and rationalizing? I think you need to invest in a dictionary and look these words up.

Obviously it has an effect on the game, my score prediction was a joke. And I just said we should lose draft picks and have our head coach suspended. This is rationalizing? This is excusing?

We cheated, we did something wrong, we got caught, we'll get punished, and if we do it again we should get punished even moreso. In my opinion, we would have won anyway, which makes this whole sign stealing thing ridiculously stupid and pointless on our part.

And the Jets still suck. Maybe they should start cheating.
Permalink
False ProphetAll-Star
815 days ago
Score 2+-
2 Game suspension is good. It's less than a Steroid suspension, and there's no proof this came from BB's mouth. Teams cheat. Players cheat. The Jets suck. End of story
Permalink
Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 1+-
Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe, Barry Bonds, Diego Maradona, Ben Johnson, Bill Belichick
Permalink
RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score 0+-
Maradona? What's he doing on the list? For an incidental handball in the box?
Permalink
Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
814 days ago
Score 1+-
They all cheated...seems pretty cut and dry to me.
Permalink
Anonymous Fanatic #1
815 days ago
Score 0+-
http://sport...e_of_reilly/

http://sport...y?id=2957893

All the haters can get off your high horses.
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Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 0+-
What you linked has nothing to do with videotaping an opposing team's coaches...
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MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
815 days ago
Score 0+-
Nice try Anon. but even Edwards in the ESPN article says "as long as it is legal." Using lip readers may be legal, but using a video camera is not. The Pats got caught. Now sign in and take it like a man.
Permalink
Anonymous Fanatic #1
815 days ago
Score 0+-
"Our guy keeps a pair of binoculars on their signal-callers every game," says Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. "With any luck, we have their defensive signals figured out by halftime. Sometimes, by the end of the first quarter." The difference is?
Permalink
Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 0+-
Do binonculars record to a tape?
Permalink
Anonymous Fanatic #1
815 days ago
Score 0+-
So the videotape part is what you have a problem with? Not the "we have their defensive signals figured out by halftime. Sometimes, by the end of the first quarter" part? If we had stolen their plays in an acceptable way, it would have been cool?
Permalink
Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 0+-
It isn't that hard to differentiate between binoculars and video tape is it? And the part in the NFL rulebook pertaining to video taping and it being illegal to isn't hard to understand either right? Finally, if it was so easy to figure out their defensive signals than why even video tape?
Permalink
Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
815 days ago
Score 0+-
Also, this will be my last reply considering you have to hide behind a Anonymous tag to even post. Really reassuring on your part.
Permalink
MetsJetsDevilsDraft Pick
815 days ago
Score 0+-
Dude, it is obvious. The difference is one is illegal under NFL rules. If you wish to debate this with the NFL by all means write The NFL a letter. What's the difference between sleeping with a 17 year old and sleeping with a 18 year old? One is legal and the other gets you sent to jail.
Permalink
Anonymous Fanatic #1
815 days ago
Score -1+-
Why should I sign up here? Seems like all the users here get up on their soapboxes out of jealousy of us, when they know damn well their own teams do the same thing.
Permalink
RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer
815 days ago
Score -1+-
I think all these crime analogies are flawed.

Here's my try, though. The crime the Patriots committed isn't what they did, it's how they did it. Everyone steals signs, the Patriots just did it in an illegal way.

It's like going hunting, which is legal and done by many people, but with an illegal automatic weapon.
Permalink
Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud
814 days ago
Score 2+-
What they did is steal signs by video taping it. I don't understand the gray area here. This is black and white.
Permalink
KelsdadAll-Star
815 days ago
Score 1+-
I wouldn't sign up here either if I were you, you've already proven you don't know shit.
Permalink | Reply
Anonymous Fanatic #1
815 days ago
Score -1+-
I know Jet fans are green with envy.
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False ProphetAll-Star
815 days ago
Score 2+-
He's got a point. The results really aren't that different. The difference is their means of doing so. I'm not saying that its ok what the pats did, but its not as if it's really that different from finding the signals out from any other thing (I.E. lip readers, binoculars, etc.)
Permalink | Reply
SeanlahmanJV Squad
815 days ago
Score 1+-
If only this were the Jets biggest problem on Sunday...
Permalink | Reply
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