Comment on Patriot Gate Scandal (1 Viewer)

[tdubel]

From the other thread, I wanted to point out something regarding the so called scandal. Disclaimer, I am not a Pats fan.

I played football for good bit of life up until college and I would like to point out a few thoughts:

1. Even if you know every play that is going to be run, it is about execution. Everday in practice as a linebacker/qb, I knew our playbook, I knew opposing team's schemes, etc. and I can tell you no matter what, if you get blocked, you will miss the play.

2. When I worked for a collegiate team, we had security at every practice to keep out unwanted eyes, it goes on at all levels.

3. If you want to figure a team out, watch their last 12 game films against teams that run similar schemes to you (there are only so many offenses/defenses out there). You will learn their intuitions and leanings thru study.

4. Stealing signals has been going on since the dawn of time, we use to do it in high school, we use to point out snap count, code word, etc. IT HAPPENS.

Honestly, the Patriots got caught doing it, plain and simple, but I find it incredulous that other teams jumped on high horses and complained, b/c they do it too, they just have not gotten caught.

Anyhow, I think to make blanket statements about the Patriots image or integrity, etc is a little misleading as every team is guilty of it and that is just an unwritten fact. Heck, in college, we use to attempt to spy on opposing teams practices before games, we use to scour their locker rooms to see if they forgot material or playbooks, etc. It is right or wrong part of the game.

Tom

 

[Warrior]

Tom,
Thanks a million for posting this; as a Patriots fan, I AM SICK AND TIRED OF ALL THE CRYING ABOUT US BEING CHEATERS. I love the casual fans who refer to us as cheaters and never picked up a football in their life and don't know if the ball is inflated or stuffed.

Get a clue before you call the Patriots cheaters, it's comical how overused the phrase has been this year. As you said, EVERYONE CHEATS, the Patriots GOT CAUGHT, that is the difference.

Sunday was more than I can take, what a kick in the chops, makes me want to crawl into a hole somewhere, a historic loss that the players, owner, management, coaches and fans will take to their graves. Can't wait for all the 18-1 signs around stadiums next year, unreal.

What could have been.

 

[gk5717]

George, reflect back how lucky you as a Boston sports fan are.
All the championship seasons the last few years.
Just look what Boston teams did to St Louis teams, 04 World Series, 2002 Super Bowl and even the last time the Blues were in the Stanley Cup finals 69-70, with Orr scoring the winning goal and then getting thrown thru the air by Noel Picard.
Gary

 

[maddadicus]

Dear George...now you know what I , a Yankee fan, feels about being up 3 and 0 in the playoffs, only to lose 4 straight to the BOSTON REDSOX...An historical collapse, that still makes me sick inside when I think about it....Michael

 

[Warrior]

Gary,
You're right, it's a lot to be thankful for in retrospect, but this would have been historic, never to be done or seen again, all ruined by a six loss team that was a goal line stand vs the Redskins away from firing their coach.

Watching that final drive and all the breaks the Giants got (Converted on fourth and one, INT right through Samuels hands, Manning was sacked, got away, heaved up a prayer and Tyree made the greatest catch in Super Bowl history, Merriweather had an INT go through his hands before the TD) was like having a root canal without meds, gut wrenching.

Michael, I feel your pain, this absolutely is a punch in the gut. This is going to stay with me forever. The price you pay for wearing your heart on your sleeve and being a FAN of any team (and we all know fan is short for FANATIC)......................

 

[Alexdakar]

When I first read the thread title I thought Patriot models had some scandal with their gate.

 

[Njja]

Tom:

I read your comments about what goes on in some sports programs......it does not make it right.

I also played ball, cornerback ...... watched game films, prepaired, and loved to hit, we never stole signals.

I admire Vince Lombardi, have read about his life, his outllook, on perfection, dedication, teamwork.

I guess I missed the chapters on cheating.

I would not want to face Vince holding his trophy in my hand knowing I cheated.

Game films are available to study, scouts are available to question, stealing signs........even if almost everyone is doing it is cheating.

Njja

 

[modwalls]

As far as the Patriots being cheaters, put that to rest. George your passion for the Pats, is how I feel about the Bruins. I disected every play leadind up to that final to. The thing is , the Giants wanted it more. I tuned in to see Tom Brady, only to find Drew Bledsoe playing QB. Not to take anything away from the Giants, they played the game of their lives. They beat the Pats up and down the field. Had the Pats got that interception from Samuels, they win, and the Giant fans would have felt what your feeling. One of my friends said the game was fixed going in, and he even said the Giants would win it in the forth quarter. When Eli drove the Giants down and scored, we all looked at him like he knew something was not on the up and up. Then he started saying things about how this win would help Wallstreet and the economy and crap like that. I'm glad I'm not that big a football fan, as I stated, hockey and baseball are my favorites. I do agree with Gary, we have had it good sports wise around here for awhile. I hope Tom Brady learns how to scramble by next season, he was not on in the biggest game of his life. The undefeated season will never happing again.

 

[Njja]

Yes I guess we should put the "Cheating" to rest........lets say the $500,000 fine was for parking in the handicap spot.

Njja

 

[Warrior]

Mike you are dead on accurate with your comments; the Giants wanted it more, plain and simple. Injuries are a part of the game and at this time of the year, everyone has nicks and dings they are dealing with. Brady had an issue with his ankle, that's two games in a row he looke out of whack. That is why he did not roll out more to escape the relentless pressure from the Giants front four.

As you said, he looked like Bledsoe, aka, the statue.

 

[Capitolron]

I think the PATS needed some "bloody sock" desire.

I still love that "bloody Sock" of Curt Shilling's - Wow - thats wanting it bad in my book. I love the guy.

 

[tdubel]

Tom:

I read your comments about what goes on in some sports programs......it does not make it right.

I also played ball, cornerback ...... watched game films, prepaired, and loved to hit, we never stole signals.

I admire Vince Lombardi, have read about his life, his outllook, on perfection, dedication, teamwork.

I guess I missed the chapters on cheating.

I would not want to face Vince holding his trophy in my hand knowing I cheated.

Game films are available to study, scouts are available to question, stealing signs........even if almost everyone is doing it is cheating.

Njja

I respectfully disagree, I think we have a different take on it.

Bottom line, no cheating will ever win a football game, it is 11 on 11 execution that wins it. As I said before, I could know the entire play ahead of time, but if the opposing 11 execute it correctly, guess what, it works every time. I would even go so far as to say this Superbowl epitomizes my statement. 4th Qtr, Patriots have a perfectly executed drive, they beat the giants every play practically on that series. Now, I am SURE that by now in the season, the Giants knew every play in the book the Patriots have, but yet, they got out hustled, out played for that one drive. Reverse, I am sure the Patriots knew every play the Giants have in the arsenal, BUT, again, the Giants beat them pretty good on a ton of plays.

Bottom line, the game has changed, competitive advantage is defined differently and the rules of engagement have changed. Trying to equate the Packers, Lombardi, Shula, etc to today's game doesn't work for me. Too much is different. I am not saying one is better than the other, that is for each of us to decide.

TD

 

[Combat]

The NFL has a rule to prohibit that practice. Whether it helps a team win or not is somewhat beside the point. They violated the rules of the game. With that said I'm reminded of the Simpsons' episode where the narrator points out that "the road to the Super Bowl is a long and pointless one." It's over - who cares?