Belichick denies Patriots taped Rams' 2002 Super Bowl walk-through

ESPN ^ | February 18, 2008, 6:05 AM ET | ESPN.com news services

[Hatteras]

Patriots coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli issued a broad denial Sunday in a report on The Boston Globe's Web site regarding suggestions by a former employee that their team taped a St. Louis Rams walk-through before the 2002 Super Bowl.

"In my entire coaching career, I've never seen another team's practice film prior to playing that team," Belichick told the newspaper Sunday. "I have never authorized, or heard of, or even seen in any way, shape, or form any other team's walk-through. We don't even film our own. We don't even want to see ourselves do anything, that's the pace that it's at. Regardless, I've never been a part of that."

[Hatteras]

Oh, well I guess that settles that! ;-)

[kittymyrib]

Camera malfunctioned, Bill?

[mewzilla]

Discovery in those lawsuits is gonna be a hoot....

[Billg64]

19-0 in 08-09 season go pats

[cspackler]

Good thing all of those tapes were destroyed, huh? Just guess we’ll have to take ol’ Bill’s word for it.

[mewzilla]

According to FNC’s Brian Kilmeade a few weeks ago, dupes of at least some of those tapes exist.

[tirednvirginia]

Of course, guilty until proven innocent - that’s the American Way.

[Constitution Day]

We don't even film our own. We don't even want to see ourselves do anything, that's the pace that it's at.

"Cameras? What are cameras? I have never even heard of such a crazy invention.

Do you mean you can actually take MOVING PICTURES of things that happen? It's preposterous!"

[Soliton]

Of course, guilty until proven innocent - that’s the American Way.

You believe they only cheated one time?

[jennyjenny]

Wait, I thought “everybody does it.” You mean Belichick and the Patriots are the only team that doesn’t do it?

[mewzilla]

Meanwhile....

Walsh seeks protection With it, lawyer says he's set to turn over Patriots tapes

[Hatteras]

Pioli probably would have been wise to keep his mouth shut instead of trying to smear somebody that may have incriminating evidence (not just game tapes) against the Patriots as well as the NFL.

[mewzilla]

NFL’s anti-trust deal merits Senate scrutiny

Ruh roh...

[jennyjenny]

You believe they only cheated one time?

Most don't believe it was cheating even the one time. It was just a "rule violation."

[mewzilla]

From February 2nd....

Pats executive Scott Pioli has the perfect job

Snort.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“”In my entire coaching career, I’ve never seen another team’s practice film prior to playing that team,” Belichick told the newspaper Sunday.”

Bummer. Watching another teams practice films I would consider a normal occurrence. Listening in on the playcalling from the eye in the sky during a game is another matter.

[misterrob]

They broke rules on videotaping. He used a very, very questionable interpretation of the rules to do it but they also did it in the wide open so just how much were they trying to hide? If rule breaking is cheating then I guess that is going to apply to a lot of other teams that cheat on other matters including play on the field and roster decisions.

Stealing is part of the culture in the NFL though. The game seems to allow a lot of other stuff which tends to breed this behavior.

[Hatteras]

"Most don't believe it was cheating even the one time. It was just a "rule violation."

Sorry, "most" DO believe it was cheating. Those that don't want to believe it was cheating would be more correctly characterized as "some".

And now that more information is starting to trickle in, the opinions will continue to grow against Belichick and the Patriots. And my prediction is that even Roger Goodell's integrity will take a beating over this before the dust settles.

[sargunner]

Probably went completely digital. No magnetic media. THerefore an honest answer.

[FreedomProtector]

funny.