The list of teams that suspect the New England Patriots of stealing signals is growing daily. Shortly after an investigation was launched by the NFL, which was preceded by an accusation from the Jets, the Green Bay Packers stepped up and echoed the New York's concerns."From what I can remember, [the camera man] had quite a fit when we took him out," Packers president Bob Harlan said. "We had gotten word before the game that they [the Patriots] did this sort of thing, so we were looking for it."Lions general manager Matt Millen has also come forward and informed the NFL that Detroit caught the Patriots doing the same thing last December. And as if that wasn't enough, the Buffalo Bills have now entered the fold as well.
According to a report by the Boston Herald, the Bills suspected the Patriots were cheating in their 28-6 loss to New England last October, but did not have enough evidence to warrant a complaint. However, in light of these more recent discoveries, Buffalo has decided to review the film from both games last year.
When I first heard wrote about this, I suggested that we all take it as a grain of salt because it appeared to be a rumor and nothing more. Unfortunately for the Patriots, that no longer seems to be the case. The evidence is piling up day-by-day, and I get the feeling that this is only the tip of the iceberg.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-11-2007 @ 11:16AM
Arby said...
Pile up the evidence and sit Bill down for a month.
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9-11-2007 @ 11:47AM
Joe said...
These teams probably put a lot of stock in Big Foot, UFO's and the Grassy knoll.
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9-11-2007 @ 12:58PM
Mary said...
I think these losing teams just need someone to blame for their loss, so obviously the Pats are cheating... Why cause they won? It's BS. And the investigation will prove that.
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9-11-2007 @ 1:27PM
Sevenmack said...
And even if the Patriots are sending out spies to check for signals, it doesn't really matter. Great offenses beat bad defenses. Great defenses beat bad offenses. The Patriots are great in both categories; the Jets, Packers, Lions and Bills are, to put it kindly, terrible in either one side of the ball, the other or both.
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9-11-2007 @ 1:39PM
markblais said...
This is hilarious at this point. Noone has any evidence. They have "suspicions". Matt Millen "caught" the Patriots breaking a league rule but did nothing about it when it occurred. Suuuuurre. The Packers asked the cameraman to leave because he did not have the appropriate credentidals on him. They did not remove him because he was doing anything inappropriate. It has now become a witch hunt.
On another note, if it's illegal to steal signs or anything similar, why do coaches cover their mouths when they talk? If noone would dare try to get an edge, they wouldn't need to do that. The whole thing is IDIOTIC, even if the Patriots did this. There are many ways to crack the codes, with or without the use of video.
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9-11-2007 @ 2:22PM
Sports Bettor said...
F the Pats. I'm glad they were caught.
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9-11-2007 @ 3:45PM
reginald said...
I hope the NFL take their asses down for doing this type of cheating. I never forget how they got away with the raiders game in the snow. It seems the Mad Scientist B.B. is conkniving after all. Why??? would the cameraman for the Pats be mad after the Packers top officials remove him from taking Packers play calling during the game???
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9-11-2007 @ 3:49PM
John O'Sullivan said...
The Pats knew all the defensive plays in the games that they were caught cheating. That is a huge advantage. It not about “the team” or “good coaching” it is cheating. It is expressly prohibited in the NFL rules that you cannot video tape the signals of opposing defenses. That pats were caught several times doing this. All of there wins are tainted. There should be an “*” asterisk next to all there wins. What is more important then integrity of the game? If it does not matter then why do they play the game? We could just give the championship to the Pats and Cancel the season.
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9-11-2007 @ 5:10PM
rick said...
why would pats cheat against these losing teams,i could see chargers and colts but jets and lions give me a break
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9-11-2007 @ 5:20PM
tg said...
I do not see why the Patriots would videotape to steal signs. You tape something to save it and study it later. The only way to get any benefit would be steal the signs during the game. The next time they play the Jets, the Jets would be using different signs.
I think the Patriots had other reasons for the taping. It is still against the rules.
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9-11-2007 @ 5:22PM
Tony Salacuse said...
To Patsy fans it is a witchhunt. To those in the real world it is proof that having prior knowledge of your opponents plays helps out a bit. No wonder Billy has such success.I guess that they don't have enough faith in the teams talent, they need that little edge. Best way to get it is CHEAT! Shame Shame!!!!
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9-11-2007 @ 5:42PM
DJA said...
Belichick is a LOSER with a CAPITAL "L"
This should come as no surprise to anyone! He has been caught cheating on his wife! What would stop him from cheating on the field? The guy has NO CLASS and obviously no morals! He doesn't even know how to dress! I say don't suspend him....FIRE HIM! This isn't the first time he has been caught. The Patriots deserve better than that! And to all of you Pats fans: I am not a Lions or Packers or Bills or Jets fan......so I don't have blinders on! Jim Carey said pronunciated it perfectly: LOOO-SER!
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9-11-2007 @ 6:43PM
Kennan said...
My sixteen year old has the best idea. You can't fine the owner who has millions and do any real hurt. It isn't fair that the team stole the game but he said the best way to make it right is to fine not the owner but the teams SALARY CAP. Then the team would have to drop players from playing but still have to pay their players. If the team was fined 10 to 20 mill that would but a major hurt on what players could play. There would be some catch that the team still has to pay the players, but just not play them. That way even if a team is doing bad, and desides that they would loose anyway it wouldm't be just the game but the season as well.
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9-11-2007 @ 7:11PM
LBP said...
The Patriots are a great team. But it wouldn't surprise me at all if they have been stealing signals. In the past they have been deceptive with their injury reports. (That's a nice way of saying they lied). Football is extremely competitive, and teams work hard to gain an advantage. But some of what is done is wrong (like piping in crowd noise), and this is an example. The sad thing is, the Pats are so good that they don't need to do this. When the coaching staff or management of a team engages in behavior that does not pass the smell test, it is a disappointment to me as an NFL fan.
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9-11-2007 @ 7:14PM
Michael said...
The Patriots should have to forfeit the game. I'm not saying this with bias because I dislike the Jets just as much as I dislike the Patriots. And to whoever thinks that stealing signs is irrevelant to a win does not understand the game of football. Knowing another team's formation on defense opens up the offensive game two-fold.
These allegations should not surprise anyone. When the Patriots won those super bowls everyone thought B.B. was some sort of football genius. It's not like the spying just started this season. It has been going on for a while, only no one could prove it. Tape from past games will come out soon to really show how long this has been going on.
Besides this, the Pats get every call by the refs too. I think it's starting to all come back to them. Rodney Harrison is a whole other story as well. The Pats are finally starting to see: WHat goes around comes around.
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9-11-2007 @ 10:05PM
Tim said...
I can't believe some people are defending the Patriots over this. Its plain cheating, and pathetic in any sport... we have rules for a reason.
And I don't know why people think the Patriots are so great that they can beat anyone. What, because they won so many games by cheating? I can't recall any great players on their team, except for Brady.
Which has amazed me over the years how they win so much with no-name players. This would explain it.
Their penalty needs to be more than just a draft choice. I would even consider banning them from the playoffs like College football does.
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9-11-2007 @ 10:26PM
briiansd said...
Ken - Sure you're not a pats fan. So a couple of pats players had the flu and it was 100 degrees in the dome just to mess with them? That is a ridiculous statement. You wouldn't be exaggerating just a little bit? would ya? really? 100 degrees?
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9-11-2007 @ 10:35PM
John O'Sullivan said...
Why do PAT FANS make excuses? Belicheck is not a genius. I have been watching him coach for 30 years. He was not this good in NY or Cleveland. The Pats got caught by the Lions and Packers last year. The Jets have proof that the Pats cheated. The Pats should forfeit the game.
Also the NFL is looking into the radio frequencies the Pats used. They used several frequencies during the game. Several NFL Teams have been accused of listening into the other team’s headsets before. If that is the case then they would know the offensive plays as well.
Don't believe me go to ESPN and read it yourself.
Make more excuses PAT FANS !!!
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9-11-2007 @ 10:43PM
Drew said...
If this is found to be true, they should be punished severely. This is almost as bad a rogue NBA referee.
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9-11-2007 @ 10:43PM
DJA said...
You never hear much out of Pats fans unless it is something to defend the losers....then they take up an entire page to make excuses for them! And when the Colts beat them in the Playoffs last year...OH MY GOSH! What ludicrous excuses were said! Face it....Belichick is a LOSER! And he deserves whatever he gets....long over-due for sure! You reap what ya sew! What goes around comes around! Where there's smoke, there's fire! Hmmm, seems all of those old sayings are pretty much true!
Sad part is it won't be Belichick paying the price for his past.....it will be the entire team. But then again, that's not such a bad thing now is it? Such poor losers! Won't even shake the winners hand when they have been beaten FAIR AND SQUARE! Your past WILL come back to haunt you! Pats fans, repeat after me: LOOOOOOOSER(s)!!!!!
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