Comments on: IS TAPING OFFENSIVE SIGNALS A SEPARATE VIOLATION?

By: hadenusc

hadenusc — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:28:59 +0000

Peopele your missing the WHOLE POINT !
Goodell sent penalties against New England based upon the violations in the JET GAME !
NOTHING WAS EVER mentioned about tapes back to 2002 until WAY LATER.

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By: kellyb9

kellyb9 — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:58:06 +0000

@Vox Veritas - Tom Brady put together a drive when he needed to with 2 minutes left. Only problem, is that it was far too quick. Everyone knew Hail Mary passes were coming after the Giants scored there chief, even the Giants. Smart move sending the heat on Brady - actually not even the smart move… the only move.
I’m just remarking on how the Giants basically were lame ducks until the third quarter, and how Eli Manning did everything in his power to give the game away on his “game winning drive”.
I seriously doubt the Giants will make the playoffs next year. They seem like a one a done team who got hot when they needed to. So enjoy it.

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By: jared2181

jared2181 — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:28:53 +0000

Vox Veritas “Why? It’s not like Kraft is the richest guy in the NFL and almost all of his $1.5 billion net worth is already tied up in the Pats.”

It’s not because Kraft is super rich… Look at all the players willing to come to New England for discount contracts because they want to play with Tom Brady, they want to win, and they want to play for the man considered one of the best if not the best coach ever. If you’re a player who has already made your money but has never won a championship and you’re closer to the end of your career rather than the beginning what current NFL team are you going to go to?

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By: Funny Pats Fans

Funny Pats Fans — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:02:04 +0000

Pats fans are so cute. I mean, when fans of the luckiest “Tuck Rule” team in history call out OTHER teams for getting the benefit of the rabbit’s foot, you know the world has turned upside down! Pot, meet kettle. Kettle, you are sooo black! Tee hee, oh your funny Pats fans. Always good for a laugh.

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By: jared2181

jared2181 — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:26:55 +0000

Bledsoe9mm9: “makes others poster”… I understand the occasional grammatical error or spelling mistakes in long posts, but you wrote one sentence and couldn’t get it right. It looks like you belong in the same boat as BeelBeeeelichick. I’m sorry saying the word retard offends you, I should have used the politically correct mentally challenged. Once again I apologize if I offended you and let me add that I’m impressed you’re able to overcome your considerable mental handicaps and can almost post coherent sentences on a message board.

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By: Skew

Skew — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:55:29 +0000

Patriots Super Bowls = *

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By: Vox Veritas

Vox Veritas — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:53:39 +0000

“They lost the Super Bowl. The Giants didn’t WIN the super bowl. the Patriots lost it.”

hahahahahahhahahahahahaha

Oh no, the Pats NEVER lose, do they?

“Eli Manning tried to give that game away on several occasions.”

Eli did more to help his team win than Brady did. Luckily for Manning, Brady beat him to the punch in the “giving the game away” dept. with that pathetic final series. Three desperate “hail mary” incompletions and a 10 yard sack because he got caught flat-footed in the pocket by a 3rd round rookie who hammered him! hahahaha

Passer rating for the game -

Manning 87.3
Brady 82.5

If not for the Steve Smith bobble that was intercepted, it would be a lot worse.

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By: Vox Veritas

Vox Veritas — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:36:31 +0000

“One thing to watch out for; if the NFL loses the salary cap just imagine the team Belichick and Kraft will be able to create. My body tingles just thinking about it.”

Why? It’s not like Kraft is the richest guy in the NFL and almost all of his $1.5 billion net worth is already tied up in the Pats. Paul Allen (Seahawks), Wayne Huizenga (Dolphins), Jerry Jones (Cowboys), Malcolm Glazer (Bucs) all have more fluid scratch than Kraft has and there are likely many more. Paul Allen is mega-rich, he’s worth like 17 billion bucks.

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By: kellyb9

kellyb9 — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:26:59 +0000

pennphinfan,

coming to an end? Are you naive? They became the first team in contemporary NFL history to win every regular season game. They lost the Super Bowl. The Giants didn’t WIN the super bowl. the Patriots lost it. Eli Manning tried to give that game away on several occasions. Even ardent Giants fans would have to admit this. I mean, come on, he threw a pass DIRECTLY to Asante Samuel. And then that ridiculously lucky catch on a terrible throw with Rodney Harrison draped over his shoulder, 99/100 that would’ve been dropped. Hell, Brandon Meriwether almost had a pick. Am I saying anything that isn’t true? If so, please stop me.
Sir, even the worst Patriot haters on here, are only here because the Patriots are relevent, as in still a contender every year. Hell, thats probably the reason they hate the Patriots

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By: kellyb9

kellyb9 — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:20:57 +0000

Okay - I’ve pretty much heard as much BS as I could listen to.

A.) If the Patriots purposely took down the radio frequency in Gillette, just to tape opposing teams hands signals… WHY WOULDN’T THEY JUST INTERCEPT THE SIGNALS… It’s NOT that hard.

B.) Why wasn’t there this kind of uprising when Miami STOLE the Pats playbooks 3 years ago. I believe that loss kept the Pats out of the first round bye.

C.) How come there wasn’t any serious retribution when the Jets tampered with our coach, Parcells, a week before the super bowl!
D.) How come nobody gave a shit when the 49ers broke salary cap rules.
Oh I’m sorry… logical arguments don’t work for you morons, you’d rather just sulk over your teams ineptitude and blame that all on the Patriots. They won 18 games despite the cheating allegations. Perhaps, they should have discontinued bending the rules a long time ago and just shoved it in all of your faces a long time ago.

P.S.: As much as you hate Bilichick, if he was available to coach your team right now - you’d jump at the opportunity… hypocrits.

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By: PFTiswhatitis

PFTiswhatitis — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:57:42 +0000

@penphinfan: please take your own advice and “research your assertions.” The dots on the helmets began at the start of the season. Cameragate occured half way through game 1 as I recall.

People conveniently forget that the Pats were victims of the helmet system failures during the season, I believe it was against Baltimore when the system conveniently went awry and the Pats managed to call in signals from the sidelines the old fashioned way. Was Baltimore cheating?
Give it a break people. There is no conspiracy. The Pats are just better, they truely are the real thing.

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By: Debacled

Debacled — Fri, 09 May 2008 11:53:07 +0000

Florio your site is littered with casual-football-fan morons.

People too stupid to understand that every team does this… and that signals are something that everyone at the game can see.

when are you going to do a story about the Jets doing this and LYING about having permission to do so?
What about the Dolphins stealing Pats audio with microphones on their D-Linemen?
What about the pumped in noise that countless witnesses have admitted to?

It’s a witchhunt and a joke.

that’s how things work when you are a Dynasty and you’re led by the best Quarterback of All Time.

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By: pennphinfan

pennphinfan — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:42:51 +0000

“After all, offensive plays are generally sent in through the coach-to-quarterback communications device, which is why quarterbacks wear helmets with speakers on the inside and green dots on the outside.”

didn’t the green dots just happen recently? i.e. AFTER this alleged taping was taking place? research your assertions. i’m not saying the pats should be charged more penalties, because a 1st rounder is a lot to pay and I don’t think these specific tapes should cost them more, but please don’t make assertions that aren’t true
besides i’m content knowing that 90% of the country doesn’t respect the pats, and 9/10 people of the 10% that do are just bandwagon fans anyway… they are and were a good team- no tapes can refute that. but their time on top is coming to an end, and i’m happy about that

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By: bledsoe9mm9

bledsoe9mm9 — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:53:44 +0000

jared2181,
the fact that its 2008 and your still using the word retarded , makes others poster think you might be mentally challenged

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By: gibsonplyer

gibsonplyer — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:52:40 +0000

It comes down to this why would they tape the offensive signals if it wouldn’t help them. There is obviously some advantage to be gained if they in fact did tape them.

I still say that the punishment dealt out was weak. They cheated for what 6-7 years gaining an unfair advantage over just about every team they played winning 3 Superbowls along the way and all they got was a couple slap on the wrist fines and the loss of 1 draft pick when they still got to pick in the top 10 anyway. Total BS. That just reeks of a cover up. The NFL won’t admit to the effect this had league wide for the better part of a decade.

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By: agent9876

agent9876 — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:45:43 +0000

Doesn’t everyone remember, the fine was for taping on the sideline, not what they were taping. The rule they broke stated taping needed to be done in an enclosed “bunker”. They were taping from the sidelines.
It doesn’t matter what they were taping, offense, defense, it mattered where they were taping.
It is not a new violation, or anything near it.

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By: Kotite

Kotite — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:45:39 +0000

The communications went out when the offense was on the field at least twice when the Jaguars were on offense in the playoff game where Willie McGinest had 4.5 sacks. The game was 7-3 at the half. Just sayin’..

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By: jared2181

jared2181 — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:28:06 +0000

Actually BeelllBeelichick your inability to spell makes Patriot fans look retarded. I assumed your name was taken from the South Park episode but after reading your pathetic attempt to spell or make any sense at all I’m guessing you’re just to stupid to get the coach’s name right.

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By: BeeelllBeelichik

BeeelllBeelichik — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:56:36 +0000

Hey foober. not sure what team you root for but Rober Kraft isone of the best owener is all of professional sports so watch the low life talk when you dont know what your talking about. Are u serious kicked out of the league! get a life dude its apart of the game they just taped the signals instead of watching them with the naked eye. Clayton even cam out and said its a part of the game. Get your facts straight before you post you tool.

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By: josereyes0

josereyes0 — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:55:18 +0000

Nonstory: Patriots already admitted to recording defensive and offensive signals. Check the admission by Belichick to Goodell.

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By: BeeelllBeelichik

BeeelllBeelichik — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:54:28 +0000

its people like you jared2181 that give the pats fans a bad name. get a life man and find a new team.

p.s. as to my recollection the signals have gone down twice maybe 3 times in the last 8 years here at foxboro but it has happened to us at different places at least twice as well. Its a know thing that happens everywhere.

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By: jared2181

jared2181 — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:23:40 +0000

To all the Pats haters out there: HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA… How does it feel knowing that your team has no realistic shot of winning the Superbowl next year? No wonder you’re all so angry. Don’t worry there is a chance you’re team could get lucky and catch the Pats on a bad day like the Giants did. You could also stop following football until Brady retires. You have your options. I’ve never been happier to be born and raised in Massachusetts. Keep on hating suckers your tears give us strength. One thing to watch out for; if the NFL loses the salary cap just imagine the team Belichick and Kraft will be able to create. My body tingles just thinking about it.

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By: bledsoe9mm9

bledsoe9mm9 — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:16:50 +0000

The biggest revelation is the Miami Dolphins have set plays

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By: CaptainFantastik

CaptainFantastik — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:07:20 +0000

As much as I will always view the 2000-2006 Patriots as cheaters, i consider the offensive signal thing a non-issue. Plays are relayed to the Qb either through the headset or through subbing players coming into the huddle. It shouldn’t bring extra sanctions.

2000-2006 New England Patriots***

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By: Bob21hatesyou

Bob21hatesyou — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:04:23 +0000

Cheatriot fans are right, all we have now is exactly what was already known- their dynasty stinks like feces. Face it Cheats, you are confirmed to have cheated your way to the top. It’s as simple as this- no cheating no Super Bowls. C’mon your qb is a 6th round wash out, it’s probably more like no cheating no 9 win seasons!

The only reason you would be taping those offensive signals is due to headsets failing which some other scumbag on the Belicheats staff made happen.

There’s smoke here you creatins and this is not going to die now that this disclosure has surfaced.

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By: Rob0769

Rob0769 — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:04:01 +0000

The October 7, 2001 game was in Miami. The whole jamming signals thing would hold some weight, but in the opposing team’s facility? Also, just because they taped offensive signals doesn’t mean radio communications were down. Also, what is defined as ooffensive signals? Is a QB audible or two minute offense the offensive signal that is referenced? If so, you can get that from the network telecast.

It is grasping at straws to think the league is going to split hairs between videotaping offensive and defensive signals. The Patriots were punished for illegally taping the opposing team’s sidelines. That is the rule the Patriots violated, not specifically defensive signals.

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By: foober

foober — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:51:28 +0000

The pats and their fans should hold their heads in shame for cheating big time to try and get some glory out of the nfl game. Very sad that pats fans come up with every excuse to try and vindicate their big time cheating to win games. Very sad.

Now its up to the nfl to rectify the situation or try as best they can to hide this huge blemish on the league.

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By: screaming sheep

screaming sheep — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:39:39 +0000

Surely when the NFL called for them to turn over “all” tapes the first time, it would have shown they were filming the offense too. Unless of course, they didn’t turn over all the tapes. They better get rid of them before the commish finds them, or this hand slap will be worse.

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By: ken13

ken13 — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:30:53 +0000

This just in…Arlen Specter has now accused the Patriots of being involved in the Kennedy assasination, the sinking of the Titanic, the Chicago fire and assorted Tornados and Hurricanes. Damn….Foober…..you are the biggest MORON I have come across on here yet!
You are a Pats hater……no matter how much the TRUTH shows that Walsh lied…you will always think of something new to whine about. Boo hoo…boo hoo….wussbag

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By: Schmedlap

Schmedlap — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:23:31 +0000

Why do we think that the helmet radios are the cure to defensive or offensive signal stealing? In fact, radio signals are not all that difficult to decipher with the appropriate equipment. I find it hard to believe that Bill Belichek would eschew radio deciphering equipment if it would help him. It would be next to impossible to catch the illegal eavesdropping, unless you’ve, unfortunately, hired another Matt Walsh. Monitoring for the stealing of hand signals from the sidelines would be much easier.

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By: guitar2571

guitar2571 — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:20:05 +0000

geee… Is that maybe why the coach to quarterback radios seem to misteriously malfuction more in Gillette than any other stadium??

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By: Swervinmervin

Swervinmervin — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:13:50 +0000

The Pats were caught stealing signals. That much we know, but there hasnt been enough details released on specifics of that. What should be made public is whether or not any playoff games were among the Walsh tapes or among those tapes that were burned by Goodell. Was a Super Bowl taped for defensive signals? There is a reason Goodell burned those tapes, folks.

Also worth investigating is if electronic communcation devices “coincedentally” died in those games where the Pats were stealing offensive signals.

I think it’s a big deal if the Pats were signal stealing in the AFC Championship game or in the Raider Snow Job Game, as opposed to signal stealing in a Week 3 matchup against Miami. There is a difference and the public has a right to know all of the details since we are the ones wo shell out our hard earned money to the league.

The Pats are a joke and a complete fraud.

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By: foober

foober — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:02:26 +0000

Now that it is confirmed the pats under bellycheat and that low life owner of the pats have cheated big time for years they should be kicked out of the league and have their super bowl wins confiscated.

But the woosey nfl heirchy will try and gloss over and and candy coat the pats cheating big time all these years so they can keep reaping in the huge money from fans that just want to see some football.

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By: PFTiswhatitis

PFTiswhatitis — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:02:11 +0000

funny that the haters say the radios go out in NE when last year it was the Pats that were operating without offensive radios. I dont recall any other team having that problem last year. Oh and the Pats won that game too.
The only way your team will beat the Pats is if they suspend the entire Pats team.

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By: KY

KY — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:53:53 +0000

Were there not rumors that members of the Pats defense were also wearing communication devices?

If the defense was receiving opponents’ offensive COMMUNICATION signals, wouldn’t this be relevant when merged with VIDEOS of offensive signals?

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By: aljack

aljack — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:38:15 +0000

Did Belichick say whether they filmed in color or B/W? That could be really crucial.

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By: bledsoe9mm9

bledsoe9mm9 — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:28:18 +0000

not only is this not a separate violation the league should give them back their first round pick because this whole taping flap is blown out of proportion . I can hire 5 guys to stare at the opponents sidelines and right down every move they make , no problem , but I use a video camera and the world is coming to a end

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By: Dan1919

Dan1919 — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:26:08 +0000

Florio,

Since there are no offensive signals, 99% are sent in by headset, how can this be a seperate offense.

UNBELIEVABLE

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By: subzero2401

subzero2401 — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:19:17 +0000

suspend Belichick.

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By: Vox Veritas

Vox Veritas — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:17:35 +0000

Yeah but then you have things like mysterious problems with the coach-to-QB radios that very frequently go down in Gillette Field for whatever reason.

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By: Kidekk

Kidekk — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:16:17 +0000

Taping is taping. Taping the offense is the same thing as taping the defense. There should be no extra penalties, but I’m sure others will be calling for blood right………now

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By: jkirk13

jkirk13 — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:15:23 +0000

Don’t the opposing team’s radios go down frequently in Gillette? I wouldn’t put it past Belichek to force the teams he’s playing to use hand signals.

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By: Looky Lou

Looky Lou — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:08:48 +0000

Oh Please florio…just give it up….

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By: clintdogg

clintdogg — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:59:09 +0000

And this was in 2000-2002, before the league released the memo saying “we know teams have done it, here’s your clean slate, don’t mess up again”. The Pats did AFTER that memo and were punished for it. Let’s move on, this argument is more stale than Obama vs Clinton.

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By: BrettFavresWranglerJeans

BrettFavresWranglerJeans — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:58:19 +0000

It wasn’t until the 95 season I believe that teams used the coach to QB system, and I recall it’s effectiveness still being debated among NFL QB’s and Coaches at least into the 98 playoffs (Elvis Grbac, AFC Championship, 4th and 1). These videos from Walsh date as early as the 2000 season. Not a stretch to imagine offensive coaches still using hand signals a lot more back then, then they do now.

And if the Patriots lied about that, if Goodell asked them if they taped offensive signals and they said no, I don’t see how it’d be wrong for Goodell to punish them for lying. Hand signals were definitely more prevalent back then, and it’s also a matter of principle.

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By: PFTiswhatitis

PFTiswhatitis — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:52:43 +0000

Florio this one is beneath even you. Offensive signals, huh.

BTW, You do know that all teams have video archives of every play (usually from multiple angles) right? The Pats inserted the signals that were taped. And if they had taped the signals from another location they would be legal. And guess what, its impossible to do that kind of editing during a game so was it really any benefit or just a more thorough archive? And furthermore now that the tapes were destroyed aren’t the other teams at an advantage since they do have video archives that the Pats no longer have? Hmmn.

I’d venture to guess that recording from the sidelines will be legal in the future and in ten years we will say WTH was that all about.

In the meantime Florio, you keep feeding off the paranoia and the haters.
So many opinions from so many clueless people .

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By: rotaryfiend

rotaryfiend — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:47:29 +0000

I gotta say that I am an Eagles fan, first and foremost. After that I gotta say that Jet’s Coach Mangina was quoted once referring to frequencies and spying

…ahem….

I bet the Pats have a tap on the wireless frequencies on top of film based on this…I mean…50 bucks and a radio shack skillz and you could make a home kit….MacGuyver could intercept radiowaves with a can of spam and a pocket-knife, so why wouldn’t Bellichick have thought of this?

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By: InDaBuff

InDaBuff — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:46:44 +0000

“After all, offensive plays are generally sent in through the coach-to-quarterback communications device” Unless of course there are communications malfunctions, which seem to happen from time to time….in New England.

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By: RobJH

RobJH — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:44:25 +0000

When did the league begin putting speakers in the QB’s helmets? Was it prior to 2000? Also, it’s my understanding that when the QB helmet speakers malfunction, plays are signalled in to the offense as well. In this case, it would benefit to have offensive signals.

I know that the NFL is a sponsor of this site, but c’mon…

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By: BBrophy1

BBrophy1 — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:43:14 +0000

it all depends on what Belichick says he did and what he didn’t do in that long conversation with the commissioner. Just because the resulting report from their meeting was a blurb about taping defensive signals, doesn’t mean they didn’t discuss great depth and detail of what was done. The credibility of Goodell and the league is on the line

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