NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter today, and afterward both of them, separately, talked to the press, and one piece of new information emerged: Patriots coach Bill Belichick routinely had the opponents' signals taped, from the time he became the Patriots' head coach in 2000 until the league slapped him with a $500,000 fine and stripped him of a first-round draft pick in September of 2007.There had previously been conflicting reports about how long Belichick has been engaging in his Spygate activities. Some reports said he did it since 2000, but others indicated that it was a more recent practice.
Specter also suggested that some of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's success could have come from knowing what defense the opposing team was running.
"The Commissioner sought to downplay the issue about the utility, but from information we've received, there was opportunity for the signal to be transmitted to the quarterbacks so they could utilize these signals that they taped in violation of NFL rules."
I'll have more to say about this later, but for now let me say this: This is new information that has only come out because of the Specter-Goodell meeting, so I was wrong when I said that nothing would come of the meeting.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. so much for that dynasty.
Posted at 6:23PM on Feb 13th 2008 by bet the super bowl
2. Some genius Bill Belichick is now. I think he should step down and go away for a while. This isn't looking good for him.
Posted at 6:34PM on Feb 13th 2008 by dave
3. HEY SPECTOR MYOB, YOUR A BLEEPING IDIOT TO OPEN UP YOUR BIG FAT MOUTH BEFORE THE SB, YOU CAUSED THE PATS TO LOSE THE SUPER BOWL, NEXT TIME KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT TIL AFTER THE SUPERBOWL. THANKS ALOT FOR BREAKING THE PATRIOTS 18 GAME WIN STREAK AND FOR STOPPING THE PATS FROM MAKING HISTORY, i AM NOT THANKING YOU IN A NICE WAY EITHER,
Posted at 6:44PM on Feb 13th 2008 by PATS FAN
4. Ya see, that CHEATING, LOW CLASS JERK belicheat is finally getting his due. Wonder if the hall of fame still wants that stupid ripped grey hoody. Looks like Bonds. Clemens & Belicheat are all buddies now,...I could throw 50 TDS knowing what's coming,...Goodell destroyed the tapes cause he knew it would ruin the game,..one word will describe belicheat "TAINTED"
Posted at 7:05PM on Feb 13th 2008 by sarlocks
5. This is too big a mistake for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to commit; his name is now tainted and the NFL cannot afford to have a commissioner that appears to be anything but above board.
Roger Goodell should resign.
Posted at 7:19PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Craig
6. STOP CRYING PATSFAN. A CHEAT IS A CHEAT, IS A CHEAT. NOW SUCK IT UP AND WAIT TILL 2009. THIS WILL GIVE U A CHANCE TO SET UP THE CAMERAS IN EACH STADIUM THE PATS WILL PLAY OK.............LOLOLOLOLOL.
Posted at 7:26PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Phil
7. Wow what a bunch of cheats. I wonder how much more evidence there is that will never know about? I would be emarrassed to be a fan or any part of that poor excuse for a franchise. Strip them of there trophies they have won since 2000. They have cheated the whole league.
Posted at 7:37PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Pops
8. Alright, technically this is "new" information, but is it really surprising? We know that teams - that's teams, plural - have engaged in this activity for YEARS - it's not a 2000 Patriots invention. That doesn't make it right, but plenty of things have gone "uncalled" in the NFL. This year the new commish made it a "point of emphasis" to not allow such tactics - kind of like the stricter enforcing of the no contact after five yards rule a few years ago. And when the Patriots tried to continue their devious ways, they were punished. This is all a non-story. Let it go.
P.S. I hate the Patriots. I'd love for their dynasty to be tarnished - but this isn't going to cut it.
Posted at 7:45PM on Feb 13th 2008 by BlueStarDude
9. So that's how they did it (18 and 0 hah!) and we thought it was wonderful coaching and great players! No wonder they didn't know what to do when the G-men just came out and punched their lights out. Like they say in boxing: "You can run but you can't hide".
007
Posted at 8:27PM on Feb 13th 2008 by jedoga
10. We know that teams - that's teams, plural - have engaged in this activity for YEARS - it's not a 2000 Patriots invention.
When all this crap started to show its ugly head, New England fans everywhere made tons of excuses and started pointing fingers. If ALL teams do cheat, then prove it. Guess what? NE fans can't. Just face it New England, you guys have been marked the biggest sports blunder of all time.
Posted at 8:37PM on Feb 13th 2008 by nunya
11. I agree, BlueStarDude. The Pats dynasty isn't tarnished. Mere TARNISH is what we had BEFORE today's "official" revelation from the Commish that they have been cheating for over 7 years. Obviously, this is just the tip of the iceberg or we wouldn't even be aware of the problem. Statistical theory bears this out. You just don't get caught the first time you stick your hand in the cookie jar. Law enforcement officials agree that the average DUI offender "gets away with it" over 200 times before getting caught. And everyone seems comfortable labeling Belichick a "genius" so how many more times than the "average" person would you suppose he can get away with something illegal before getting nailed? Meanwhile, during this time they won 3 Super Bowls, each by a mere 3 points. How much do you suppose you need to cheat to gain a three point advantage over the course of an entire football game. You are right, their dynasty isn't tarnished; it's history!
Posted at 8:43PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Bummed by it all
12. I hope they do open an investigation. It will show just how many other teams cheated. It is clear that these letters are pouring in from PA. Your Senator , a republican of course, thinks that there is nothing else to worry about. You people in Pennsylvania lack credibility of any sort. It looks like Specter is trying to gain some favor. Oh, by the way Mr. Specter, who is among your largest campaign donators? That's right, COMCAST. Who has issues with the NFL over the NFL Network. That's right, COMCAST. I think an investigation needs to be opened as to why Specter is all over this. That's a no brainer.
Posted at 9:34PM on Feb 13th 2008 by chip
13. If they knew the defensive signals they would have won those games by a lot more than three points. But this is all going to be smoke by Specter, a Philly Eagles fan, because the Commissioner destroyed the videos, and so all they could go on is the word of Matt Walsh, a video assistant for the Pats, a guy who was fired by the Patriots, and the Krafts' lawyers are well paid and would certainly have that pointed out- unless Walsh kept vidoe evidence. It discredits Walsh because he is a disgruntled employee fired by the Pats, and all they would have to say is that he is making things up because he is upset with the pats do to his firing, and the guy is a caddy, they don't make much money so he might be wanting to blow smoke up and get some kind of book deal and try to make money off of it. Because look at when his name came out in the media, the week before the Superbowl when the team he is making allegations against was 18-0 and a chance at perfection.
Posted at 9:50PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Samantha
14. This isn't new furthermore, Goodell stated that Belicheck had notes, NOT tapes, leading back to his start with the Patriots. The taping started in 2005 or 2006 I can't remember which. Notes not tapes...
Posted at 10:48PM on Feb 13th 2008 by jsharpe0047
15. Collective hooray from JETS fans all over. I hate the Pats...
Posted at 11:03PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Nicole
16. Cheat Cheat Cheat Cheat
Posted at 11:26PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Bill
17. Come on people, this isn't anything new to sports. Why does every offensive coordinator block the view of his mouth when sending in offensive signals? Because they know their opponents will try to steal the play by reading lips. Why do most teams have two or three coaches sending defensive signals, with only one of them the "live" signaler? Same reason, they expect the other team to try to steal them. Even with video, when there are more than one play caller, how long will it take to decode the signs? Not likely possible, during a game. With 32 NFL teams using these protective measures, singling out the Patriots is purely illogical and irrational, and smacks of jealousy. The Patriots aren't the only team trying to steal signs, and pushing the envelope of sportsmanship to do it. They are the first to be stupid enough to be caught. The Patriots didn't "cheat", they violated a rule, similar to a 15 yard personal foul penalty. After all,is said and done, they won 17 straight games AFTER the taping stopped. How else do you explain that, other than a quality team with high-caliber players and good coaching.
Posted at 11:33PM on Feb 13th 2008 by Mark F
18. I feel sad for football we all thought a great coach could beat the odds. I wounder if anyone else used this information to make money in sports betting. I think their is much more to this story time will tell.
When the CEO of football destroys the evidence you know he's hiding something. The fans love the game we deserved the truth. I also feel sorry for the New England fans they were also thrown under the bus. I am a Eagles fan if this happened in Philly we would have demanded the coach to be fired. It's important to win but it's more important to play the game on the field not knowing the other teams playbook.
Posted at 12:54AM on Feb 14th 2008 by craig millison
19. Doesn't Arlen Specter have something better to do than harass the NFL and the New England Patriots over a thoroughly dead issue, like deal with the mess in Iraq, which he voted to fund and continue funding, or maybe deal with the economy or the environment? Oh, that's right. I forgot, it's an election year, so he's got to suck up to his support base. His main questions about this taping thing seem to center around two games against the PITTSBURGH STEELERS in 2004 ( including the AFC Championship Game ) and Super Bowl 39, in which the Patriots played the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES ( the team that he has referred to in the press on more than one occasion as " MY EAGLES " ). I seriously doubt that Arlen Specter is concerned with the " integrity of the NFL ". This is a rather transparent and pathetic attempt by a sad and ridiculous politician trying to get re-elected in his home state by pandering to the " average Joe " Pennsylvania voter. Pennsylvanians, whether they live in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, are ravenous about their sports teams, and Specter is playing on that in order to keep his Senate seat. It probably never occurred to him that the reason that " his Eagles " lost Super Bowl 39 was because Donovan McNabb threw three interceptions and threw up in the huddle because take the pressure of the big game, and because Andy Reid mis-managed the clock in the last three minutes. For Sen. Specter to suggest that Tom Brady, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to play in the NFL, was only successful because he knew the opponents' defensive schemes ahead of time is not only insulting, but bordering on slanderous. I hope that the general public can see this whole thing for what it is, a power trip by an aging, addle - brained, doddering old fool trying to hang on to his fading glory and looking very much like the true " politician ' that he is.
Posted at 9:30AM on Feb 14th 2008 by Patrick Loomis
20. Craig, why in the world would you blame Roger Goodell for the Patriots' cheating? I hope this ends their dynasty. But its OK folks, the Giants beat them fair and square and it was such a GREAT game!! Hope Bill Bilichek goes away!! And as for Brady--the Giants gave him a big dose of humble pie!
Posted at 9:33AM on Feb 14th 2008 by Patti Wood