Around The NFL - 2007

[Sgt PSN]

As far as I'm concerned they should have a * next to their SBs.

if you steal signals in baseball, should you have an asterisk next to your World Series win?

All part of the game if your slick enough, but the bad thing for them is they will get docked draft picks in the coming year from Roger Goodell

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I agree with reese.  

Sign stealing has always been a part of the game.  And if you are able to observe the opposing team showing their tendencies or read their signals then I don't see how that's cheating.  The league obviously allows teams to bring cameras on the field and now they're getting pissed off because they found someone "allegedly" using it to "allegedly" gain a competetive advantage?  It's not like they've got remote controlled flies that they're using to listen in on the other team's huddle or sideline discussions.  They don't have someone dressed up like a bush sneaking around the other team.  I really don't see this as an issue.  And if they did it against the Eagles in the Super Bowl, so what?  Maybe if Reid and Co did a little thinking outside the box, they would have been stealing signs from the Pats.  

[Sgt PSN]

because they arent all worried about it...they all do it and they all will continue to do it...but now that the pats got caught everyone is gonna get all uppity and bitch and moan and try to take superbowls away

"they cheated better than us"

We all know Andy is too honest to ever try and pull some shtein off like this, though i would have been all for it if it got this team a SB Win

Maybe they should hire Britt to be HC.  He'll shoot up before the game and run the opposing team's bus off the road on their way to the stadium.

[ice grillin you]

because they arent all worried about it...they all do it and they all will continue to do it...but now that the pats got caught everyone is gonna get all uppity and bitch and moan and try to take superbowls away

"they cheated better than us"

We all know Andy is too honest to ever try and pull some shtein off like this, though i would have been all for it if it got this team a SB Win

eagles do it too...perhaps not always in such a bold fashion as a camera on the sidelines...but best believe they have their own cameras around the stadium filming the same stuff

imo its the jets that should be fined for stupidity...switch up your signals or make them harder to read or conceal them...all these jets officials and coaches are talking about how they have suspected the patriots of doing this for a while...well if thats the case then how did you dumbasses let your signals get stolen by a team who you knew practiced the art


not to mentiopn mangini was the friggin DC under belichek...he knew what they did and more than that he did it himself...so shut your mouth and take your medicine

[PhillyGirl]

shut your mouth

Yes, would you please?

[Quasimoto]

I agree on the point about Mangini.  You worked directly with Belichek for years.  You knew how they operated.  Yet you didn't have the piece of mind to adjust your calls when you felt like they were cheating?  How dumb do you have to be?

[Father Demon]

The official NFL rule regarding coaching video states, "No video record ing devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game."

The league's head of football operations, Ray Anderson, sent a memo to head coaches and general managers last September reiterating the policy and stating that "video taping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches' booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."

That's why it's wrong -- because the rules specifically state what the Pats did is illegal.  The baseball argument is funny - just as reading the signs of a 3rd base coach is not illegal, if the Pats coaching staff could see the signals from their position with out mechanical aid then it wouldn't be illegal.

Also, Mangini is the one that tipped off Jets higher-ups, and they did this just to catch a nd bust the Pats.  the camera was taken in the mid first quarter, so it likely didn't have an impact on the final score.  but the Jets played possum just long enough to nail the Pats.

I say good job to the Jets.  Use them as an example, and maybe this will get straightened out before it turns into an NBA type of credibility issue.

[ice grillin you]

the camera was taken in the mid first quarter, so it likely didn't have an impact on the final score

it was taken at halftime outside the patriots locker room

either way youre spazzing about the issue...everyone does it...one team got caught...and everyone will continue to do it...just in a more secretive manner now (at least till this dies down)

[Father Demon]

Because the camera and tape were seized in the first quarter Sunday, the taping most likely did not play a major factor in the outcome, a 38-14 victory.

Different sources, different stories.

I have two (now three) posts about this subject to your 6.  And I'm spazzing out.  Makes sense.

[Sgt PSN]

The official NFL rule regarding coaching video states, "No video record ing devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game."

The league's head of football operations, Ray Anderson, sent a memo to head coaches and general managers last September reiterating the policy and stating that "video taping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches' booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."

That's why it's wrong -- because the rules specifically state what the Pats did is illegal.  The baseball argument is funny - just as reading the signs of a 3rd base coach is not illegal, if the Pats coaching staff could see the signals from their position with out mechanical aid then it wouldn't be illegal.

Also, Mangini is the one that tipped off Jets higher-ups, and they did this just to catch a nd bust the Pats.  the camera was taken in the mid first quarter, so it likely didn't have an impact on the final score.  but the Jets played possum just long enough to nail the Pats.

I say good job to the Jets.  Use them as an example, and maybe this will get straightened out before it turns into an NBA type of credibility issue.

I just assumed that the camera was allowed on the field.  My bad on that.  So in that regards, since the Pats did bring contraband onto the field, then yes, shame on them and they should be punished for it.  However, I still don't think that this taints their Super Bowls. 

[ice grillin you]

i read it in one of the ny papers...trying to find it...that they stopped the dood at haltime going into the new england lockeroom..and in fact said an altercation of some sort took place and they had to call nj state police over

[Father Demon]

Gaddis auditioned with the Rams yesterday.  They cut Hedgecock to make room for another player, but it seems it won't be Gaddis.

[rjs246]

About the Patriots thing. This shouldn't be such a big issue. Every team looks for advantages including stealing signs. It's part of sports. Not a big deal.

What makes this so delicious is the fact that Belicheck is so renowned as a genius AND simultaneously despised by the media for being such a massive pain in the ass. I hope they nail his ass to the wall and I hope that the Eagles pick up some tips from what the league finds.

[Geowhizzer]

Years ago in the old Baker, the Phillies were caught trying to steal the catcher's signs from center field and telegraph them to the third base coach.  They were caught when the opposing third base coach got his spikes caught in some of the wire that had been shallowly buried in the field.  He pulled up the wire and followed it to where they had the guy stationed.

[Magical_Retard]

wait so its not a big deal if a team is caught cheating? since when? stealing signs is one thing...esp if your dumb enough to lay them out there, but having a camera and going outside the rules to cheat is not a big deal? why not? just cause other teams do it? ok so we should all ignore the rule now? why is steroids or HGH a big deal then?

im not even comparing the two or saying they are on the same level but they both do lead to a competitive edge yet one is looked as the worst thing ever and the other is nothing?

and i believe this isnt the first time the pats have been caught doing something like this. there has to be some punishment for them doing this regardless of the fact that other teams might be doing this. if your going to cheat and get caught you should be penalized.

[ice grillin you]

they should be punished AND its not a big deal