Don Shula coached the 1972 Dolphins, the only team in NFL history to finish a season unbeaten and untied. And in his expert opinion, the 2007 Patriots have a good chance of joining the Dolphins in that elite company.But that doesn't mean Shula thinks these Patriots are flawless. According to Shula, even if history remembers the 2007 Patriots as the league's second perfect team, it will also remember them as cheaters:
I think Shula is basically right: The Patriots are a great team with a good chance of going undefeated. Bill Belichick will join Shula in the Hall of Fame some day. But anyone who believes that Patriotgate will be forgotten by then is kidding himself."The Spygate thing has diminished what they've accomplished. You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They've got it," Shula told the Daily News yesterday. "Belichick was fined $500,000, the team was fined $250,00 and they lost a first-round draft choice. That tells you the seriousness or significance of what they found.
"I guess you got the same thing as putting an asterisk by Barry Bonds' home run record. I guess it will be noted that the Patriots were fined and a No.1 draft choice was taken away during that year of accomplishment. The sad thing is Tom Brady looks so good, it doesn't look like he needs any help."
Previously on FanHouse:
Don Shula Can Not Tell a Lie About Patriotgate
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 13)
1. Yes, because the Broncos and 49ers salary cap cheating is always brought up when you talk about those teams.
Posted at 9:40AM on Nov 6th 2007 by PantsB
2. To video tape signals IS legal. From the sidelines is NOT. The stealing of signals is a known fact everywhere. It WAS wrong to do that from the sidelines but it isnt such a big deal as it is portrayed by the whyners. Only whining fans (with losing teams) can use this excuse to make their sad, broken feelings... to feel better.
Why isnt anybody talking about the outrageous way the referees 'treated' new england.
Is anybody talking about the referees 'treatment' of the patriots against the colts??
Im sure if that happened to the Colts playing in new england....
thats all the media and the rest of the country would be highliting about the game.
It seems the crying and whining will continue for much longer because this team (pats) isnt disappearing this year or for a while...sorry
Posted at 10:08AM on Nov 6th 2007 by nikanda
3. Jimmy Johnson said he believes what the Patriots did -- violating NFL rules by videotaping the opposing coaches' signals -- is commonplace. Johnson also said he did it himself. Does that mean the Cowboys of the 90's were cheaters too? OH NO! Those Dallas champioships from the 90's are tainted too. Bills players from those superbowl losing teams should be claiming their rings. As crybaby McNabb did. Do you see my point, Haters!!!.
Posted at 12:04PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Bernie Amado
4. Yes, to a certain degree people will look upon what the Patriots did from 2001-2004 as somewhat tainted. You still have to go on the field and play.
That being said, Shula could not be more wrong. If they go undefeated this year, people may look upon what they did in previous years as tainted, but not this year. After Week 1 (where the taping did not help them), there's nothing on them.
I can't wait to buy the RCA Dome's live album. I can't wait until it drops.
Posted at 12:23PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Rob P
5. Give me a break!!!!! Would we have heard from Don Shula had the Colts beaten the Pats, I think not!! Now that he sees that his undefeated team may have to share the spotlight he has these things to say. Can you say "POOR SPORT"!! Don is taking the "holier then thou" approach to a whole new level then Tony Dungy!! Maybe Don is getting too old to remember the tactics he used!! Once a man to be respected now just a lonely poor sport.
Posted at 1:19PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Pam
6. Don Shula needs a urine test - whatever he's smoking ain't right. Shula knows the Pats of today are comparatively a superior team to the group he coached back in the Jurassic period. Doesn't he have something else to do in his retirement, like a weight-loss commercial, instead of shooting his mouth off? Also, I'm sick of watching all those old, has-been Dolphins toasting each other when the final unbeaten team of a season goes down..enough.
Posted at 1:42PM on Nov 6th 2007 by KT
7. Shula's team squeaked by with the weakest schedule possible that year. Team Shula could be 0-16 and the Pats 16-0. Happy anniversary Don!
Posted at 2:06PM on Nov 6th 2007 by tucker
8. Thanks Don...you just gave the Patriots more incentive to demolish your Dolphins record. How convient Shula to make this statement now, because you can use it as an excuse once your record is broken. You and EVERYONE else who coached or played in this league should be the ones who should be ashamed because what the Patriots have done is NOTHING to do with NOTHING and you know right damn well Shula and the rest of you jealous fools!! GO PATS!!
Posted at 3:08PM on Nov 6th 2007 by wayne
9. Tucker thinks Shula's '72 team squeeked by with an easy schedule? Exept for the Colts, the Pats do not play anyone worth a crap, and they are in the weakest division in the NFL this year. They will still loose at least one this year...wouldn't it be something if it is an 0-15 Dolphins team that does it? That would be Karma at its finest.
Posted at 3:17PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Tracy
10. Wow, lots of bitter Patriots fans here.
People, your coaching staff was caught cheating. "Other teams do it" is not an excuse, because other teams have not been caught. This IS a big deal, even if you defend to the death the idea that it is not. And, no, nikanda, it is not legal to tape other teams' signals. That's the entire point.
Shula is exactly right: the 2007 Patriots will always be associated with cheating, and it casts suspicions on past Belichick squads, too. Meanwhile, it looks like the team didn't even need to cheat to begin with, yet they went ahead and did it.
Patriots fans: just because you're either joining a new bandwagon, or because you've been a fan of the team throughout the '70s and '80s, when the fielded some truly awful teas, does not give you the right to suddenly act smug now that your team is racking up obscene point totals against bad teams. If--IF--the Patriots win all 16 regular-season games, they will have played, at best, five teams who had winning records at the time of their game against the Patriots: Dallas, Washington, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, NY Giants.
Shula's getting a lot of flak simply for articulating what most people believe.
Posted at 3:33PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Desides
11. Can they put an asterisk next to the Dolphins record stating that you needed to win 3 less games for a perfect season back in '72? And add a double asterisk stating "And for the following 35 years they acted as if they cured polio by doing it"
Posted at 3:34PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Matt
12. DON SHAMU ... GO AWAY, FAR AWAY
Posted at 3:40PM on Nov 6th 2007 by gerald penwell
13. Obscene point totals #11? In Boston we remember that the Fins beat the Patriots 52-0 and were driving to the very end of the game...and don't embarrass yourself by comparing which team had the tougher schedule. I haven't checked for a while, but I bet Maimi had no more than 2 or 3 teams with winning records in 72. Check it out.
Posted at 4:08PM on Nov 6th 2007 by tonio
14. The dolphins played 2 teams during the regular season with a winning record and they were both 8-6. How impressive.
Posted at 4:13PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Matt
15. What a shame that a guy with the class and achievement of Don Shula has to put an asterisk beside his own image by raising such a false issue only to innoculate himself against an unfavorable comparison with this year's Pats (if they run the table). Problem for Shula is, thinking back on his team's run in a 14 game season, we are reminded that there were a lot of 7-7 caliber opponents that year, and the Fins were far from dominant, coming from behind, I think more than once. Don, the once shining Shula image is a bit dimmer in my eyes today.
Posted at 4:36PM on Nov 6th 2007 by tonio
16. tommy36788 Don go back to doing your weight commercials. With a woman that looks 25 years younger then you. Do you think she married you for your looks? Get a life oldman.
Posted at 5:16PM on Nov 6th 2007 by tommy36788
17. THIS SPYGATE THING HAS GONE WAY TO FAR. VIDEO TAPE OF ANOTHER TEAM IS NO MORE OF AN ADVANTAGE THAN THE PHOTOS THE QB GETS EVERYTIME HE COMES OFF THE FIELD, OR IF SOME LOOKED ACROSS THE FIELD WITH BINOCULARS, OR,BETTER YET, SAW THE REPLAYS FROM ESPN OF SIDELINE SHOTS. IT'S A STUPID RULE AND IS IN NO WAY WORTHY OF THE ATTENTION IT'S GETTING. OBVIOUSLY COACHES HAVE DONE THIS AND KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR SOME TIME, WHICH IS WHY THEY TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS THEY TAKE. AND SO WHAT IF YOU THINK YOU KNOW A DEFENSIVE SIGNAL. WOULD YOU TAKE A CHANCE THAT A BLITZ IS COMMING, CALL A DROP OFF PASS? WHAT IF THE BLITZ DID'NT COME, BUT THIS IS WHAT THE OTHER TEAM WANTED YOU TO THINK? IF YOU PEOPLE NEED SOMETHING TO INVESTIGATE, TRY PULLING PHONE RECORDS AND BANK ACCOUNTS OF THESE REFEREES. I'LL BET THERE'S A STORY IN THAT WORTH SOME ATTENTION. OR INVESTIGATE WHAT THE JETS HEAD COACH KNEW BEFORE HE WAS THE JETS HEAD COACH. THINK ABOUT IT.
Posted at 5:29PM on Nov 6th 2007 by MIKE WASHINGTON
18. You bunch of loosers get a life try being a BEAR'S
FAN what is a winning record these days don't you know next year will be here soon and ne will be going foe another record.
Kentuck looser with the BEARS.
Posted at 5:46PM on Nov 6th 2007 by rlawson
19. YOU ARE ALL ASSUMING THIS PATRIOT TEAM WILL GO ON WITHOUT A LOSS--OR TWO--FROM WHAT I SAW AGAINST THE COLTS, THE PATS WERE LUCKY TO WIN. 14-2 IS NOT UNLIKELY
Posted at 5:48PM on Nov 6th 2007 by BILL K
20. Reading some of these comments, I wouldn't blame the Fanhouse staff if they decided to disable comments altogether. Damn, people. Some of you are simply embarrassing yourselves.
Posted at 5:59PM on Nov 6th 2007 by Desides