September 11, 2007
The Patriots Cheated?
It looks like we might have discovered one of Bill Belichick's secrets when it comes to success as an NFL head coach -- steal the other guy's defensive signals:
NFL security confiscated a video camera and its tape from a New England Patriots employee on the team's sideline during Sunday's game against the Jets in a suspected spying incident, sources said.
The camera and its tape were placed in a sealed box and forwarded to the league office for investigation, the sources said.
"The rule is that no video recording 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 said in a statement from spokesman Greg Aiello. "Clubs have specifically been reminded in the past that the videotaping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals on the sidelines is prohibited.
"We are looking into whether the Patriots violated this rule."
When asked about the specifics of the charge, New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini was strangely silent. Of course, as a former assistant to Belichick in New England, he might know more than he wants to let on.
In the meantime, I'll be waiting to what my buddy Chris Lynch ha to say about this. Then again, I think I might as well wait for Godot.
UPDATE: I was wondering too, but Radley got to it first: I wonder how Bill Simmons is going to explain away this story?
ANOTHER UPDATE: I'm watching SportsCenter, and John Clayton is saying that NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell has determined that the allegations are true, and the result will most likely be a heavy fine and a loss of draft picks.
Big deal. The only thing that matters in the NFL is wins and losses. If you're really serious about hurting the Pats, and better yet, making the Jets whole -- which a fine and a loss of draft picks doesn't address, is to make them forfeit the victory. Anything else is just window dressing.
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Does this surprise anyone?
Posted by:
at September 11, 2007 07:42 AM
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