Soon after the initial allegations that the Patriots were up to something nefarious, FanHouser Dan Benton pointed out that teams were tripping over themselves to accuse New England of wrongdoing. Other than LaDainian Tomlinson's comments on the matter, I haven't seen any players quoted on the record. Until now, anyway.
Pittsburgh's Hines Ward suspects the Patriots may have been up to something during the 2001 AFC Championship game:
"Oh, they knew ... They were calling our stuff out. They knew, especially that first championship game here at Heinz Field. They knew a lot of our calls. There's no question some of their players were calling out some of our stuff."Cornerback Deshea Townsend also had suspicions during that game, but wouldn't identify the play in question (something about not wanting to sleep with the fish). And then there's this, from former Steelers running backs coach, Dick Hoak:
[Hoak] told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the Steelers once received a suspicious video tape by mistake from an opposing team during a routine tape exchange. The tape focused on a coach making hand signals from the sideline, Hoak said, but the Steelers did not report the tape to the NFL.This doesn't implicate the Patriots, but does point out that New England isn't the only team stealing signs (but you already knew that.) Still, not everybody is Spooky Mulder about this: Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton keeps it simple.
"In this league, everybody knows what everybody's going to run. It's just a matter of stopping it," he said. "The bottom line is you watch enough film and you know where guys are and where they're coming from."And Ben Roethlisberger said the whole thing is "the farthest thing" from his mind, although Dolphins linebacker Jason Taylor thinks somebody should pay for the transgressions:
"I think they should have all their games disqualified and not be allowed to make the playoffs for the next four years,"And since I refuse to use emoticons, I should point out that Taylor was laughing when he said this. By the way, it's worth noting that none of the Steelers blamed the Patriots for the 2004 AFC Championship beatdown. That loss falls squarely on Big Ben's shoulders.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. The thing I find most perplexing is that people keep saying the Patriots were "cheating by secretly stealing other teams' signals".
If you are caught on the sideline Videotaping another team in front of 76,000 people, the league reps, teams reps, media, tv audience, etc....there is nothing "secret" about it.
Also, if you are taping what the person standing next to you san see just as, if not MORE clearly, how is that "cheating"?
I cannot believe that football fans are so naive that they think Bill Belichick would be so stupid, he would blatantly tape another team in front of the world for the sole purpose of "signal stealing".
"Spying" would be more easily (and MUCH less conspicuous) done with a lapel-cam...or a hi-def minicam...items readily available in the local Spy store at the mall. It is obvious that he WANTED the Jets to see him taping...probably for "head game" reasons.
Posted at 10:37PM on Sep 12th 2007 by Gary
2. Oh, of course. That's it. That punt got returned for a TD because Troy Brown was stealing their punt signals. They knew where the kicker was going to kick the ball on the blocked field goal because of stolen signals. And signal-stealing is definitely what made Kordell throw the ball straight at those defenders so many times.
Yes, it was all because of signal stealing, a phenomenon entirely exclusive to the Patriots. The Steelers would NEVER do that, because whenever a football team tries to steal signs from an opponent, the Baby Jesus cries.
And here I thought that the Steelers choked it up because they were unprepared and undisciplined. In reality, it wasn't their fault in any way! Everything they did wrong that day was the result of Cheatriots. Who are a bunch of big, bad cheaters.
Thank you, Hines Ward, for helping me see the light.
Posted at 11:02PM on Sep 12th 2007 by pstargalac
3. I figured it was something besides talent that helped them win those playoff/superbowls....because really, they never really had that much talent.
Posted at 1:45AM on Sep 13th 2007 by Pops
4. Come on now folks, I know your just defending the beloved Pats, but cheating is cheating...regardless of how insignificant the advantage might be. If the ruls says don't do and you do it anyway, well then it sounds to me that Belichick might just be that stupid. Just because its the Pats doesn't make it any less of a disgrace to the league. Now let's see if the comish will puff out his chest and reign down punishment like he's done on all the other players he's claimed to have disgraced the game, or if he'll be the coward that I've already concluded he is and accept Bill's "My bad.....I must have misinterpreted the rule..." apology. Oh wait...didn't Green Bay already do that when THEY caught Billy taping their sideline? This is a joke.
Posted at 2:04AM on Sep 13th 2007 by steeltown
5. The Patriots are CHEATERS. Bill BiliCHEAT is the PETE ROSE of football. CHEATING is more COWARDLY than betting and BiliCHEAT should be BANNED from the NFL!!!!! It makes you wonder how far back their CHEATING goes. The only real dynasty's are the COWBOYS, 49ers and STEELERS!!! Only the patriots "BITCHES" along with SHUAN SALSBURY from ESPN will stand by the New England CHEATERS.
Posted at 2:04AM on Sep 13th 2007 by roc6ju
6. Considering that a typical NFL defense is known to run upwards to 60 different plays from one formation alone? I think it makes a HUGE difference if you know wtf is coming exactly.
Getting busted for it after being told about three times prior is not on the Jets hands.
Its this simple, kiddies...
If you kjnow the defense is dropping back in coverage, then you run a running play, because your runner has space, if you know a blitz is coming, and even better, WHAT KIND, then you know what pass play to use for maximum wr options.
Dont be so naive.
I find this all humorous considering that i cant recall a single player from that oh so great Patriots organization that has amounted to jacksquat after leaving the Pats.
Maybe its because they werent juiced anymore.
Posted at 3:57AM on Sep 13th 2007 by claytor
7. I have to say that cheating did not lose those games for us the pats beat us it's that simple. As most everyone on here has said All teams pick up on their opponents calls, it's the way the game is played. Strtagies are to be fugured out and stopped. I must say, the Steelers are a much better team then the patriots, and always have been. There is no accounting for the luck of the pats. Luck runs out talent is the key to 5 Super Bowl wins. We have a great season ahead of us!
Posted at 5:44AM on Sep 13th 2007 by Iwillsellmycutebabypics
8. Gary from post #1
with your naive comments and consenting attitude towards the lack of integrity. May I have your phone number and address so I can make a sales call?
Sure it runs good, only driven to church by Belichicks grandmother.
Posted at 6:00AM on Sep 13th 2007 by Bill Walters
9. I am sick of the pervasive bad spelling and grammar that is blogging. If you cannot spell, then you are not smart enough to have a valid opinion.
Posted at 7:59AM on Sep 13th 2007 by td
10. WIN AT ANY COST, WINNING IS EVERYTHING.
Posted at 8:13AM on Sep 13th 2007 by MILT PERDUE
11. The Steelers are mad because they were beaten by a better team.
The Steelers still suck!!
Posted at 8:30AM on Sep 13th 2007 by savinbiller
12. I know you Patriot homers have to defend your team, but if this is not cheating then why are they making such a big deal about this?? If every team is doing this then why isn't every team in the NFL under investigation? Regardless of your rationalization this is a form of cheating that is against the rules as stated in the NFL.
And even IF other teams are doing this, they are the ones who were stupid enough to get caught. I think the Pats have been watching the Mike Vick nonsense too much. Both are great players/organizations just dumb as hell.
Posted at 11:18AM on Sep 13th 2007 by ers
13. Last I checked, Savinbiller, the Patriots were not one of the three teams with five superbowl wins.
Posted at 12:42PM on Sep 13th 2007 by bill
14. if you look at the stat's from the 1 st half and 2nd half there is no diffrence in points or the defensive points now if they where getting a heads up wouldn't there be a big lopsided diffrence in points and defence?????
so every other team never stole or attempted to steal a teams signals??? hmmmmm raiders /redskins superbowl non fact raiders new All there plays
miami last year had the patriots audio tapes
jets coach mangini had the complete play book from teh patriots last year and passed them out to the p[atriots opponents ( didnt hear NE Pats cryin)
i could go on and on just face it Bill B> is a great coach
Pats have good players who want to play football and play it smart and hard
all of a sudden people are comming out of teh wood work when something happens not just this situation but every time something comes out against someone everyone comes out and say's they did it to me also
enough is enough this world has become a bunch of pussy ass bitches
Posted at 4:17PM on Sep 13th 2007 by ken
15. Ken - your comment made me laugh. Everone wants to be babies about this. Some of the idiots are now attacking Brady's character and abilities because he was obviously in on it. IDIOTS.
I don't want the Patriots to "cheat", but it is difficult to see how this video taping is more advantageous than other things that are done, but not league violations. However the rules are the rules and the Pats will pay for this transgression, then pull together as an organization to win the Super Bowl in February.
Posted at 7:06PM on Sep 13th 2007 by Windjammin
16. okay now pittsburg wants a part of the action because they got beat in the playoffs by the pats. what a joke. find something better to do --- maybe play football
Posted at 1:01AM on Sep 14th 2007 by kathy
17. ive had enough of the bashing of the pats. miami stole the pats audio tapes last year and nothing was said about it. now all the teams that lost against the pats are trying to say they cheated with them. get a grip!! the pats are an awesome team, and dont need to cheat!! nfl better watch all the games with camers on the sidelines. check out their videos!! san diego chargers lost against the pats last year because they were not just good enough, ladainin thompson, i hope the pats shut you up sunday!!! go pats. just because of a video on the sidelines, which most teams have,doesnt take away the pats talented players.the pats really needed to cheat to win against the jets. very funny!!! blame yourselves for being losers
Posted at 1:20AM on Sep 14th 2007 by kathy
18. So all the people that are trying to knock off the PAtriots,
are you
still going to say we cheated when we go deep into the playoffs this
year. This is a bunch off hogwash, the Broncos said back in 2002
that many teams including themselves employee men with binoculars and sometimes as early as the end of the first quarter they can
figure out the defensive signals. I am to believe that during a 12
minute half time the video man goes in and desiphers all the signals
and the second half we have everything, sorry not buying it. Did anybody tell Hines that we weren't stealing offensive signals, because judging by his entire comments that is the way he made it sound Durrr. Any excuse will do for a team that outright lost. Can't wait to kick everyones but now this year. Funny thing is the PAts might have needed some motivation this year because of all the hype around them, not we have the motivation - see u in Feb.
Posted at 1:02PM on Sep 14th 2007 by kwcpw
19. Another thing is there are players and coaches who make comments about the Patriots during certain games like "It's like they new our calls". So you got out coached and out prepared. Stop whining. They imply that the Patriots could not have prepared well enough to outwit them. They MUST have cheated. Morons.
Posted at 10:16AM on Sep 15th 2007 by Windjammin
20. I love Hines Ward whatever he says Is absolute TRUTH!
Posted at 2:51PM on Sep 15th 2007 by Shirl