More Spygate IR ISSUE BIGGER THAN SPYGATE? Posted by Mike Florio on May 23, 2008, 11:53 a.m. EDT With the lidless red eye of the media now focusing on ten-day-old evidence of then-fresh cheating allegations regarding the Patriots, it would be easy to shrug at talk of possible rules violations relating to the use of players from the injured reserve list in practice. But we?ve gotten some feedback on the situation, unsolicited, from someone not in the media. Instead, a high-level exec with a team other than the Patriots has shared some opinions about the differences between the videotaping of defensive coaching signals and the practice of practicing with players who have been placed on IR. Here?s the full text of the message that we received: ?I honestly feel like the IR issue is a way bigger issue than taping signals. I always felt that was overblown because everyone was doing it in some way (i.e. with a scout in the press box, etc). However, the IR thing is huge. In terms of getting players ready to play for the future, it?s invaluable. You can stash players on the IR, protect them from waivers, and get them to practice, develop and improve. Plus it allows you to rest your veterans during practice. In terms of competitiveness, from an overall team standpoint, that?s a much bigger advantage than taping signals. ?The fact that the Commish wouldn?t take any further action, to me, is incredible. It?s a totally separate deal and MUCH more valuable than taping signals, in my opinion.? For now, the evidence regarding this practice by the Patriots is limited. But at a time when Matt Walsh?s credibility remains suspect (except when he says that there was no videotape of the Rams? walk-through prior to Super Bowl XXXVI), the fact that former NFL player Ross Tucker has spoken out about his first-hand experiences in this regard makes us wonder whether folks in the league office agree with the assessment that our source provided and, if so, whether the matter will be pursued. It?s possible that the Patriots weren?t doing it extensively. It?s possible that other teams are doing it as well. But if it is that big of a deal and if it?s happening in one or more NFL cities without detection or correction, then it needs to be explored.
bill bellicheat obviously is a CHEATER, he tries to get an advantage by flat out breaking some big rules, in some ways the ir situation is worst than spygate
I don't think this is a huge deal but it will get the Pats fans in full defense-lawyer mode for another couple of months and that will be entertaining.
This is even worse than spy gate. Tucker agrees with Walsh: Patriots practiced with IR players ESPN.com news services Updated: May 22, 2008, 8:01 PM ET Comment Email Print Ross Tucker, a former offensive lineman who played for five teams in a seven-year NFL career, reiterated Thursday that he believes that New England used players on the injured reserve list in practices, which violates league rules. Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, in a meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week, said that a Patriots player on injured reserve practiced when he wasn't allowed to in 2001. The NFL said it would investigate the claim. Tucker continued to contend the Patriots used injured players illegally during an interview on ESPN's "NFL Live." He first wrote about it last week on SI.com. Tucker told "NFL Live" that Patriots coach Bill Belichick will do anything he can "to get an advantage." He also added that using a player on injured reserve in practice was of "minimal" benefit. Last Friday, in an article published on SI.com, Tucker wrote that: "I had heard the Patriots did this before I signed with them in 2005 and I saw it firsthand during my time there. I asked veteran receiver Troy Brown about it one time and he responded, 'Every team in the league does that.' I quickly let him know none of the three teams I played for previously had done so. "Basically, the Patriots would put a player on IR, knowing it meant he couldn't play in a game or practice with the team for the remainder of the season. By skirting the rules and practicing him anyway, it allowed them to develop his skills during the year. A side benefit is that they were also able to give some of the older players less repetitions and, therefore, additional rest." Goodell said the NFL would investigate the IR allegations, The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, Mass., reported. Tucker played with Washington, Dallas, Buffalo, New England and Cleveland during his career. He currently writes for SI.com and hosts a show on Sirius satellite radio.
Honestly, I tend to think that most of the NFL probably does this. I could be wrong, but this is an issue that, while potentially serious, probably won't amount to anything.,
james hasty, and m.willey said yesturday on nfl live, they never ever heard of such a thing, willey, also said if he did, he would have told the league on his own head coach
It's not so much the seriousness of each individual offense, It's the complete disregard, and disrespect of the rules governing the game. The NFL is suspending players based on their continuing bad behavior, and conduct demeaning to the League. As a preponderance of evidence accumulates, how long can Goodell ignore the complete disregard for his authority being demonstrated by the Patriots?
i don't think the argument "everyone does it, so its fine" holds here. the commish needs to make a scapegoat out of someone to flex his muscle, to earn respect, to restore credibility in this office. unfortunately due to the patriots being the face of the nfl for many years I don't think it will happen anytime soon unless there's some major scandel discovered.
If it's proven that other teams don't do this, and there's enough evidence that the Pats skirt the rules to do this, then by all means, suspend Bellichick. I would think Spygate and this IR thing, if it's proven to be serious enough, would be more than enough of a reason.
Well, I can tell the advantage. If the Jets had been doing it, they never would have lost Derrick Ward to the Giants on the PS.
and the fact that they have extra players practicing, because players on ir obviously arent allowed to practice, so those players are getting ahead of schedule, also think of those starters who are resting while other players take reps, lies, cheating, deceat, no regard for the rules, fuck bill belliCHEAT!
I'm not even sure it's a "latest rumor", really. Folks have always questioned his IR chit from what I recall, that he would manipulate who was 'hurt' and all that. And again, wasn't Mangini called to the carpet in a waaayyyy transparent move after Cheatergate for something similar? Somebody help me out here. I know I'm not crazy.
There was an incident before where there was an injured Patriot on the field and Bellicheck refused medical attention from the other team's trainers for fear of giving them an advantage. Bellicheck has never been forthright with injured players. He tries to find every possible advantage possible which is good until the line between that and cheating gets blurred which is what we have here now.
This is not a rumor any more. Walsh said it and a former Patsy confirmed it, this is cheating and it is also fact.
