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Ex-Patriots Assistant Sends the N.F.L. Eight Tapes (Congressional investigation soon to follow)
NY Times ^ | 5/8/2008 | GREG BISHOP

Posted on 05/08/2008 11:37:23 AM PDT by tobyhill

A former New England Patriots employee has sent the N.F.L. eight videotapes showing the team recorded play-calling signals by coaches of five opponents in six games between the 2000 and 2002 seasons, in violation of league rules.

But the group of tapes does not include video of the St. Louis Rams’ walk-through practice the day before the 2002 Super Bowl. The employee, Matt Walsh, had been linked to such a tape by news media speculation.

Walsh emerged as a pivotal figure in the spying controversy that enveloped the Patriots last season after they were caught taping Jets defensive signals in the season opener.

Walsh, who worked for the Patriots from 1997 to 2003, agreed to turn over the tapes and other evidence by Thursday under an agreement reached last month between lawyers for the N.F.L. and Walsh. The agreement indemnifies Walsh from all future legal fees.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


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To: gogov
What is the differnce if they watch a coaches signals, then watch a play with the naked eye but meticulously document each without the aid of a camera? Is that OK?

If it's that easy, why did they have it edited together on video?

61 posted on 05/08/2008 12:36:13 PM PDT by Ditto (Global Warming: The 21st Century's Snake Oil)
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To: JZelle

Please recalibrate your sarcasm detector.


62 posted on 05/08/2008 12:36:30 PM PDT by WayneS (Respect the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th)
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To: tobyhill

It’s all bread and circuses designed to keep the people asleep while the government steals our freedom and money. Why should I care if it’s pro wrestling or not?


63 posted on 05/08/2008 12:36:37 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: WayneS
If the NFL went away calculate the BILLIONS of dollars withdrawn from the economy. What about the people that are employed at the stadiums? How about the tax revenue collected by the surrounding municipalities? It's not about 500 Football players alone even though they spend large sums of money on their own.

I don't think Congress should be involved but I do think the NFL should come down really hard on Belechik.

64 posted on 05/08/2008 12:37:13 PM PDT by lexusppd
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To: WayneS

Whether you have sympathy for the gamblers or not is irrelevant. That is where law-breaking enters into the picture. This could amount to the “fix being in.”

Or maybe you’re one of those people who think we can pick and choose which laws we enforce.


65 posted on 05/08/2008 12:38:32 PM PDT by Tex Pete (Obama for Change: from our pockets, our piggy banks, and our couch cushions!)
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To: WayneS
I don't know, you don't know but as I've already said, it's not up to congress to find law violations, it's the DOJ’s job.
66 posted on 05/08/2008 12:39:01 PM PDT by tobyhill (The media lies so much the truth is the exception)
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Comment #67 Removed by Moderator

To: gogov
"This is a croc...teams have been stealing other team’s signals for decades...not just in football but baseball is even more “theft” prone.....all those centerfield cameras focused on the catcher’s signals.

" We have another nomination for post of the year. You have it exactly correct. Well said.

Except that there are no RULES governing what is happening in baseball. It is legitimate to "steal" signs from the catcher and it is the catchers job to prevent it. The centerfield cameras are there for the fans and if the teams want to use them to grab signals then BOTH teams have that ability. Catchers routinely flip the signals they flash the pitcher and more often then not those fingers you see him put down are NOT the signal calling for a certain pitch.

Belicheat was in violation of the rules. What part of that can't you understand?

68 posted on 05/08/2008 12:44:23 PM PDT by lexusppd
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To: SengirV

LOL, GREAT!!!!


69 posted on 05/08/2008 12:45:22 PM PDT by lexusppd
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To: Hatteras
It's a 12-Step program. The first step is to admit there is a problem. The problem? The Patriots were caught cheating. Not just once and not just twice. That is what will live in the minds of football fans for, at least, few more decades.

And like I said, the Patriots will continue to win, and those who root for other teams will continue to grow irritable in their bowels. Of course, I'm sure some other bogus thing will pop up . . . wait . . . the Patriots didn't put the NFL-sanctioned requirement of towels in the locker room . . . that throws all of their Super Bowl victories into question . . . huff huff, garump.

70 posted on 05/08/2008 12:45:38 PM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost

Still not ready to admit it, huh? :-)


71 posted on 05/08/2008 12:47:55 PM PDT by Hatteras
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To: SengirV

It is decidedly left wing thinking. Moral equivalence honed to it’s finest edge.


72 posted on 05/08/2008 12:48:32 PM PDT by lexusppd
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To: Hatteras
Still not ready to admit it, huh?

Bill Belicheat uses blue Gatorade instead of the lime green kind. HE CHEATED! Make him give back his rings!

73 posted on 05/08/2008 12:49:30 PM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: tobyhill

Next thing it will illegal for NFL teams to make note of the other team’s body language and notice that they are tired.


74 posted on 05/08/2008 12:49:38 PM PDT by HereInTheHeartland ("We have to drain the swamp" George Bush, September 2001)
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To: tobyhill

Big deal! Another thing the gubmint has no business sticking it’s nose into.


75 posted on 05/08/2008 12:51:34 PM PDT by kickonly88
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To: HereInTheHeartland
Next thing it will illegal for NFL teams to make note of the other team’s body language and notice that they are tired.

Videotape it from the sidelines and you'll have to cough up a couple of bucks and a few first-round draft picks.

76 posted on 05/08/2008 12:52:25 PM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Ditto
If it's that easy, why did they have it edited together on video?

So that others could watch it also?
Seriously, mnove the camera to the 1st row in the stabds, zoom in a little more and there is NO infraction and they get the EXACT same information.

I say let all of them film anything they want from their side of the field or in the stands.

77 posted on 05/08/2008 12:55:09 PM PDT by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
That's funny. You really, truly can't bring yourself to admit to the fact that the Patriots got caught cheating. You have to throw in some kind of off-the-wall jibberish and "admit" to that.

Dude, that's seriously funny.

78 posted on 05/08/2008 12:55:40 PM PDT by Hatteras
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To: Hatteras
You really, truly can't bring yourself to admit to the fact that the Patriots got caught cheating.

That's pretty piss-poor "cheating," don't you think? I mean, if you're going to cheat, why not go big? Why not try to plant a mole in another team's organization---why not try to steal their playbook . . . why not try to bug their film room? I mean, any one of those things is going to contribute way more to a winning program than placing a video camera on the sidelines instead of the stands.

Did the Patriots break an NFL rule? Absolutely, and they were punished for it. By breaking this rule, did they compromise the game of football, and each and every contest they played in, to such an extent it altered the destiny of their franchise? Only if you (1) are a partisan for a team that can't beat the Patriots on the field on a regular basis, (2) are on crack, or (3) think a rolling stop at a stop sign constitutes a felony.

79 posted on 05/08/2008 1:05:16 PM PDT by Hemingway's Ghost (Spirit of '75)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
"In other words, then, you're just a typical sh*t-talking New York beefhead who plays the internet cowboy to make up for what you lack elsewhere."

LOL, you've gone over the edge. Don't take it out on me because the Pats lost the opportunity to publish that book of theirs, what was it called...? Oh yeah "19-0" and they even had the title trademarked. Amazing they even thought to do that. I wonder what they did with all those things they made up with the slogan on them. You know those cups, medals, pens, pencils, mouse mats, dog sweaters...well you get the idea. Actually I'd like to have a few of those things to put in my display case right next to all my SB memorabilia and especially David Tyree's catch that ripped the heart out of the cheating disgraceful Pats. And what about the "Great Escape" by

Have to go now and continue on with my lowly insignificant life. But I want to take this opportunity to thank you and the Pats on behalf of all us typical sh*t talking beefheads from New York for you guys giving us the greatest thrill any sports fan ever had. Of course now that we know your team cheated the victory is not quite as good. To put a positive spin on what you guys did, just think, if it wasn't for your team cheating we never would have had the opportunity to both win the SB AND break a season long 18 game winning streak.

Anyway, don't take it so hard. After all it's just a game.....right?

80 posted on 05/08/2008 1:07:02 PM PDT by lexusppd
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