Can you even begin to contemplate the effect this had on Vegas and other betting outlets over the years? It's nice how they managed to win but not cover the spread in 2 superbowls. It's nice how BB made every effort to cover the spread this past year, regardless of how huge it got.
That point is fair enough but at the same point you don't think other teams did this???? The Patriots were the ones that just happened to get caught, they were penalized and nobody will do it anymore. That's pretty much the end of story. I don't see the Senator of Florida demanding a federal investigation into the Colts stadium fiasco with the cheering and don't kid yourself that gave them about as much an advantage as these tapes do for the Pats. Time to come off it and just move on.
You're comparing crowd noise to video taping signals? That's almost as stupid as jeaux comparing Spygate to the Jets practicing with pads on early too early in TC... another closet Pats fan rears his head...
I've been on this board since 2002... I can assure you I'm not a Pats fan. All I'm saying is I'm tired of this "story" because there has really been nothing new to report since SEPTEMBER. There is no doubt that what they did was cheating, but it's time to move on! Outside investigation based on ZERO new evidence??? I mean come on now enough is enough. Believe me I'd love nothing more than to see them find something new and Bellichick get canned but it's just not going to happen. Everyone needs to let go of this pipe dream of this being some huge conspiracy and move on. If you watched the press conference Goodell was saying how he didn't believe BB and his answer for what he did but still there is just nothing new to prove. Maybe is Walsh had ANY new information you can argue some type of investigation but I just don't see the point in it. If I'm Sen. Spec I'm looking towards things that actually matter in PA like completing a highway project for once in the history of the earth's existence.
An outside investigation would cover all 32 teams, I wouldnt have a problem with that just for the fact that I dont think anything else would befall on the pats, but it would be interesting to see the dirty laundry o other teams.
Why are you believing this line of "no new evidence". There is new evidence, and new evidence they lied about who and what they were taping. Also Goodell press conference was a joke, still left alot of questions unanswered. Fans who pay alot of money to watch these games and buy merchandise care. Only people I hear that want this to "go away and move on" are Pats fans and the NFL owners. This stinks of a cover up, and most people I talk to aren't buying it either.
pat fans actually most pats fans could care less where specter wants to go with this. Goodell is not going to levy anymore fines against the team. This is now an nfl issue not a pats issue and besides other than th eight tapes everyone saw yesterday all the other evidence is destroyed. Everything else now is going to be hearsay
Personally I think this is far from over because Specter won't allow it to be and I don't think the rest of the league should as well. This is about the integrity of the game and how someone "said" he misinterpreted the rule, which lead to about eight years of cheating. I for one think that there are more tapes out there that can possibly resurface because can we honestly believe that he stopped taping in 2002 and just picked it up in 2007? The MLB and NFL are both multi-billion dollar corporations that influence today's youth tremendously, that is why we see the gov so involved in the steroid scandals of the MLB and this should not be any different. Cheating is cheating and trying to hide from the fact, as Goodell seems to want to do, will only condone the idea that cheating deserves a slap on the wrist, and IMO that's all Belichick got.
Specter is truly pissed at Goodell. He all but called him a patsy. "Sen. Arlen Specter on Wednesday called for an independent investigation of the New England Patriots' taping of opposing coaches' signals, possibly similar to the high-profile Mitchell report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. "I have documented the strong factual case that the NFL investigation was neither objective or adequate," Specter told ESPN.com on Wednesday evening. "If the commissioner doesn't move for an independent investigation, then it is a permanent black mark on the NFL, and the Patriots' record will be historically tainted. Depending on the public reaction, I may ask the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on the NFL's antitrust exemption." (that scares the shit out of any owner out there) At an earlier news conference in the Capitol, Specter put it bluntly: "What is necessary is an objective investigation. And this one has not been objective." The Pennsylvania Republican was unforgiving of his criticism of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, saying that Goodell has made "ridiculous" assertions that wouldn't fly "in kindergarten." The Senator said Goodell was caught in an "apparent conflict of interest" because the NFL doesn't want the public to lose confidence in the league's integrity. "They are enormous role models for everybody," Specter said. "If you can cheat in the NFL, you can cheat in college, you can cheat in high school, you can cheat on your grade-school math test. There's no limit as to what you can do. I think they owe the public a lot more candor and a lot more credibility." "But Specter held his own three-hour meeting with Walsh in Washington on Tuesday. He said Walsh detailed how the Patriots used videotaped signals to their advantage: An offensive player would memorize the signals, watch for them on the sideline and pass them on to assistant coach Charlie Weis, who would then inform quarterback Tom Brady. "And they had some obviously good results," Specter said." http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3395829
Key to the entire scandal right there... I been saying from the beginning Brady knew exactly what was going on... it's easy for a 6th round nobody to be a superstar when he knows exactly whats comming
judicial hearing He can ask the judicial comittee all he wants,but there are 2 members he is going to have to convince his motives are not part of the comcast agenda. chairman pat leahy(vt). and sen ted kennedy(ma).Leahy has already stated that he is against a committee hearing on this issue. thats why specter wanted an independent third party, but an independant inquiry is not a congressional inquiry. so if no one wants to talk about they dont have to.
If the league wasn't protecting the pats, they would have waited until AFTER the season ended and taken away the higher pick in this year's draft which I thought was punishment for the single action in game one vs. the jets. You see these tapes and it looks like the same shenanigans from our week 1 meeting. Fans should really try to rally and stage a small protest by boycotting the first preseason game. Who would really miss a preseason game anyway, but at least it would be a symbolic gesture from the fans of the other 31 teams that we don't tolerate this bullshit. I hope Specter breaks Belichick/Kraft's balls as much as he can. And for anyone who thinks the gov't should be doing more elsewhere than getting involved in sports, look at the numbers of viewers and the amount of money changing hands and tell me that sports isn't an important part of the American fabric. I mean, who doesn't watch the Super Bowl in this country whether for the game or the commercials? Specter has every right to bring these lying and cheating weasels to justice. Belichick should be banned like Rose. At least they're legacy is tarnished no matter what happens.
boycott first preseason game remeber preseason tickets are already paid for with the season ticket package. owners will not care if you dont go Also this isnt a pats issue anymore. Goodell already stated that he is not going to further punish them. This is now an nfl issue where all 32 owners will be involved The only balls specter can try to break is goodells
That "system" doesn't make any sense at all. Where the hell does the video even come in? If it's just a player watching for signals on the sidelines and giving it to the coach, that's not even against the rules. So if I'm correct this is how it goes: 1) Video is taken 2) Player watches signals and tells coach what the signal means 3) Patriots win a lot of games
That's why by not showing up and eating tickets, fans will be making a SYMBOLIC gesture. And if Specter wants to ask Kraft, Belichick, Walsh, Brady, etc. anything as SWORN testimony and they perjure themselves, which with the arrogance they show is likely, Specter can start the ball rolling to levy some serious charges. Bans for life, including the owner, fines, and possible but not likely jail time. If Specter can prove that the team knowingly defrauded customers, they are accountable. And Goodell could be gone too. Specter is a true fan, he is representing fans in all of sports. He's faced the doors of death with cancer and anything he does is a crusade for goodwill and not publicity. Besides Ron Paul, he's one of two or three Republicans who make any sense.
But if its a indifferent third party like the mitchell report was. there will be no sworn testimony in fact the people who they might want to interview dont even have to cooperate only in a congressional hearing can you be found guilty of perjury, and judiciay chairman pat leahy has already gone on record saying that he is not interested in having one
