Posted on 09/13/2007 5:45:28 PM PDT by misterrob
Bill Belichick was hit with a $500,000 fine Thursday night -- the maximum allowable by NFL by-laws -- for violating the league's policy on videotaping the Jets defensive signs Sunday. In addition, Roger Goodell notified the Patriots that they would forfeit a 2008 first-round draft choice if they reach the playoffs, or second- and third-round picks if they do not qualify for the playoffs. The club was also fined $250,000.
Forfeiting an NFL game is pretty much a pipe dream, in my opinion. People keep saying it, but if you understand the sport, the league and the money involved, you know it is not going to happen except under fairly extreme circumstances, which this situation is not.
It is kind of like the libs thinking the USA is going to pull out of Iraq after the 2006 election cycle. For them, it was a form of masturbation to make themselves feel better, but it was never going to happen.
Scatter shooting while wondering how the Chargers are revamping things in preparation for the game vs NE Sunday. That one will be popcorn intensive.
There’s no need to forfeit the Jets game. The cameraman was confronted and his equipment confiscated during the first quarter.
The Pats won that game legitimately.
The NFL should have come done much harder on the Patriots. The Pats cheated and should pay much more than they did.
The Patriots cheat. This cannot be denied this isn’t the first time and all they have done these past years with billicheck will be in question.
If you’re a student in school and your teacher catches you cheating on a test, what’s the penalty? A big “F,” always.
In my opinion, the same should have happened to the Pats —since it was the game with the Jets that they were caught “cheating on,” they should have had that game forfeited.
If I may, sir......
Bledsoe had 1-2 more starts before Tom would be given a shot in 2000. Bledsoe's decline really wasn't so much a decline as it was a levelling off. In 1996, the Patriots made the Super Bowl largely due to their defense and a young phemon RB named Curtis Martin. In the AFC Championship game that year, Drew did everything possible to lose the game. Luckily, two defensive turnovers sent the Pats to New Orleans where Drew threw 3 INTs and stood like a statue as the late Reggie White treated RT Matt Lane like a turnstile.
In the 2002 AFC Championship game, Tom had his ankle twisted on a sack by, I think, Joey Porter. And onto the field came Drew while a six state region called New England blessed themselves and traded beer for hard liquor. On the second play, Drew scampered to the sideline and took a wicked shot - exactly like the one that almost killed him earlier in the season. Drew threw a highlight reel TD pass to David Patten and grabbed a little momentum as the teams went to halftime. The second half was by far the most frightening 30 minutes of football I've ever watched. He overthew wide open receivers. He did his classic "sky hook pass to no one while being sacked". He hit Porter right in the numbers with a bullet that surprised even him so much that he couldnt make the INT. It was awful.
In sum, Drew was spectacularly mediocre. He had very bright flashes of brilliance against bad teams here and there, but he never had that "Favre" killer instinct to lead the team to victory.
That said, Drew played a large role in the growth of the Patriots into one of the elite teams in the NFL. I can remember going to games his rookie season and there would be less than 20K fans in the stands. Now we're hated from sea to shining sea by fans, players, coaches and owners of teams that SUCK. Thanks Drew. Your INTs and unnecessary sacks will also bring back fond memories of my college days.
“Rivers sucked that day and your DB decided to run the ball back instead of taking a knee.
FUMBLE!!!!
Pats go on to win.
Marty screwed the pooch and you know it.”
I’m not saying the Chargers played their best game. But I guess we’ll never really know what the outcome would have if the Patriots weren’t cheaters either, will we?
Ouch
“There’s no need to forfeit the Jets game. The cameraman was confronted and his equipment confiscated during the first quarter.
The Pats won that game legitimately.”
Let me guess — you’re a Patriots fan.
As Cowherd said, if you don’t need to cheat, why would you?
“I’m a Dolphins fan. Scroll up—you’ll witness misterrob bashing my team as if it somehow nullifies what Belicheat has done.”
Then I stand corrected. Sorry.
But I still think they should have been forced to forfeit that game since it was the game in which they were caught cheating, regardless of who would have won it legitimately.
Like I said...not gonna happen, and was never going to. No chance. Zero. Zip. Nada. If you thought it was going to happen, you are just deluding yourself.
What proof did you have that they cheated? And what was the infraction? If Marty had done a better job the Chargers win.
Own it.
If you call a cavalcade of a$$holes spouting off about how great the Pats are (because they’ve had a good run of cheating lately after years of mediocrity) “a few people fronting for their team”, then you’re deluding yourself. Arrogant, smug pricks living vicariously through a sports team is what I call it. I’ve seen your types before, way too many times, and I didn’t like it then, either.
Just as with the Packers, it’s not the team I dislike, so much as the jackass fans I have to put up with. I’ve learned a few things about the Pats fans tonight, and now they’re on the same list as the Packers for me.
And, most importantly - the older I get, the more I realize that none of it (pro sports that is) means a damn thing in the big picture. I’ve watched a grand total of about ten minutes of Vikes action so far this year, I haven’t spent even one minute in any of the Vike boards I used to read religiously, and I haven’t spent a penny on any pro sport in years. It’s become little more than a sideshow for me; the whole thing could pass into oblivion tomorrow and I wouldn’t miss it a bit. I have better things to do with my Sundays like fishing, hunting, reading, puttering around the yard and garage, etc.
With that, I will exit, stage right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.