Here's what happened guys

[Mr. Miyagi]

Here's what really happened, the only way it makes sense.

1. The Jets blew the whistle on the Patriots for taping their defensive signals. The guy was caught taping from the sidelines, and then taping from the tunnel.

Argument: Per Bellichick they didn't know it was against the rules, that he interpreted it wrong.

Fact: If they didn't know it was wrong, then why was the guy snooping around? Why wouldn't he challenge his ejection out of the stadium? They knew it was against the rules.

2. It blew up in the news, forcing the NFL to investigate the incident.

Argument: Per Goodell, the NFL voluntarily disclosed it to the public, and launched the investigation. There's nothing to hide.

Fact: Wrong. The media got a hold of the incident, didn't come from the NFL voluntarily.

3. The Patriots were required to turn over all tapes and notes by the NFL.

Argument: They turned over all the evidence, so they have nothing to hide.

Fact: They did not turn anything over until 5 days after the initial request. Plenty of time to sort through what they wanted to turn over, and what to shred.

4. Three days after receiving and reviewing the evidence, the NFL promptly destroyed everything.

Argument: Per Goodell, there was nothing suggesting any further wrongdoing or unfair advantage to the Patriots in any of their previous games and seasons. But they did not want other teams to get a hold of the tapes, so they destroyed it all.

Fact: First, if the tapes didn't help the Patriots, why would you care if anyone else got a hold of it? And why couldn't they just lock it up somewhere, digitize all evidence for ease of storage if necessary, for future reference? In any other public and/or private organizations, documentation for up to 7 years is required. Not wanting anyone else to have it is a terrible excuse. The real reason they destroyed it is because the Patriots gave them evidence of not only themselves cheating, but a lot of other teams cheating, through all of their 3 SuperBowls as well as other teams' SBs. Goodell saw this and went holy crap, if this comes out we're all doomed. It's easier to apologize for destroying the evidence than to apologize for destroying the league. So now when people ask him questions about the tapes, they can say whatever was on the tapes they want.

5. Patriot suckups and apologists for the league, including Solomon Wilcot of Sirius NFL Radio continue to defend the Patriots for having done nothing wrong, and all those wins were legit, because we can't prove otherwise. Well duh! That's why they destroyed the evidence! And if they really had any unfair advantage in any of those games, you bet your ass they could affect the outcome. Brady could know what the defense was doing, and made plays that exploited that particular defensive play. It is all connected.

At this point there isn't much we can do about it. They aren't going to take away people's SuperBowl rings, or put astericks next to their records. The most the league would do is force Bellichick out of the game, and take away more draft picks. But the damage is done. Any further inquiry is solely for our satisfaction of our curiosity and need for justice.

[Goobylal]

Re: Here's what happened guys

Whether the NFL chooses to do anything is another issue entirely. But an analogous case is OJ Simpson's trial. In the eyes of the law, he was "proven innocent," but everyone knew he was guilty. That's the most I expect to get out of this.

[trapezeus]

Re: Here's what happened guys

the one wierd thing about taping and feeding to the QB's is "why didn't bledsoe excel in 2000 and 2001 with this info?"

or right, he's too stubborn to learn anything. :-)

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Here's what happened guys

The taping is just data collection. You still need time to analyze your data and draw conclusions, to understand what they mean. Maybe it took that long to figure all what all those signals mean and implement the counter system.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Here's what happened guys

My only issue with this is that if the tapes showed that they only stole signals to me that is no big tragedy. Stealing signals is a part of every sport at every level. It does not guarantee victory, however the purposeful taping of said signals is a clear violation. Should they have gotten more punishment? Probably, but they didnt just get a slap on the wrist either.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Here's what happened guys

Specter on the NFL's destroying the tapes so quickly, before disclosing to anyone what is contained in them:

There was an enormous amount of haste.

On Goodell's reason for destroying the tapes, trying to keep them out of competitors' hands and because Belichick had admitted to the taping:

What's that got to do with it? There's an admission of guilt, you preserve the evidence. All you have to do is lock up the tapes.

Can't argue with any of that.

Specter has also threatend with the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers as well as Congress canceling the league's antitrust exemption and reiterated that in the meeting with Goodell.

Take it all the way I say.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Here's what happened guys

Specter on the NFL's destroying the tapes so quickly, before disclosing to anyone what is contained in them:



On Goodell's reason for destroying the tapes, trying to keep them out of competitors' hands and because Belichick had admitted to the taping:



Can't argue with any of that.

Specter has also threatend with the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers as well as Congress canceling the league's antitrust exemption and reiterated that in the meeting with Goodell.

Take it all the way I say.

You dont want the NFL to lose its anti-trust exemption

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Here's what happened guys

The NFL doesn't either. That's why it will take it a lot farther. Better to sacrifice one team than to let it drag the whole league down. Single out the Patriots and let it take the fall.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Here's what happened guys

Mark my words. This is exactly how it happened. Nothing else makes any common sense.

[Michael82]

Re: Here's what happened guys

Here's what really happened, the only way it makes sense.

1. The Jets blew the whistle on the Patriots for taping their defensive signals. The guy was caught taping from the sidelines, and then taping from the tunnel.

Argument: Per Bellichick they didn't know it was against the rules, that he interpreted it wrong.

Fact: If they didn't know it was wrong, then why was the guy snooping around? Why wouldn't he challenge his ejection out of the stadium? They knew it was against the rules.

2. It blew up in the news, forcing the NFL to investigate the incident.

Argument: Per Goodell, the NFL voluntarily disclosed it to the public, and launched the investigation. There's nothing to hide.

Fact: Wrong. The media got a hold of the incident, didn't come from the NFL voluntarily.

3. The Patriots were required to turn over all tapes and notes by the NFL.

Argument: They turned over all the evidence, so they have nothing to hide.

Fact: They did not turn anything over until 5 days after the initial request. Plenty of time to sort through what they wanted to turn over, and what to shred.

4. Three days after receiving and reviewing the evidence, the NFL promptly destroyed everything.

Argument: Per Goodell, there was nothing suggesting any further wrongdoing or unfair advantage to the Patriots in any of their previous games and seasons. But they did not want other teams to get a hold of the tapes, so they destroyed it all.

Fact: First, if the tapes didn't help the Patriots, why would you care if anyone else got a hold of it? And why couldn't they just lock it up somewhere, digitize all evidence for ease of storage if necessary, for future reference? In any other public and/or private organizations, documentation for up to 7 years is required. Not wanting anyone else to have it is a terrible excuse. The real reason they destroyed it is because the Patriots gave them evidence of not only themselves cheating, but a lot of other teams cheating, through all of their 3 SuperBowls as well as other teams' SBs. Goodell saw this and went holy crap, if this comes out we're all doomed. It's easier to apologize for destroying the evidence than to apologize for destroying the league. So now when people ask him questions about the tapes, they can say whatever was on the tapes they want.

5. Patriot suckups and apologists for the league, including Solomon Wilcot of Sirius NFL Radio continue to defend the Patriots for having done nothing wrong, and all those wins were legit, because we can't prove otherwise. Well duh! That's why they destroyed the evidence! And if they really had any unfair advantage in any of those games, you bet your ass they could affect the outcome. Brady could know what the defense was doing, and made plays that exploited that particular defensive play. It is all connected.

At this point there isn't much we can do about it. They aren't going to take away people's SuperBowl rings, or put astericks next to their records. The most the league would do is force Bellichick out of the game, and take away more draft picks. But the damage is done. Any further inquiry is solely for our satisfaction of our curiosity and need for justice.

Excellent post!

[DynaPaul]

Re: Here's what happened guys

My question is: Where is NE39 when we need someone to explain how this is all untrue and just a misunderstanding?

[feelthepain]

Re: Here's what happened guys

My question is: Where is NE39 when we need someone to explain how this is all untrue and just a misunderstanding?

My guess, he's tired of explaining! I'd rather be a Bills fan and have four SB loses in a row then to get drilled constantly about how my favorite team cheated "HARD" with every win. Pat fans are reaping what they sew. Boo frikin hoo!!

[gr8slayer]

Re: Here's what happened guys

I just hope that it brings down the evil empire.

[Ickybaluky]

Re: Here's what happened guys

When you really separate facts from conjecture, there isn't much evidence beyond the taping of signals, which is what the punishment was about.

Here is how the rule reads:

Any use by any club at any time, from the start to the finish of any game in which such club is a participant, of any communications or information-gathering equipment, other than Polaroid-type cameras or field telephones, shall be prohibited, including without limitation videotape machines, telephone tapping, or bugging devices, or any other form of electronic devices that might aid a team during the playing of a game.

That last part is what got Belichick in trouble. He felt he wasn't breaking the rules as long as he didn't use it that game. He got cute, and was slapped on the dick because of it.

To hear Belichick's explanation:

Just going back over the whole taping incident, if I contacted the league and asked them about the practice, I'm sure they would have told me - as they have done - that it is not permissible. Then I could have avoided all of this. I take responsibility for it. Even though I felt there was a gray area in the rule and I misinterpreted the rule, that was my mistake and we've been penalized for it. I apologize to everybody that is involved - the league, the other teams, the fans, our team, for the amount of conversation and dialogue that it's caused. I misinterpreted the rule. The commissioner made his ruling and we've been penalized for it and tried to move on.

It is really that simple. However, people are going to believe what they want to believe. They want to believe Belichick is responsible for everything from taping practices to being the 20th hijacker. People, including many in the media who he has treated like vermin, can't stand the guy so they are going after him.

I hope they have their congressional hearings. Eventually we will find out what Matt Walsh has. In the end, it will come out that is was pretty innocuous stuff, and the Pats have been punished in unprecedented fashion for it. Life will go on.

[Luisito23]

Re: Here's what happened guys

^^ ....





GO BILLS!!!!!!!!