Sources: Goodell determines Pats broke rules by taping Jets' signals

ESPN ^ | 9-11-2007 | Chris Mortensen

[ops33]

Thank you.

[ops33]

Thank you.

[Dems_R_Losers]

Really, what is to stop any team from placing someone in the stands behind the opponent's bench and just calling in the signals? How could the NFL possibly police this?

I am a huge Pats fan and will be VERY disappointed if this is true though. They knew the rules and if they flagrantly flouted them they should pay a high price.

[Bronzewound]

No one has mentioned the irregularities in the number of frequencies the Pats were using (something they themselves were unable to explain away).

I think what it points to is the idea that if they have been resorting to these kinds of tactics previously to gain unfair advantages, it would certainly call into question their perceived superiority. That could render moot, the notion that the Patriots don't need this kind of thing to defeat the Jets or anyone else. Any thoughts?

[Alberta's Child]

What's particularly unusual about this is that this is the kind of situation where the HOME team would typically have a better opportunity to do something like this.

Ironically, the NFL is forced to deal with a situation like this because it is almost a "natural" consequence of what I consider the biggest flaw in the game of football -- the fact that NOTHING HAPPENS during the vast majority of a football game (thereby enabling the games to be over-coached to the point where the players themselves are almost extraneous).

[SamAdams76]

Well I'm a Patriots fan but I think the team should be punished. Forfeit the Jets game and get a 50 point handicap for every game for the rest of the season. Also, I think Bill Belichick should get a public flogging and be put in the stocks. Furthermore, Tom Brady shall have both his knees broken and one of his arms smashed with a sledgehammer with Randy Moss having both his legs amputated.

This should level the playing field...somewhat.

[Bronzewound]

Really, what is to stop any team from placing someone in the stands behind the opponent's bench and just calling in the signals? How could the NFL possibly police this?

I was thinking the exact same thing earlier. I pacified myself for the moment by reckoning that having to verbally relay the signal by phone might be just enough too slow for it to be effective. If a camera signal were instantaneously seen in the coaching booth that would be tantamount to seeing them live and thus give enough time to react.

I cannot identify myself as a Pats fan, but have much admired them in recent years, for the idea of acheiving excellence by team play. Like you, I would be very disappointed to learn that they have done it otherwise.

[lepton]

If a camera signal were instantaneously seen in the coaching booth that would be tantamount to seeing them live and thus give enough time to react.

Instant view is obviously not the issue, as they are allowed to have binoculars. It seems to me that any advantage would be in being able to rewind, and in examining a full sequence of signals, repeatedly.

[Bronzewound]

I am 76 days away from outliving Freddie Mercury

CTM (chuckling to myself)

[Bronzewound]

I am 76 days away from outliving Freddie Mercury

CTM (chuckling to myself)

[adeodatus]

Wasn’t there an incident last year in which the Jets were accused of cheating in some way against the Pats? Can someone refresh my memory?

[lepton]

Two things strike me as discordant in this...if the fuss is about anything more than being open about violating a rule...are that we a) have people coming forward suggesting that the Patriots have been doing this repeatedly, and b) that they haven’t taken the simple steps to make it untenable, such as simple variants of the method that Parcells suggests.

[joebuck]

I’m a Colts fan and it’s true Bellichek is a cut every corner, it’s only cheating if you get caught, push every rule, SOB. He’s also the best head coach in the history of the league. He’s gotten more out of less than anyone. It’s all part of the same competitive package. I’ll be glad when that guy retires.

[Bronzewound]

Instant view is obviously not the issue, as they are allowed to have binoculars. It seems to me that any advantage would be in being able to rewind, and in examining a full sequence of signals, repeatedly.

I agree that being able to learn from the recorded sequences is likely the primary use for this, but once signals were decoded, don't you think the ability to see the signaling in real time without having to verbally relay it might help as well?

Also, I wasn't aware that binoculars were allowed. Are they allowed in the booth and at field level?

[LibFreeOrDie]

Discussion video on NFL.com:

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80243d4b

(Sounds like everyone’s gonna come out of the woodwork with past grievances...)

[Bronzewound]

and b) that they haven’t taken the simple steps to make it untenable, such as simple variants of the method that Parcells suggests.

I have been overly busy the last week or so, and actually just learned of this whole thing tonight from this thread. What did Parcells have to say about it?

[lepton]

Saw Parcells on ESPN (or somewhere) the other day and he didn’t seem upset by this.He said that the solution is simple....issue your defense numbered arm bands and change the numbering each week.Problem solved...according to Bill.

3 posted on 09/11/2007 3:50:53 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (If martyrdom is so cool,why does Osama Obama go to such great lengths to avoid it?)

[azsportsterman]

I hope Roger Goodell forces me to marry Bridget Moynahan to give Tom's little bastard a true father he can look up to...

Your off-colored joke is neither warranted nor appreciated. This thread has nothing to do with Brady's family, his personal life, or your own personal feelings of inadequacy.

[rod1]

Yep I am so old and have been watching them so long I remember the pre-Meridith quaterback who was so short he had to throw jump passes to clear the line (Eddie?).

[gusopol3]

Anybody else remember when Victor Kiam was owner of the Patriots and he ran the Zamboni out to clear the field of snow for a game-winning field goal? Now that was in your face cheating, but they got away with it as far as I recall.