'Spygate has diminished what they've accomplished,' '72 Miami coach says Coaching legend Don Shula, who guided the 1972-'73 Miami Dolphins to the only unbeaten record in NFL history, saiys an asterisk must accompany the New England Patriots if they go 19-0 this season because of the Bill Belichick spying scandal, the New York Daily News reported Tuesday. "The Spygate thing has diminished what they've accomplished. You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They've got it," Shula told the Daily News. "Belichick was fined $500,000, the team was fined $250,00 and they lost a first-round draft choice. That tells you the seriousness or significance of what they found. "I guess you got the same thing as putting an asterisk by Barry Bonds' home run record. I guess it will be noted that the Patriots were fined and a No.1 draft choice was taken away during that year of accomplishment. The sad thing is Tom Brady looks so good, it doesn't look like he needs any help." In the season opener, the New York Jets caught the Patriots videotaping their defensive signals. The NFL then ordered the Patriots to turn over tapes of all their previous spying in September. Commissioner Roger Goodell had the tapes destroyed after viewing them. "You have to acknowledge what they accomplished, but I don't know how you disregard Spygate," Shula said. "It's there. It happened. You don't know what was on those tapes and how much it helped. I think the commissioner just wanted it to go away." Shula does acknowledge that the Patriots, who are now 9-0 after rallying to win at Indianapolis on Sunday, " look so good. I think they got a real shot at doing it." As much as I hated Shula and the Dolphins, let him run with this if he wants.
i'm a patriot hater, but that asteric might also say "best season in nfl history" this team would crush the undefeated dolphins. the 72 dolphins team enjoyed watching dan marino beat the bears in 85. just another show of "we are the best of all time!!!"
My hate for the phins has always had me hoping another team would have a perfect season. Why did it have to be the Pats that get a good crack at it? I must have been very bad in a previous life.:sad:
How about Shula shuts the **** up? He's one to throw stones about a team cheating. Douchebag. This Pats team does not deserve an asterisk. The fact is, this team could play without radio equipment, in a monsoon, against the undefeated Dolphins team, and still beat them like they owed them money. I hate the Pats. At the same time, they are far beyond any team I've ever seen take the field in an NFL game. Shula's just pissed off because his beloved champaign party is gone. Screw him.
Yeah, but you're talking about what they COULD do. The asterisk would be for what they DID do....cheat. I mean, c'mon, they were caught cheating DURING one of the 19. They were fined the most that the league is allowed to fine a team. It was very significant. Are they great? Of course, but that has nothing to do with it.
I personally don't care much about the undefeated record... However, absolutely the sweetest part of it would be to have Shula watch his record get broken...especially by the Patriots, whom he has always despised, ever since the Mark henderson snowplow incident.
Yeah, I know, as ,much as I hate the Dolphins and it would be great to see some team break the record, I realy hate the Pats and I wish it was some other team that does it.
I hate the Patriots w/ ever fiber of my being. If the team NEVER won another game again and suffered heartbreak after heartbreak w/ injuries, botched plays, and terrible personell decisions...I'd still feel nothing but joy. I'm all for giving an asterik for the 3 prior super bowls. There is enough evidence to support shady behaivor. W/ that said...they have been punished, and the behaivor has been made out in the open. They've done their time and will continue for NFL history. This year's team should not be subject to any asterik's unless more evidence is found. The arguement can be made that would not have some of their personell for this run, if not for past tainted success(as in recruiting free agents, etc). But I'm a firm believer in "Do the crime, do the time) and after that, you're free to live your life..or in this case...win/lose football games. BTW, Shula is no one to talk w/ his Mud Bowl BS.
He lost some weight with Nutri System. Other than that, I guess he's just some old fart who is very opinionated about The Cheatriots.
I just don't see why people can't admit the Patriots are a great team. I still don't think they'll go 19-0 because they won't get by the Colts again but give them credit for what they've accomplished. Also all their wins this season came after spygate.
Colts couldn't beat them witha 10 point 4th quarter lead in their own building. What makes you think they could in Foxboro the end of January?
I'm already on record being opposed to the asterik for THIS year's team if they do win an SB. But I can understand the opposition considering the following... 1. They had every intention of CONTINUING spygate had they not gotten caught in week one....and the first half of week one IS part of this season's run 2. The arguement can be made that players like Moss, A Thomas, Welker, Etc that have put this team over the top, came to the team due to the history of winning. We now know that, that winning was tainted. It may seem like a stretch..but there is some legitimacy to it.So maybe the team is great..but for some, it still has lingering questions..
Should the 49ers and Broncos have an asterisk next to their Super Bowls for violating the salary cap during championship years? Just asking. It seems relevant.
There is nothing in the NFL rule book that says you CANT go over the salary cap. What it says..is that if you DO...you're doing to be subject to losing draft picks and possible financial ramifications.Not to mention their financial ways were made public to everyone. Both of those teams paid for the crime. The Patriots tried to HIDE all of this cheating, and it specifically affects the integrity of the game and is specifically highlighted in the nfl rule book as being illegal.
