Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis doesn’t want to talk about what he knows about the New England Patriots’ practice of taping its opponents’ signals while Weis was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator.
But one person who seems to think Weis should talk is Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, who’s now an ESPN analyst. Young appeared on Dan Patrick’s radio show today, and he said he’s re-assessing his thoughts about Weis.
“I remember thinking to myself during some of the runs, ‘Charlie Weis is a genius,’” Young said. “I mean, I remember saying that to people: ‘This guy is uncanny, how he’s able to make these adjustments and just come out and dominate in the second half.’ What it’s left me to do is, well, I don’t know. Did it matter? I could see how it could matter if you put it all together. So it’s a tough one. I think that people earn it on the field, and I think you’ve got to move on and move forward and just recognize that it’s not a good thing at the time.”
When Patrick asked Young how big an advantage it would be to know what play the defense was about to run, Young answered, “The game would be over. If I knew what was coming, that’s the whole game.”
Young acknowledged that NFL teams always try to get an edge over their opponents, but he seemed to think the systematic way the Patriots collected tapes of opponents crossed a line.
“There’s gamesmanship all the time. In a game, you take whatever advantage you can get,” Young said.
Because of the kid-gloves treatment that Notre Dame’s program gets as the only school with its own TV network, Weis probably won’t have to answer a barrage of questions about Spygate. But the questions are out there.
_2.gif)





May 19th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
“There’s gamesmanship” = “My team cheated, but that’s different.”
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.85 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Stetson’s legacy is tarting to crumble..
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Yep, Exhibit A, Charlie Weis.
Genius in New England. Drooling idiot at Notre Dame.
You do the math.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 13 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Phil Simms says it makes no differance and Young says he could dominate the world look where Young is employed an now my opinion Steve Young in the Hall now thats a shame He couldn’t step on the same field as Tom Brady Steve to bad you didn’t stay as a backup
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1.3 / 5 with 25 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Marshall Faulk said something similar. It would be an easy TD or a really big play. I never saw New England blow anyone out until after they got caught.
Are these players overstating the advantage or did New England gain next to nothing?
It will never happen, but I wish Robert Kraft forced his organization to make a presentation to the general public about exactly what happened. The tapes and notes are gone, but it would be nice to take a pair of games and see what really could’ve been gained. Can the signals be decoded? Were the signals the same the next time? How could/did the team exploit that information. It’s all conjecture and guessing, either in favor of it being a colossal advantage or it making no difference because everyone can see the signals.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Deckman,
Are you serious????
Steve Young is an ALL TIME GREAT, injury plagued, but a GREAT! He “couldn’t step on the same field as Tom Brady”? Brady is good, but that is a ridiculous statement you made, pal.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.9 / 5 with 12 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
ok deckman, that’s just absolutely ridiculous
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 11 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Uh, I’ve been saying this for several days now about Charlie Weiss and the rest of the Assistant Coaches who’ve been coined geniuses and given HUGE contracts as head coaches. Who says cheating doesn’t pay?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Right, agreed, game over. Except teams change their signals so…it doesn’t really matters.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I don’t really pay alot of attention to what Steve Young says, I think alot of his analysis and arguments are uusally off the mark
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.55 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
forever tarnished!! associated with and participated in cheating!!
he will get his one day just as billicheat will! i sure hope it’s sooner than later!!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.8 / 5 with 11 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
deckman, your last sentence gives away that you’re an obvious patriots homer. therefore, anything else that preceded can’t be perceived as unbiased. nice work.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
“Yep, Exhibit A, Charlie Weis.
Genius in New England. Drooling idiot at Notre Dame.
You do the math.”
@Frank Burns: Do you want me to name the long list of brilliant coaches that went from the college ranks to the pros and failed? Or should I just call you an idiot?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 10 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
you patriots fans are working hard to protect your legacy.
common (lame) excuses:
1) signals are out in the open
2) signals are changed
well then why…
1) is it against the rules to tape signals?
2) why did the patriots got to such great lengths not to get caught?
3) why would they tape at all if it didn’t give them an unfair advantage?
4) why did they keep taping after they were caught against the packers in 2006 and belicheat was warned?
5) why was walsh instructed how not to get caught?????
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.15 / 5 with 15 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Actually - I agree that when his career is over, Brady will be a much more revered QB than Steve Young. Steve Young and Joe Montana were surrounded with talent their entire career. Brady had garbage at reciever for most of his career. Take Peyton away from the Colts, Marvin Harrison would still be a great reciever. Take Steve Young away from the 49ers, Jerry Rice would still be a great reciever. Take Tom Brady away from the Patriots, and nobody would have ever known Deion Branch or Wes Welker existed.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1.9 / 5 with 14 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Steve Young was nothing but a product of the Bill Walsh offensive system. He did nothing at Tampa, and he couldn’t beat out Montana.
Someone should ask him if his legacy is tainted because the 49ers cheated on the salary cap and were penalized a draft choice.
He’s the most hypocritical, goody two shoes that I’ve ever seen.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 12 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
2001 The Patriots scored 3 offensive TDs in 3 playoff wins. 16-13 vs Raiders 24-17 vs Pittsburgh (2 STs TDs) and Rams 20-17. (Ty Law TD)
2003 Patriots 17 Titans 14 Patriots 24 Colts 14 (Ty Law 3 picks) Patriots 32 Panthers 29. Patriots didnt play the Panthers to have tape that year.
5 of 6 playoff wins the Patriots did nothing on offense.
2004 NE 20 Colts 3 (what offense?) Patriots 41 Pitt 27 Patriots had 322 total yards Brady 14 of 21 for 207 yards NE 24 Philly 21 (Patriots 331 total yards)
Where is this offensive domination S Young is talking about? What a moron.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 12 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I, as well as any person with a shred of common sense (see below), consider this excruciatingly drawn-out, pathetic debate over and done. For everyone still looking to make an issue of this; get a life please, deal with the fact that this story was blown up to help sell it to all the gullible masses/nitwits of our grotesquely uneducated/lazy country. Yes, anyone that thinks this is an actual football issue, congratulations, you’re the target audience for hacks like espn, greg easterbrook and the like, guess what? It worked!! I suggest thinking for yourself, it’s a refreshing practice to participate in, actually have some thoughts of your own, give it a shot folks, it really beats walking around like a sheep your entire life:
Said Denver quarterback Jay Cutler: “People are going to doubt them, but they’re no fluke. Not at all.”
Said Dilfer: “I don’t take one thing away from them. Not at all. I’d have zero bitterness toward them as an opposing player. The Patriots have been the best-coached, most-talented team of this era, and they deserve to be thought of that way.”
I think the most interesting angle on the explosion of Spygate news came from Braylon Edwards, the Cleveland wide receiver. “If this wasn’t New England, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal,” Edwards said. “If this had happened in Cleveland, it’d be a story, but not a big one.”
True. If a team did it that hadn’t won three Super Bowls, and the team was struggling to get to .500, we’d be excoriating the perpetrator but not making a CBS Evening News story out of it, or making Arlen Specter get all excited about it.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.5 / 5 with 13 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
@trikee - 1.) why is it against the rules to tape signals? that’s a great question. It’s a ridiculous proposition in this day and age where technology is king to even signal in your calls. I’m glad that the defense has finally gotten the same advantage that the offense has had for years. 2.) The Patriots really DIDN’T go to great lengths not to get caught. Seriously - they had a cameraman out in the open. 3.) Wouldn’t your garner the same advantage from watching the defensive coordinator and documenting their signals? Oh wait, thats not against the rules… taping them is. big difference. 4.) Apparently, they saw no reason to stop since a large majority of the league was also doing it against them. Teams consistantly break rules, the same rules. See Tampering, Stealing playbooks, etc. All of which had been done against the Patriots in the past - I see no public outcry against this? 5.) Walsh may have been instructed not to get caught, but since most coordinators waved at them, they probably knew this was going on anyway.And if you knew this was going on, would you really signal your actual signals? I’ll admit the Patriots broke a rule, but I highly doubt it tarnishes anything. Many teams have broken salary cap rules and see no shot against their legacy. Sounds like a little bit of jealousy trikee. How many times did the Pats beat your team?? come on who are you? colts fan, chargers maybe, possibly jaguars???
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.45 / 5 with 11 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I’ve always wondered about Steve Young . . .
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Funny thing about the media they just can´t put this story to rest. It’s just to good – NO ITS NOT – Listen to what BB says – it a mosaic of components and videotaping was just a minor part. Believe the man. He isn’t lying. From my standpoint, the meeting between MW and RG should have taken place when the story broke. But BB arrogance has cost him dearly. Remember early in the season when he totally declined to comment on the story and that typical Patriots strategy totally backfired. But PFT – please don’t bring more fuel to the fire… LET THE STORY DIE..
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1.5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
@Dan1919: be careful - logic doesn’t work on these people.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.5 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
trikee:
1. It’s against the rules to video tape, not signals specifically. The clarified memo made it clear that also included taping offensive and defensive signals. But still, Belichick keeps wanting to focus on the “during the playing of a game” part.
2. What great lengths? You point out the Packers caught them. Another coached waved at the camera. Not exactly great lengths.
3. No idea. No stone left unturned would come to mind, but I’m nit saying they gained no advantage.
4. No one warned Belichick, there was a memo sent to all 32 teams.
5. That is Walsh’s claim.
The questions/answers can go on forever. This is like politics. You pick a side and can’t understand or don’t want to see it from the other perspective. Nothing can convince anyone firmly on either side of the other view point. It’s simply not black and white, as hard as people want to make it out to be.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I seriously doubt the tapes made it into the tape player before Charlie ate them, anyways. They never should have told him to “ingest these before next weeks game”.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.55 / 5 with 11 rating(s)
May 19th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Isn’t it funny how Steve Young, one of the individuals associated with the 49ers Salary Cap Cheating scandal, sounds so holier than thou.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.6 / 5 with 10 rating(s)