Posted on 09/11/2015 6:12:09 AM PDT by Red Badger
As he detailed problems his coaching staff had with the headset communications on Thursday night, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stopped short of coming right out and accusing the Patriots of cheating. But the Steelers’ website makes clear that the team believes the Patriots were in control of the audio problems the Steelers’ coaches were having.
An article on the Steelers’ website says that the audio communications problems started and stopped repeatedly — always stopping when a league official came down to the sideline to deal with the matter, then starting up again when the league official left the sideline area.
“This is the kind of stuff that happens to the visiting team in Gillette Stadium all the time,” the article said. “From the start of the game through the opening 14 minutes of the first quarter, the Steelers’ coaches’ headsets were receiving the Patriots Radio Network broadcast of the game. The broadcast was so loud that the Steelers coaches were unable to communicate, and the NFL rule is that if one team’s headsets are not working the other team is supposed to be forced to take their headsets off. It’s what the NFL calls the Equity Rule. Strangely enough, whenever an NFL representative proceeded to the New England sideline to shut down their headsets, the Steelers headsets cleared. Then as the representative walked away from the New England sideline, the Steelers’ headsets again started to receive the Patriots game broadcast.”
It’s impossible to read that as anything other than the Steelers accusing the Patriots of cheating. The allegation is published under the byline of Bob Labriola and is not presented as an official statement from the Steelers, but you can bet that a Steelers website writer wouldn’t write that if he thought the higher-ups in the organization disagreed with it.
The NFL says the headsets are provided by the league and the problems on Thursday night were a technical issue that got fixed early in the game. But that won’t stop those who are inclined to believe the Patriots are cheaters from thinking that the “technical issue” was caused by someone who works for the Patriots. That’s clearly what the Steelers think.
>>were receiving the Patriots Radio Network broadcast of the game
Saw a tweet from someone wondering if the Steelers’ coaches would be counted in the next ratings book as listeners
of “98.5 The Sports Hub” (owned by CBS)
Ah come on all and I mean ALL NFL teams have coaches upstairs.
This one is going to have “legs...”
Mike Tomlin is a media darling vs Belichik. I was surprised that Tomlin came out swinging on this last night. Usually his comments/pressers are verbose, wordy, PC fluff balls...this one was different. Gloves were off. HeadSetGate will become “something.”
The back up is, if one team loses headset communication, both teams lose it.
Huh? We had communications from the press box when I played in high school and in college in the mid to late 80s! I'm sure they also had them in the 70s!
I am working near Boston MA.
The place is crawling with liberals.
It is a known fact that in politics liberals do whatever they feel like no matter what the laws are.
I think this extends into every other aspect of their lives too.
Hmmm...sideline headsets had nothing to do with the Stee’s inability to cover Edleman, Amendola or Gronkowski on repeated plays down the left side.
Wasn’t the wrestling community trying to ban the University of Iowa from the the Collegiate National Championships in the 80s because Dan Gable coached teams were “too good”?
Two of the NFL darlings in a cat fight?
He ain’t dead, Jim.......................
RE: Just because you are paranoid, it doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you
mmhhmmm
Wireless headsets can be jammed no matter who owns them. This is not the last we’ll hear of this. After being caught cheating at least twice, accusations will continue. Once you’ve been proven a liar and/or a cheat, you’ll always be considered one.
Dindu Nuffins.
This is hilarious. Watching Dan Patrick this morning. “The Steelers headsets didn’t work so they were unable to tell anyone to guard Gronkowski”. ;o)
I don’t get it either. Lombardi, Tom Landry, didn’t use headsets.
I think they are supposed to be using headsets to talk to their guys who are sitting upstairs in the stadium, who get a different view of the game. But again begs questions about why didn’t a great coach like Lombardi need to do this??? Has the game changed, has strategy changed that you need to talk to guys upstairs to make decisions down on the field???
Vince Lombardi must be doing a facepalm somewhere..................
They also talk to the QB and Captain of the Defense.........................
I guess we know what Trump would (accurately) call the Steelers..............................losers!
Now every team in the NFL that loses to the Pats thinks it has a good excuse.
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