Belichick Fined; Pats Lose Pick

ESPN ^ | 09/13/07

[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.

[LasVegasMac]

Lots of cheating goes on in the game with the substances, stealing signs, holding, etc.

Substance abuse, to enhance perofrmance, would be cheating. Yes.

Stealing signs, yes. Cheating.

Holding......?????

Come on....

Then all other penalties are cheating, by that logic.

BTW, that is why holding is listed on the "You just got the penalty award!" sheet.

Along with the other stuff.

I might as well go turn myself in to Metro, for cutting that guy off in traffic the other day.

I cheated.

[Go Gordon]

This is total BS.

Apparently this is not a first offense. The Pats were caught before, but the tape went missing. In addition, before the season the Commish informed each team that taping other teams' signals was specifically a violation of NFL rules. Then the Pats go out and do it anyway? Coach is lucky his rearend didn't get suspended for a large chunk of the season in addition to the fine.

[ml/nj]

I guess I don't understand. (I'm a Giants fans so I have no dog in this fight.) He videotaped signals? What's the big deal? Could he have guys in the stands watch and write down what they saw? Can he watch tape of their games against other teams, and note what sort of plays they run on third and three?

ML/NJ

[billorites]

[LasVegasMac]

Lol

I can see that you nurture that 'mean streak'!

:)

[Dog]

Wow hit him with a half mil fine...wow.

[misterrob]

Get real....

The Pats D beat the piss out of the Rams back in 2002 and won the game because Mike Martz decided not to give the ball to Marshal Faulk.

In the Carolina game they each went toe to toe and the Pats just had the ball last.

Against the Eagles they beat McNabb’s ass and didn’t let Westbrook get into the game.

Belichick also coached a weaker Giants team to a win over a superior Buffalo team in 1992.

He can coach and strategize like no one else can. His successes over the years have nothing to do with stealing defensive signs. Every QB that plays one of his teams has a lower passer rating than they normally produce.

You going to try and say Brady isn’t a great QB? Deion Branch, Corey Dillon, Richard Seymour, Willie McGinist, Ty Law, Assante Samuel, etc all are subpar?

This things looks like overkill since the talent on this year’s roster is grade A.

[Leto]

From a Patriots message board.

"So, the NFL Gameday Operations manual says:

"no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game."

As far as we know, the Pats did not have a video camera in the coaches booth. Or in the locker room. Did they have a video camera on the field?

Depends what you mean by field. See page 5 of the NFL rulebook PDF for a graphic representation of the field:

http://www.patscap.com/rulebook.pdf

It appears to me that the "field" is the area outlined by the outermost broken line in the diagram.

Page 7 of the PDF provides a closeup of the bench area, delineating the "field" from the "media and other" areas.

Unless the NFL has published a definition of the "field" that differs from that in the official rulebook, I see no violation as long as the recording device never entered the restricted areas (the field, the coaches box, the locker room).

I looked at the nfl rule book, but the NFL rules where the camera man was standing was not on the filed, in the coaches box or in the locker room. Technically (within the letter of the rules) BB wasn't cheating.

If the NFL was sloppy in writing the rules that should be their problem. They should fix the rule. Better yet allow the D players to have the radio as the O players do. BTW the Pats voted in favor of allowing the radios in the D players helmet which would make all this moot.

The media wanted to 'lynch' BB. They hate him bercause he ignores them and they can't stand it. Goodell folded under the media firestorm.

[LasVegasMac]

I believe they call that, "home field advantage."

Besides, the Raiders had no idea what a snow blower was.

[Radix]

Pats fan here.

$500,000 (or even a million) is a drop in the bucket for this organization. It is chump change to most NFL teams these days.

Still, my sense is that because the Patriots are finally big favorites this year, they have been chosen to take the fall for something that is likely being practiced to one degree or another League wide.

I just enjoy watching my local team win after the decades of being the sad sacks of professional football.

[LasVegasMac]

Ace Ventura ?

[rlmorel]

In your dreams.

[jackieaxe]

A snow plow on a snow covered field. Driven by an ex-con. Cut the path for a game winning field goal.

There was nothing in the rule book at the time but more importantly, the refs let it go. It was a legal move. I see there are a lot of jealous non Patriot fans, but after enduring a life time of 4-12 seasons, tough noogies everybody. Your time will come.

[misterrob]

BB got the $500K fine. The team cannot pay it. The team also loses a #1 pick which is quite the spanking.

The Jets fans can whine all they want but they had no answer to Randy Moss on Sunday and that was the biggest difference. That and they couldn’t stop the running game.

[Vince Ferrer]

Where is the game forfeit? The should have forfeited the game (Jets) in which they cheated.

I don't think that is possible after the fact, due to the amount of money changing hands with gambling. If its possible, it would have to be before the game ends.

[LetsRok]

1) 2001 championship game. Hines ward and Burress complain after the gmae that the Patriots were calling out their plays during the game.


2) 2004 championship game on a 4th and 1. The Steelers begin to huddle and Belichick ushers over LB Teddy Bruschi and whispers something in his ear. Bruschi whispers something to the other players after he runs back onto the field.


Bruschi then stuffs bettis on the 4th and one. After the game Bruschi was asked what did Belichick whisper to him and he replies , "the guy just knows everything, he saw something and I can't talk about it."


3) after 2004 win in championship game, Brady was asked how he figured out the steelers defense. Brady said " when you know the answers to the test, its easy."


4) Belichick has never lost to a QB twice in the same season. Remember that stat? Sure , after he loses the first time, he studies their signals after video taping the coach and knows what defenses to call the 2nd time around.

[misterrob]

BB made his case and the commish didn’t buy it.

[Sonny M]

He videotaped signals? What's the big deal? Could he have guys in the stands watch and write down what they saw? Can he watch tape of their games against other teams, and note what sort of plays they run on third and three?

Its nowhere near as effective.

And very very difficult to do from the stands, especially for every single play.

To show how brazen this was, the guy was up on the sideline, near the coaches, getting the best angles possible and clear as day.

[LasVegasMac]

The Pats D beat the piss out of the Rams back in 2002 and won the game because Mike Martz decided not to give the ball to Marshal Faulk.

And I'm a die hard Ram fan.

And you are correct. Except it was not a "beat the piss out of.." type game.

What was it, 20 - 17..?

Martz can't spell, "ball control."

The best team won!

[paul in cape]

Belichick still a genius. Everyone knows every team does this, but his protege, Manginius, didn't have the manhood to call and say, "We know you're doing it. Cut it out!" No, the fairy had to call the hall monitor.

Regardless, a few observations, if I may, for you to consider:

Off all the teams in the league, the Patriots are the best equipped to lose a pick. They're stacked right now, and free agents want to come here. Talent won't be a problem. Plus, they have San Francisco's 1st rounder for Randy Moss (he he - steal of the century).

I wouldn't be surprised if Bill has tape of every other team doing the same thing. Now that the bar is set, Bill delivers the tapes to league offices and says (Them too!)

I really hope he has the Colts on tape. I can't wait to see Bill Poulian (sp?) and Peyton whining and crying.

Lastly, he has reintroduced the "no one respects us" routine he's used to perfection before. I can see the pep talk now; "They think you suck, and you're no good. Are you going to stand for that?" The Pats now have a HUGE chip on their shoulders; they're going to prove how good they are by steamrolling everyone.