Well, it looks like Senator Arlen Specter didn't get around to talking about the NFL's antitrust exemption during today's meet-and-greet with commissioner Roger Goodell. As Michael David Smith wrote earlier, Specter learned that the Patriots have been videotaping opponents since 2000, something that wasn't clear when the league concluded its investigation in September.
In a post-meeting press conference, Specter elaborated. The senator said that "there were notes showing that the Steelers games had been taped." Specifically, two contests during the 2004 season: one on Oct. 31, and the other, the AFC Championship, on Jan. 27.
A couple of things worth pointing out: Pittsburgh smoked the Patriots in the first meeting, 34-20, sacking Tom Brady four times and picking him off twice. Three months later, the two teams met in the conference finals. Unsurprisingly (in hindsight), the Patriots won 41-27, and Brady, sacked just twice in the rematch, finished 14 of 21 for 207 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Did New England gain an advantage from having videotaped Pittsburgh during the teams' first meeting? There isn't enough evidence to say that, yes, unequivocally the Patriots won because they had the Steelers' defensive signals. But it would also be naïve to suggest that having access to that information had no bearing on the outcome. If that were true, Matthew Estrella (and Matt Walsh before him) wouldn't have had a job.
Either way, this doesn't do much for the Patriots' legacy as one of the best teams in NFL history, and it doesn't do much for Roger Goodell's credibility.
I also wonder if Bill Cowher might want to reconsider his earlier thoughts on the Steelers' other AFC Championship game against the Patriots.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
2-13-2008 @ 8:16PM
nunya said...
When is this gonna end? Let the Patriots be. They already have it down,...the ultimate choke in sports history!!!!!
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2-13-2008 @ 8:18PM
admjerry said...
The Belechick Bandits!!!
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2-13-2008 @ 8:32PM
Bill Walters said...
I would like to know what effect the cheating had on the playoff game in Jan 2002 between the Steelers and Cheatriots.
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2-13-2008 @ 8:41PM
tommoregone said...
WORRY ABOUT THE WAR AND OUR TROOPS SENATOR SPECTER!
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2-13-2008 @ 9:03PM
Dave said...
I watched both games, and until now it did not make sense. In the first meeting, the Pats resorted to goal line defense on all downs on both sides of the field and still had their heads handed to them. Steeler defense kept the pats offense guessing as to where the pressure would come from. The pats trounced them in the second game, with the score not representing what a dominant beatdown it really was, and I remarked that the pats coaching staff really did a good job gameplanning. THEY SHOULD HAVE, THEY KNEW THE PLAYS AS SOON AS THE STEELERS CALLED THEM!!!!!!!! So much for dynasty-their whole decade is tarnished, no different than Barry Bonds or Marion Jones. Sad thing is, none of the three had to cheat to be very good, but greed got the best of them. Forget the draft pick, cut 10 or 20% off their cap for 5 years and that will send a message.
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2-13-2008 @ 9:06PM
Mike said...
This is old news I wonder why the good senator would bring it up right before the superbowl ? .....HMMM
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2-13-2008 @ 9:22PM
John O'Sullivan said...
It is confirmed that the Pats have cheated since 2000 and have done so inthe playoffs and nothing is going to be done about it.
How can a Pats fan say that cheating in a chapionship game is OK?
The Pats are not chapions they are a cheaters. They are fake chapions. They are worse then Pete Rose he did not change the outcome of games games he just bet on them.
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2-13-2008 @ 9:24PM
chip said...
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.
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2-13-2008 @ 9:34PM
chip said...
Specter says, " We have a right to honest football games." I say that we have a right to honest politicians. Specter needs to be investigated for taking campaign money from a firm who has a feud with the NFL.
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2-13-2008 @ 9:35PM
Jackson said...
@Mike
Right before the super bowl?
Are you commenting from the past?
Thats quite a feat.
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2-13-2008 @ 9:41PM
truth said...
@ Chip....
Doh waste your breath dude....People in America have no interest in facts...like the good senator they just pretend to care for one thing while chasing their personal agendas.
No matter how apparent the inproprieties are, people do not want to waste time demanding responsibility from these folks....As long as there is fairness in sports or there favorite program is on when they want it...they could care less what their elected officials do.
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2-13-2008 @ 9:45PM
wendell h fears said...
I think he should be banned for life. I also believe the Steeler fans should sue the Patriots and their cheating coach.We were wronged. We can't trust the sport that we love.
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2-13-2008 @ 10:12PM
NEM said...
I, for one, certainly hope that Senator Specter continues with his attacks. If he does, you can bet your last dime that Bill Belichick is prepared, and ready with all the evidence he needs, to expose all of the other coaches, and teams, that were doing the same thing, one way or the other, for years and years.
Many former coaches have already said it was common practice, not always by video though. For example, Mike Shanahan of the Broncos said they used binoculars.
The only difference was that Belichick was smart enough to make better use out of the information he got compared to other coaches who didnt have the ability to make use of the information.
Yes, Belichick is ready to go and expose the entire league, one team after another, one coach after another.
Lets not forget where Belichick learned it from, from a guy by the name of Parcells.
COme on Senator, open it up and help to destroy the NFL in it's entirety, you dumb old fool.
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2-13-2008 @ 10:15PM
JCH said...
It is very common for teams to split games within a season. Saying it was because the signals may have been stolen might be the reason could apply to all of them as it is perfectly legal to steal signals. The rules even specify the locations from which the theft can occur.
Patriots used an illegal means to do something that is perfectly legal if done within the rules.
So you can whine all you want that it helped them win football games. Stealing signals has helped a lot of teams win football games. Because it's a ubiquitous part of the game.
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2-13-2008 @ 10:51PM
jsharpe0047 said...
Notes not tapes. And the notes weren't that we taped games, they were notes on hand signals opponents were using, not taken from the tapes but from what was watched during the game.
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2-13-2008 @ 11:02PM
Mungo MUnro said...
You can contact the Senator's office at.
http://specter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm
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2-13-2008 @ 11:11PM
outbreak2020 said...
Oh by the way the better team won in 2007 as well. hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
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2-13-2008 @ 11:12PM
outbreak2020 said...
Hey Squeeelers the better team won in 2002. I think it is so darn funny to watch the squeeelers cry cause they been cheated. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Laughing my arse off.
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2-13-2008 @ 11:20PM
Dave said...
If everyone else was cheating, how come only the Pats lost 750K and a first round draft pick? Why has no other evidence come up on any other team? It is fair to steal signals, but not by sneaking cameras into practices or into positions on the field during games where teams cannot fully shield the signals. Even the Saints are not saints, but the pats are clearly the dirtiest team in the league and deserve to get whacked hard. Anyone else notice on how their older players get better at ages where most guys are contemplating retirement? Aside from Bonds, Mcgwire and Clemens, don't see that very often. Take the needle out of their butt and opposition playbook out of their hands and they don't seem that tough for 2008-2009.
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2-13-2008 @ 11:36PM
chris said...
shutup outbreak you stupid imbred redneck....the steelers were the only team to have a rookie qb ever win the super bowl......has your team done that...i dont think so
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