Patriots Caught Cheating
On Sunday, a member of the Patriots organization was caught shooting video of the New York Jets' bench as the team sent in defensive signals. NFL security confiscated the video camera and videotape, and shipped it to commissioner Roger Goodell, who, in turn, invited Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to New York for a little sit-down.
Tuesday ESPN's Chris Mortenson confirmed that Goodell has concluded the Patriots did in fact violate rules that all teams had specifically been warned about by the new commissioner. And now the team faces sanctions that could include the loss of multiple draft picks, suspensions, and/or fines.
In my view, players who give themselves a competitive advantage through illegal sources (and are caught) are suspended and fined, so the same should apply in a situation such as this. If Belichick knew about this, which it's hard to imagine he didn't, then he should be suspended and fined. And as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to do anything similar in the future -- or are already doing it at this time -- Goodell should show he means business by stripping the team of a valuable draft pick or two.
The really sad part about this is it leaves a cloud hanging over what the franchise has accomplished in recent years, and leaves a nasty little stain on this century's first dynasty. We'll always wonder now, was Belichick a genius or was he operating on an unfair playing field?
Patriots Logo courtesy of the National Football League
Comments
The standards of the NFL should review fully. If my kids were young I would not allow the boys to watch the games because of the players and now it seem to be the league. So now we find out that cheating is OK if done within the limits of the NFL rules?????? NO CHEATING SHOULD BE ALLOW PERIOD, THIS WOULD SEND THE RIGHT MESSAGE TO OUR KIDS. PLUS I HOPE MICHAEL VICK NEVER IS ALLOW ON A FOOTBALL FIELD AGAIN AND THIS WOULD START TO CLEAN UP THE NFL!!!
The Patriots should be deemed to have forfeited their game against the Jets; should lose their first round draft choices for the next three years; and have their salary cap allocation set $10 million below other teams for each of the next three years.
I totally agree with DrPaul that the Patriots should forfeit the Jets game because they have cheated and that has no place in the NFL or anywhere!
This not the first time the New England Patriots have been accused of cheating. There’s also the VERY SERIOUIS issue of the Patriots stealing the audio signals that are transmitted into the QB’s helmet.
So with the PreMEDITATED VIDEOing of signals to be used for future games and debriefing of players and coaches… THESE INFRACTIONS WARRANT the SEVEREST penalties.
FORFEIT THE NY JETS GAME
LOSE THE 2008 DRAFT PICKS
BANNED FROM THE PLAYOFFS FOR THIS YEAR
THE PROBLEM IS; THIS IS SO STAGGERING that EFFECTS LAS VEGAS/CASINO bets/betting and around the world there can be major lawsuits! The NFL will have no choice but to “SWEEP IT UNDER THE CARPET” due to BILLIONS in potential loses in legal fees, lawsuits around the world and political investigations.
GOODELL… you are being WATCHED VERY CLOSELY!
Come on. You can get everything you need just by using a TiVo, and HD, and you KNOW they all do it !! Why do you think every coach covers their mouth when they speak into the mike? AND if all of their scores were defensive, you might have a point, BUT, Moss caught a hugh pass, and how about 108 yard run-back. I don’t care about any video, that’s just plain TALENT !!
I think Mike Vick should be able to return to the NFL.. What happens to the grey-hound dogs when they are unable to when races? They are put down because they are of no use any more.. Whats the difference from Mike Vick and those who race grey-hounds? The Government is the dfference because they get paid to let dogs race. In Vicks case the government didn’t get there cut so they punished him
go mexico!!!
wooo whooo
I think the Patriots are a very talented team and have great veteran players and a great line but this was so upseting to me that I literally cried, until someone told me that everyone in the NFL does it, they were probably set up because people are feeling treatened by this dynasty winning, kick-ass football team. People know that they are going to the bowl AGAIN this year and God willing, they will win it AGAIN!!
And about Michael Vick…what he did was flat out wrong, cruel, mean, stupid and very inconsiderate of his fans. Those poor dogs are fighting and hurting (or killing) themselves for a cocky, already rich enough, overrated football player. He doesn’t need the money, so I assume that he just gets off on watching dogs die and bleed. That’s not very nice and he is not a nice person for what he did. I wouldn’t want a meanie like that playing on my team, but that’s just me!!…
Football is boring and cheating should be allowed to spice up the game. You should be able to use video cameras and have spys who sneak on to other teasm. Why not all the players to carry sharp objects hidden in the pads to gouge the other players. Razor spikes would be good too. You should be able to grab fans out of the stands and beat the crap out of them.. Exploding footballs and trap doors would make it more of a challenge. Football is boring…
Cheaters. Punish them severely. Enough said.
Yes they were caught cheating but the new headlines about them cheating to win against Philly. Even if they did. And new how to set up on the D all the time.. McNabb choked so much it wasn’t even funny. Didn’t he puke under pressure. I am not down grading the season for the eagles they played a awesome season but am I the only one seeing that as great as they were ! They could not finish the Deal?
Oh and one more thing Mr. James bond the last comment about race dog’s and Mr. Vicks dogs. They don’t drown there dogs or strangle them with there bare hands nor do they usually put them to sleep… I have seen race greyhounds for adoption as far up as new jersey .. Im not 100% sure but where do they race these dogs are not near Jersey… And even poorer judgement James bond… Yes racing greyhounds not the greatest for animal lovers but it beats putting them in a pit to see which one can Kill the other quicker by malling each other to death… Think before you speak even if its just for a moment.
To Patriot fan… it is a false statement to say all the teams cheat. That is just your friend trying to ease your conscience.
James Bond is a moron. How do you “when” a race? I hope he sees this the next time his mom turns on his computer for him. Go hit your crack pipe you loser.
CHEATING !!!!!!!!
y would the patriots cheat ???
i thinks its retarded cuz they dont need to cheat …there good enough not to .i love the patriots & everything but what they want to do to that team like taking there draft picks is unfair the Pats never did anything .it waz all the coaches …they should be the ones that have to pay ..not the team .dont hurt the team fer a stupid mistake the retard coach made
I for one love this. As a Dolphins fan, all the last minute losses to the Pats finally make since. THEY CHEAT!!!!!!!!
In an age where cheaters are rewarded as in the 2000 election. The Patriots should be given their Super Bowl rings for the 2007 season already and save us all from watching the games. For if cheating is allowed why bother to compete on the field.
When did football and sports in general like the NBA get so riddled with cheating scandals? Sports fans don’t be fooled, we need to put pressure on these money mongers in high places to be held accountable for their actions. Every year its all about the big bucks and less about the game. In a few days I’m sure this latest scandal will be but a scant memory if the powers that be have their way of manipulating the media into having us think this was just another ‘isolated incident’ as they did with the referee who called bogus shots for the benefit of paying his gambling debts in the NBA playoffs between the Spurs and the Phx Suns. You cannot convince me that referee worked alone, I believe he was the fall guy involved in a bigger NBA sports conspiracy. Wake up Sports fans and connect the dots and stop paying for overpriced tickets to these scam-artists!
JC, don’t try to justify the Dolphins losing with some new scandel. The Dolphins just suck and everyone knows that they don’t just lose to the Patriots, they lose to everyone.
And just in case nobody saw the game last night, the Patriots won, WITHOUT cheating. And they played a pretty good game if I may say so myself.
But how do we know they didn’t cheat last night Patriot Fan?
Do you really think they would cheat again after being fined almost a million dollars and their first round draft pick for the ‘08 season? They don’t need to cheat, I don’t think they ever NEEDED to cheat, but the new offensive coach probably wanted a little more leverage. The Patriots whole organization would never be stupid enough to cheat again, especially the very next week from when they got busted.
They were stupid enough to keep up the video taping after being specifically told not to do it anymore.
The point is, everything the Pats do now draw suspicion. And it should. They were caught red handed.
No, everything that the Patriots did in the past draws suspicion on whether they were cheating or not. Now, not so much I don’t think. I believe that things will die down but until then, Belichick will suffer the public’s scrutiny and most likely will never cheat again (I think, I hope)
Unfortunately, that’s all you can do is hope they don’t cheat again. You don’t know they won’t, or aren’t still for that matter. Nobody knows. But the fact they were caught red handed means everything they do (not just in the past) is fair game for suspicion. That just goes with the territory of getting caught with you hand in the cookie jar.
I agree that the patriots have talent, but it makes me wonder how much of it they got from cheating. I thing that they should be banned from this season and everybody on the whole team coach and all should be fined. I think Mike Vick should be banned from the NFL. My guess is that Adam Vinitari let something slip or dropped a hint, cause if i were him i probably wouldn’t want my team to loose either. And Patriot Fan I wouldn’t put it past the Patriots to cheat again if they could get away with it and one more thing, I thing the Colts have a greater chance of going to the Superbowl this year than the Patriots do. And if you ask me the Eagles have kinda sucked ever since Vince Papali left the team.
How deep does this cheating scandal go??
How does New England maintain their stable of All-Pro talent but still remain under salary cap?
If you’re filming on the sidelines, what else are you doing, recording the opponenets locker room?
Why does New England have more problems with coaches headsets than any other NFL team?
How much money is handed to their players “off the board” in addition the their salary?
The “tuck rule”? I though I saw everything until the NFL tried to give the Colts a playoff victory over the Steelers 2 years ago. Then, to make amends to the Steelers, they robbed the Seahawks in SuperBowl XL. Now they’re owed one somewhere down the line.
Something stinks. You can begin by invetigating the owners, coaches, players on roids, potentially corrupt officials and league officials.
There’s plenty to be looked at.
It’s also not just a Patiots issue, it’s a league issue.
Okay, I admit the Pats were wrong. They got caught and were justly punished. I’m sure as many of you do that they are not the only club that was or is cheating, they were just the first ones to get caught. Leave them alone and let’s play football!
I feel that the opposin teams fans should be able to pick the patriots offenive plays on the jumbo tron such as in a video game now givin the other team a solid edge
Cheating is wrong. I have to agree with number 19 and 21. Do you really think that all the Teams that lose againsst the Pat, lose because of the Pat cheating or they just suck at Football. I’m a female and love watching Football, most of the Teams Suck at the game. Did the whole Pat. team sat and video the NY Jets or what? Quit crying and watch teh teams play ball.
It is now the end of October and it is “fuuny” how everyone has forgotten the cheating of the Patriots and only talk about how great they are. Well, they’ve given themselves the edge by their cheating. Once you know the defensive plays, you’ll always be able to read them. The team should have been banned from playing for this entire year. I will not watch them, esp. if they get into the playoffs, and everyone who watches them is party to their cheating, illegal ways. Belichick should have been fired, but as with anything, money talks. The Patriots are the scum of the league, and everyone should boycott their games.
What a coincedence!The Patriots get caught video taping the oppositions defensive signals just as their offense is performing at a level never seen before in the NFL. Not a big deal? Was there 18 minutes missing from any of those tapes that The Genius turned over to the Commish?
I say now is football becomming like baseball steriods and all.I also don’t believe all teams do it.I think they should not be allowed to be in the play
offs.If they win the superbowl noone will know if they deserve it or not.
obviously they think they are above the law if they countinued to do what they were told to stop doing
I hate bill belochick
Honestly people have you ever actually thought about it? All of the teams have done it. People are just angry that New England sports teams are kicking some serious @$$. The pats are a good team. I went to the training camps. I go to the home games. They play well. Other teams have done worse. The only reason anyone has their panties in a bunch is because the Pats are winning. It isn’t cheating. It is called learning the other teams strategies and plays. It happens in baseball too. It isn’t like we broke into the locker room and stole the play book. We observed them and learned. If that is cheating then withdraw your children from school they are cheating each other. Watch people with camera phones and video cameras honestly everyone is doing it. It is all very simple. He moves his head or waves his hand a certain way and that player does the same thing everytime he does it. OHH thats what it means. If people are so worried maybe they should pay attention to our teams signals. It won’t make a difference. We are smart enough to switch it up. Stay the same and everyone learns your little game. Grow some B@11$ and switch it up a bit. Quit complaining because this Dynasty is taking overrr!!!
In regards to NFL cheating. Its been around as far back as I remember. What about the Cowboys and Redskins of the 1980s audio recording visiting teams locker rooms to gain an edge. Also how about teams hiring lip readers to steel play calls. This is why coaches cover there mouths when given play calls. No matter how you look at its Cheating. Theres more out there than a coach is willing to admit.